With their ornate papal getups, Ghost are easily one of the most recognizable hard rock or metal bands of the past 20 years. But what underground band inspired their macabre, over-the-top aesthetic?

On August 11, at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, while Ghost was preparing to perform on Friday night, fans were halted at the venue's entrance and asked to remove any face paint.

Now he's made one with Swedish metal band Ghost. Julius Miller. Tue, June 18, 2024 at 8:35 PM UTC. 8 min read. ... Forge stalks the stage in white face paint, a dapper, demonic menace.

The frontman also cited Italian-Slovenian art-rock band Devil Doll when describing the musical and aesthetic hybrid he envisioned for Ghost.