If there is one thing Ghost is good at, it's creating mystique and story around their music. Even though the veil has been pulled back with mastermind Tobias Forge offering an unmasked interview last year on Swedish radio after his identity was revealed through a lawsuit from former members, the band is still making sure there is a story surrounding their releases.
Lately, the band has been teasing a new Papa Emeritus. During their final live show last September, we saw Emeritus III taken off the stage by Nameless Ghouls and the emergence of Papa Emeritus Zero, who warned "the middle ages have begun." Once the band released their live album, Ceremony and Devotion, we started seeing the emergence of Papa Emeritus IV, who was noted to have a red sleeve.
Earlier in the week, the band changed all their profile images to a dark red box, signaling IV's imminent full reveal. And now, their Facebook events have been updated with new tour days this coming May.
These are their first dates Ghost have since last September, so it begs the question: who will front the band? We're guessing we'll get a few peaks of the new Papa before the band kick things off in Riverside on May 5th. Here's the full routing:
May 05, 2018 – Riverside, CA – RMA
May 06, 2018 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Music Hall
May 08, 2018 – Houston, TX – Revention
May 10, 2018 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli
May 11, 2018 – Cincinnati, OH – The Taft Theatre
May 12, 2018 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
May 13, 2018 – Columbus, OH – Express Live
May 15, 2018 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
May 16, 2018 – Syracuse, NY – Crouse Hinds Theater
May 18, 2018 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center
May 19, 2018 – Philadelphia, PA – WMMR BBQ
May 20, 2018 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
May 22, 2018 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
May 23, 2018 – Nashville, TN – Tennessee PAC
May 25, 2018 – St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House
May 26, 2018 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma
May 27, 2018 – Memphis, TN – Cannon Center
May 29, 2018 – Ft. Wayne, IN – The Clyde Theater
May 31, 2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
June 01, 2018 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace Theater
Tickets go on sale this this Saturday, March 3rd.