Tobias Forge explained the career break and the reason why Skeletour of South America did not take place.
In an interview with the radio program Full Metal Jackie , Tobias Forge explained that the show was conceived as a complete experience, divided into acts and with a high theatrical charge. However, he admitted that the scale of the production imposed logistical limitations. According to him, there were initial plans to take the show to South America as well as Australia and Japan, but the structure is too large to tour globally at the band's current stage [transcription via Wikimetal ].
“I’m very serious when I say that everything we’ve done has always been a smaller version of what I wanted it to be. I think to a certain extent I did that with this tour, even if there are things we didn’t do. It was definitely a kind of ‘hands-on’ approach, you know, no gloves, let’s go all in and bring this nuclear energy to every corner of the planet,” he said.
“Originally we were trying to do South America, Australia, Japan. The tour is simply too big. You can't travel with all of that, at least not at our level. You need to sell out 10 nights in each place for that to happen. And that's the reality of the show I created. And you know, if I had known that, would I have done it differently? I really don't know. This show is what it is, it's the three acts, it's the ban on cell phones, it's everything. And I don't want to change anything just to cater to a certain type of audience that wants to go there,” confessed Tobias.
Tobias confirmed that the tour is over. “ Skeletour is like that. And you know, unfortunately, we've ended it. It wasn't quite what I had planned. So, that's it. I'm not giving up on production. But I had to accept the reality that I can't do this everywhere. That's okay, I'll try harder next time to find a way to bring another show to a more global audience. But that will be a problem in the future, at some point.”
Ghost will go on hiatus
The Ghost frontman also revealed that there are no plans after the tour ends and indicated that he intends to take a break. After more than a decade of virtually uninterrupted activity, Forge commented on the need to stay home with his family. A father of two 17-year-old children, he stated that he wants to enjoy this phase before they go their separate ways.
“I have my family. You know, of course, everyone knows that. I had two children waiting at home with my wife for 15 years. And maybe that says something about me, that it wasn't a sufficient motivating factor during those years. Believe me, I felt bad. But I definitely reached a point where I not only need… I feel that, physically and mentally, I need to be at home. Simply because they are 17 years old, they won't be here forever.”.
Furthermore, he explained that he needs to step away to regain creative inspiration, comparing his work to that of a builder who, after erecting so many structures, needs to stop to have new ideas. "So, the only way to have a new idea and get inspired is to step away," he said.
“It’s that simple. But that doesn’t mean I’m not doing anything. I have two film projects I’m working on. Shortly before leaving the tour, I was recording another album with something else. And, you know, I have a lot going on. Things planned for the next few years. And also hobbies that I, you know, put aside a bit because… Over the last 15 years, Ghost has obviously become a bigger force. Fortunately, my families have been very supportive of me in that,” he concluded.
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