Ghost’s spell-binding run of shows is about to reach its end, and with it comes a surprising turn in the band’s story. Tobias Forge, the Swedish mastermind behind Ghost’s theatrical sound and persona, has announced that once the current Skeletour wraps up, he plans to step away — not just from the road, but from Ghost’s relentless cycle of touring and recording for the foreseeable future.
It’s a decision born not of drama, but of exhaustion and reflection. On the Full Metal Jackie radio show, Forge openly admitted that the toll of fifteen years on the road — years filled with sold-out shows, elaborate stage production, and constant travel — has left him physically and mentally drained. Above all, he said, he needs to be home with his family. “I’ve had two kids waiting at home with my wife for 15 years,” Forge said, acknowledging the sacrifices his family has made. With his twins now 17, he feels their time together is too precious to miss any longer.
But family isn’t the only reason. Forge also described a deeper, creative fatigue — a moment where the spark that fuels ideas simply ran dry. Using a vivid metaphor, he explained that being an artist can be like building a house: drawing up designs, laying the groundwork, putting up walls — but eventually running out of “tiles” and “wood” needed to continue. Right now, he said, he simply doesn’t have the creative materials to build another Ghost chapter just yet. To find new inspiration, he believes he needs to step back.
Despite the break from Ghost’s main activities, Forge insisted that stepping away doesn’t mean doing nothing. He revealed that he has film projects in the works and was even recording another album just before the tour began — projects outside the band’s usual framework that offer different creative avenues. He also mentioned hobbies and interests he’s long put aside because Ghost “has been force majeure” for so long.
This isn’t being framed as a full stop, but more like a pause — a chance to recharge without pressure. Forge has even suggested that Ghost’s creative timeline has historically been nonstop: from one album cycle to the next, he always moved straight from touring into writing and back again. Now, for the first time in many years, he feels it’s okay to simply let things breathe.
As the Skeletour draws to a close with its final North American show, fans may spot a sense of closure in the air — not a goodbye, just a welcome reset. Forge’s honesty about his needs, both personal and artistic, gives a rare glimpse into the often unseen pressures faced by the driving force behind one of modern rock’s most enigmatic bands.
Ghost’s journey has always been more than costumes and spectacle; it’s been a creative life lived loud. Now, that journey pauses — not because the fire’s gone out, but because its keeper needs time to fan the embers.
