Ghost-Lore: An Introduction to Band Ghost

Ghost is a Swedish rock band that was formed in Linköping in 2006. You may have heard their name from the song Mary on a Cross which became viral on TikTok, or know them from the day they uploaded their demos on MySpace. The band was formerly called Ghost B.C. due to copyright issues and released their album with that name in 2015. Since their debut in 2010, Ghost has been nominated for Grammys 4 times. 

What makes them unique as a rock band? The answer is their theatrical performance on the stage with different concepts for each album. Ghost created a fictional lore with characters, costumes, and props. Each era of Ghost symbolizes a new beginning featuring a new Papa and ghouls/ghoulettes. Usually, a papa leads the band for the length of one album. The band is known for their unique blend of heavy metal, hard rock, and theatrical elements. Their lavish theatrical presence, including the robes and skull masks worn by frontman Tobias Forge, who performs a variety of personas, is what sets them apart. In this article, I will be talking about different eras of Ghost and the characters that are related to their albums.

Papa Emeritus I, also known as Primo, is the first Papa we encounter in the journey of Ghost. This Papa is from the Opus Eponymous era, which is the first album of the band. He is also the eldest son of Papa Nihil whom he succeeded. The concept of the album revolves around the themes of Satanism, the occult, and dark imagery, all conveyed through the band's music and lyrics. Papa I’s mask is the only one that was not custom-made; instead, it was bought from Amazon by Tobias Forge’s wife! On December 15, 2012, Primo decided to retire for his brother, which signaled an upcoming album. Later in 2018, however, he was killed by Sister Imperator along with his brothers. 

Papa Emeritus II was the second frontman and the spiritual leader of Ghost during the Infestissumam era. He is also known as Secondo by the fans. This album further develops their signature sound while delving deeper into themes of Satanism, the supernatural, and religious symbolism. Secondo is the first Papa that has a custom-made mask but certainly not the last. Papa II’s live debut happened with a theatrical performance of Papa I passing the microphone to his brother. Like all the Papas, he has certain qualities that are not only physical but also emotional. Papa II is described as “a miserable, wounded, and bitter old man”. Besides being bitter, he is sarcastic, womanizer, and narcissistic. He was also the mascot of the band’s first EP If You Have Ghosts. After a special show in Ghost’s hometown Linköping, Sweden, Papa II was sacked for not performing his duties. Secondo was replaced by his brother Papa Emeritus III. He was along with those brothers who were killed by Sister Imperator in 2018. 

Thirdly, we have Papa Emeritus III a.k.a. Terzo, which represents their third studio album Meliora – along with an EP called Popestar. Ghost's career reached a turning point during the Meliora era. Their success on tour and their Grammy win, together with the album's critical acclaim, established their place in the music industry. But of course, Papa Emeritus III’s reign was a short one, similar to his predecessors. However, his ending was also different. During a performance on September 30, 2017, Terzo was unexpectedly – for the audience at least - dragged off-stage by some mysterious people. After this ‘incident’, Papa III went missing, only to be revealed later that he was beheaded. 

After all the Emeritus brothers’ death, the church needed a new representative. The Emeritus family was the spiritual leader of the cult for many years, but after the entire line was wiped out, some discussions happened regarding the succession. This time, Cardinal Copia and Sister Imperator stepped in. He is supposedly the first frontman to not be related to the Emeritus bloodline, though it is heavily implied that he is the illegitimate child of Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator. He has a shy, childish personality that is different and more observable than his alleged half-brothers. While previous Papas’ personalities were hinted at, Cardinal’s is more obvious. It is because he is quite significant for the band’s lore, and he gives interviews along with a YouTube series called 'Chapters'. It is important to note that he is the first character that Tobias Forge has played since his identity was revealed. Cardinal is linked with Ghost’s fourth studio album, Prequelle. 

Later, Cardinal would be anointed as Papa Emeritus IV as Sister’s plans finally paid off. He is often referred to as Copia or Popia. His first album Papa is Impera, which reached great numbers of sales.

And, there are minor figures who are the contributors to the band’s lore; Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator. In 1969, young Papa Nihil had a brief affair with Sister Imperator, who is one of the Sisters of Sin (a group of nuns). Although Nihil was married, he was living life like a typical rockstar. Decades later, Sister uses his son, Cardinal, as a pawn to gain access to the church’s administration. Her plans succeded, as she made her son Copia the new face of the cult. 

It is significant to point out that in the latest video of Ghost 'Chapter 16: Tax Season', there might be a hint of Copia's death as Mr. Saltarian walks by with a glass coffin. (It is similar to the ones his half-brothers are put into) Will Copia die? What will happen to the house of Emeritus? What are Ghost's plans for the next album? Guess we will see in the following days.