In an era where nearly every moment is captured through a screen, Ghost is taking a different approach. The band recently announced that their 2025 world tour will be a phone-free experience, requiring attendees to secure their devices in Yondr pouches.
While some artists enforce similar policies to prevent unauthorized recordings, Tobias Forge insists that Ghost‘s decision has nothing to do with controlling footage or monetization. Speaking to Planet Rock, Forge explained: “I really wanna underline that the ban has nothing to do with, let’s say, copyright control. It’s not that we wanna sit on all the material and we don’t want anybody to monetize Ghost‘s videos; it has nothing to do with that,” he clarified.
He also said that the creation of the band’s film, Rite Here Rite Now, played a major role in this choice. The movie was filmed during two shows at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, where attendees had to lock their phones away. The result? A level of engagement that felt almost nostalgic.
“The Rite Here Rite Now, the film, the essence of messaging in that film was exactly that, but also I, but us collectively, working, making that film… We filmed two shows in L.A. in front of audiences where they had to put their phones into pockets. You don’t give it away. You have your phone; you don’t have to worry about that. If you need to call, you can go out. If you need to take a photo, you can take a photo of yourself out in the lobby; that’s fine,” he said.
But what stood out to Forge was how different the atmosphere felt compared to recent years. “What ended up happening was that we had such an engaged crowd that seemed joyous in a way that… I had to go back years and in time since I last saw a fully engaged crowd where everybody’s actually watching the show. They don’t have to watch me, but they’re watching the band.”
For Forge, it’s all about recapturing the magic of live performances. “I swear that the experience of shows and the making of memories, the making of magic, was much more powerful. Some of the best shows I’ve ever been to, I have maybe not even seen a picture from that because they all live here [in my head]. They live in my core. That’s the memory I have of that,” he reflected.
Through Yondr, concertgoers will still have possession of their phones but won’t be able to use them in the venue unless they step into designated areas. The concept isn’t new — artists like Jack White, Alicia Keys, and comedians Dave Chappelle and Jerrod Carmichael have all used similar restrictions to create more immersive experiences. Yondr‘s founder, Graham Dugoni, believes phone-free spaces allow creativity and connection to flourish without distractions.
While some fans may be skeptical, Forge is confident that even younger attendees will walk away appreciating the difference. “I really believe that the younger portion of our crowd will, as they did in L.A., come out saying, like, ‘That was not only a great concert; that was also an overwhelming experience.’ Because I do believe that you will feel that.”
