During an interview with Kerrang!, Ghost’s Tobias Forge opened up about the band’s hiatus. The singer says he is “not gonna just go back to make an album or force [himself] to make an album for no reason.”
Forge said the following when asked about his decision to take a hiatus following the “Skeletour”:
“There’s a lot of people depending on you, let alone all these people buying tickets. For most of my career, I’ve been very triggered by that, in a positive way. But now, with a lack of a clear direction of where to go, I don’t want to have that responsibility on my shoulder. I can carry that when I’m there, but when I’m not there, it’s too tiresome.”
He went on to say he is “exhausted,” before adding:
“[The ‘Skeletour’ was] pretty much as close as you can get. When you’re done with the big wedding, you’re not gonna get married again immediately after. I don’t want to call it a bookend, but it serves as a great finale. I feel like, ‘If this is it, I’m pretty pleased. This is a fucking great repertoire, great band, they sound phenomenal.’ We managed to do this awesome show most of the nights, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He also discussed his desire to pursue other ventures without being “dictated” by the cyclical nature of recording and touring:
“Everything was great up until the moment when I was sort of eyeing the end of a tour and not knowing for the first time in our career what to do next. And that was kind of the get-the-fuck-out-of-Dodge card, which is: I’m not gonna just go back to make an album or force myself to make an album for no reason. I need to want to make a record. I need to have something to say.
Every other record has been very inspired and there’s been a clear thought, there’s been a purpose. And that was completely generated by my passion to do so — it was never contractual fulfilment or whatever. It was nothing like that. And this time around it was just like, ‘I don’t have an idea.’ I just want to do other things and it doesn’t really mean anything other than that, but it also means that, no, we don’t have anything in the books, and yeah, it’s just a normal hiatus.”
He also confirmed that he is happy right now:
“I am. The big difference is how I’m able to talk to friends. For the last 15 years, I’ll come home [from a Ghost tour] for, like, two weeks, and the first week I’m sick, and the second week, I have to be with my family. I have to take care of people in a proximity level, with the closest ones first.”
He also added that he is able to accept invitations and see friends more often:
“That is important for me. When you’re in your dream-come-true band, it’s all-consuming in terms of time and energy. I’m very happy that I’m able to commit to other things now. I feel great!”
Sicksense have announced fall North American tour. Select shows will find the band opening for artists like Mushroomhead, Fear Factory, Heal The Hurt, Primer 55, 40 Below Summer, and Eyes Set To Kill.
Tour Dates:
11/05 Davenport, IA – Redstone Room
11/08 Toledo, OH – Frankie’s
11/09 Chicago, IL – The WC Social Club
With Mushroomhead and Fear Factory:
11/10 Sauget, IL – Pop’s
11/11 Nashville, TN – The Basement East
With Heal The Hurt:
11/12 Greenville, SC – The Radio Room
With Primer 55:
11/13 Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones
11/15 Richmond, VA – The Canal Club
11/17 Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
Sicksense:
11/18 Quebec City, QC – L’Anti Bar & Spectacles
11/19 Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
11/20 Ottawa, ON – Dominion Tavern
11/21 Millersville, PA – Phantom Power (feat. 40 Below Summer and Primer 55)
11/22 Lakewood, OH – The Foundry
11/24 Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
With Eyes Set To Kill:
12/03 Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Backroom
12/04 Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
12/05 Houston, TX – Scout Bar
12/06 Dallas, TX – Three Links Deep Ellum
12/08 Denver, CO – HQ
12/11 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
12/12 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
12/13 Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
12/15 Las Vegas, NV – Grey Witch
12/16 West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
12/17 Anaheim, CA – The Parish @ House of Blues
12/18 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
12/19 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Maynard James Keenan (Tool, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle) has revealed that he recently underwent hip surgery. Despite this, the frontman plans to move forward with his upcoming live shows.
Keenan commented:
“Don’t be Lazy. Read the Whole Post. July 3rd, woke up Luxembourg on tour w @aperfectcircle. When I went to do my morning workout & hike, my left hip said No. Out of nowhere it just decided to not work. Had to finish the rest of the tour in pain w a cane. Followed by the frantic phone calls & emails to get to the bottom of it. Labrum Tear? Hip replacement? Sprain? I needed answers fast because I have s#!t to do. Many tours. Starting in Sep & all the way to Xmas, I’ll be performing roughly 27 shows in 18 different countries with 3 different bands.
Cancelling isn’t an option. People have purchased tickets and booked travel & lodging, most of which is probably nonrefundable. Hats off to the medical team in LA. When taking recovery into consideration, my cut off for a hip replacement would be Sept 1st. These wizards all aligned their wands & got me in on Aug 26th (Today. Right now). Phew. #doitfordolly #theshowmustgoon ewww. @queenbvinylcafe @queenbsushi @toolmusic @puscifer #bananas Thank you, @licoricelust for sticking with me & enduring this delicious hospital food.”
Æther Realm will be releasing a new album, titled “Season Of Bloodshed,” on December 11. Pre-orders can be found HERE.
“Season Of Bloodshed” Track Listing:
01. “The Blood Is Calling”
02. “Control”
03. “Broken Fist” (feat. Taj Jewett)
04. “Get Fukt”
05. “The Weight”
06. “Path of the Wind”
07. “Achilles’ Heel”
08. “Terminus Omnium”
The band commented:
“This is an album born from an anger that was allowed to fester for too long. At the confluence of the great injustices of our time and the insignificant wrongs that get under our skin every day, we can find ourselves transformed into our worst selves. It is in the expression of this feeling—through these cruel riffs, shredding solos, and crushing breakdowns—that we may find peace.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.