VIDEO: The End of Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
Ghost is getting a new frontman. Sort of.
Group founder Tobias Forage, after all, is on his third incarnation of the Pope-like Papa Emeritus character that fronts the Swedish band, and on Saturday (September 30) during a home town show in Gothenburg, Papa Emeritus III was forcibly removed from the stage at the end of the show by suited security guards while a frail-looking old man took the stage to announce, “I am Papa Emeritus Zero. The part is over and a new era begins. The Middle Ages begin now.”
Each new Ghost album has introduced a new version of Papa Emeritus, and the group is currently working on a follow-up to 2015’s Meliora and last year’s Popestar EP for release in 2018, with a Papa Emeritus IV expected to be revealed.
Forge is currently in court in Sweden with former members of Ghost — known as the Nameless Ghouls — over compensation and other issues.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
