The First, Second And Third Sons...

The First, Second and Third sons...

Papa Nil/Nihil has three sons: Papa Emeritus the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. 'Papa Emeritus' is a title, and we were never told their birth names. So for all we know, those are very likely their REAL, actual birthnames. "Papa! Congratulations, it's a boy! What would you like to name him?" "I don't know what to name him. He is my first son. So... First?" I dare you to read that and not hear it in his voice! LOL

Ghost frontman Tobias Forge on the end of the charade

(TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN)

For many years, the frontman of the heavy metal hit band was just masked, known as Papa Emeritus or Cardinal Copia. Now Tobias Forge has put off the mask - not entirely voluntarily, as he tells in the NP interview.

Hanover

The guesswork has come to an end: The Swedish rock musician Tobias Forge(37) hides behind the mask of the Grammy-winner Ghost and the pseudonyms Papa Emeritus and Cardinal Copia. Before the start of the Ghost Germany Tour, we talked to Forge about charades in Rock'n'Roll.

I’m not talking to dad Emeritus or Cardinal Copia today, but to Tobias Forge . Was it liberating when your name became known?

Papa Emeritus would never have given an interview … 80% was liberating. Without wanting to complain: But if I could control it, I would have left it as it was. But if you have a band that grows and grows, even commercially, that does not go well with anonymity. It was probably inevitable.

It was not really voluntary - your name became known in a lawsuit …

That’s true. On the other hand, many fans already knew who I am. I had been recognized on the street before. Some media had become a bit of a charade . We had many cancellations handed to journalists who wanted to do something personal with me. And my job is to make Ghost as big as it gets.

You are on a good way …

Yes, and I asked myself, “Why do I say no to it so often? I’m not even anonymous anymore. ”

What was the original idea behind the “ charade ”, as you call it?

I grew up with rock, heavy metal , death metal at a time when there was no internet. I learned to worship bands I knew almost nothing about. Today you can read everything, not only on Wikipedia , but also in books - everyone has a book today. That was early, mid-90s not so. Of course , there were books about the Beatles or the Rolling Stones . But not about Lemmy or Mötley Crüe.

One pounced on every little thing one could learn about his favorite bands.

Exactly, and I wanted to go back there. When I had the idea over ten years ago, I did not think Ghost would become such a big commercial success. In the underground: Yes, I could imagine that. But not like this. I imagined Ghost less like a classical band, but more like an art installation or a theatrical production of mine, which gives a few guest performances in the same place, sometimes in a historical theater in Cologne , sometimes in a cabaret in Berlin . So it would have been absolutely possible to remain anonymous.

Now you have just given your first interview in France without masking. Do you expect this to change anything for you?

Not through this one TV show (laughs).

How did that happen?

I was asked. An important guest of the show had failed; you suddenly had ten minutes of airtime to fill. My first answer to the request was a no. But then I thought about it and came to the conclusion that I could easily put it this way - without drum rolls or big fanfares. Which opens us many possibilities. I want to have as many people as possible come to our shows and listen to our music. My point is not to promote myself, but Ghost. If such a move makes us better guests on a television program, then it should be.

Will this move affect your shows? From what you hear, it gets more theatrical than ever.

The step allows me to make the shows as I have always imagined. Even though I was thinking of an art installation back then, I always thought it was great, like an arena show with pyrotechnics , fire, changing costumes and a lot of effort. That takes time. “It’s a long way to the top if you want rock'n'roll” …

… to say it with AC / DC .

Exactly. And I am on this path. namely to properly rock and roll Hanover .

There are not many bands that do a similar job. One would be Rammstein , with whose guitarist Richard Kruspe and his solo project Emigrate you recently worked together. How did that happen?

I know Richard , and he asked me, quite simply. I was in Berlin anyway . He invited me to his house, played this track to me and asked me if I would like to sing on it. And I said, “Why not? Clear.”

Another such band is Kiss, who are now on their last tour after 46 years. What do you mean: how long will Ghost be?

47 years? No idea (laughs). I do not take anything for granted. Right now, I know what I’m going to do the rest of the year. I know what I would like to do for the next four or five years. As with any band, there will come a time when Ghost is not so popular anymore. Who knows what happens next 20, 30 years? I mean, I’m in my 70s in 37 years. I wish that I can still stand on stage. That means a lot of work.

But now that you have named your current album “Prequelle”, it seems like you are just beginning to see yourself …

Or like I’m moving backwards (laughs). There are many things I want to do with Ghost before we go on a farewell tour. But who knows if we’ll ever get that far?

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Witch Image theory

Okay so, you know that theory about how Copia is Imperator/Nihils bastard child, right?

Consider that Witch Image is a song from copias POV about his relationship with Imperator.

“You have never stood this close to where you want to be.

You have always waded in the shallows between me and the deep blue sea”

= Imperator having second thoughts about in some way leaving Copia behind, but not wanting to risk her high position in the church for him.

“You’d never want me to appear; You never want this to be over. You never want it to reach out to the edge of time”

= Imperator realizing that Copia being found as her child could have her in some way punished or jeopardize her position she’s worked so hard to gain in the church. She never wanted it to become a problem, hopes somehow it will just go away.

“While you sleep in earthly delight, Someone’s flesh is rotting tonight- Like no other to you. What you’ve done you can not undo”

= Copia going through difficult times growing up and working his way through the ranks while Imperator gets to live more lavishly in the papacy, neglecting him.

BUT ESPECIALLY CONSIDER THIS, THE LAST LINE :

“While you sleep in earthly delight

Still your soul will suffer this plight

But like a mother would save

Her own child from digging a grave”

= Copia working his way up to becoming the pope, hoping Imperator will notice him or who he is, or even stop him from becoming the new papa.

Why should she stop him? Because she knows his death is the next one she’ll have to have arranged.

T H E

U N H O L Y

C L E R G Y

Whatever you say, rat man

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I ♥ Papa III's pose. He was the kid who posed for the camera every time he saw one growing up. Copia: "Does this look cool? Yeah? (Dear Satan I hope this thing doens't break on me...) What? But I WANT them to look at my..."

Ghost masterpost! Here are all the peices together for you to enjoy