RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2025 Tour Thread *SPOILERS INSIDE*

PS: whenever Ghost fans are confronted with "accusations" of the band being gimmicky, sellouts, not Metal or whatever, they almost never counter with any arguments, but almost always switch to infuriated spasms of "elitist!!!", "Gatekeeper", "hater" etc., basically not even rebutting the accusations, but only being upset.
Must have hit a spot then. Truth hurts.

The ironic thing is: when I say Ghost are gimmicky and not Metal, it doesn't necessarily mean that I don't like them or think they suck.
I like some pop music, I like some theatrics.
I love GWAR, who are pure gimmick. Ghosts "Square Hammer" is a brilliant (Pop) song.
Saying Ghost ain't Metal is just the same as saying Ghost ain't Jazz.
But the fanbase seems to have lots of problems with that..
 
Eddie's Uncle said:
PS: whenever Ghost fans are confronted with "accusations" of the band being gimmicky, sellouts, not Metal or whatever, they almost never counter with any arguments, but almost always switch to infuriated spasms of "elitist!!!", "Gatekeeper", "hater" etc., basically not even rebutting the accusations, but only being upset.
Must have hit a spot then. Truth hurts.

The ironic thing is: when I say Ghost are gimmicky and not Metal, it doesn't necessarily mean that I don't like them or think they suck.
I like some pop music, I like some theatrics.
I love GWAR, who are pure gimmick. Ghosts "Square Hammer" is a brilliant (Pop) song.
Saying Ghost ain't Metal is just the same as saying Ghost ain't Jazz.
But the fanbase seems to have lots of problems with that..
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Saying Ghost IS a gimmick that play shit music concocted for playlist-idiots full of earworms is elitist and dismissive. Sayin they have gimmicks isn't. Saying they aren't metal isn't elitist either because it's true; they are genre transcending with pop, disco, metal etc influences in a Rock overcoat. Lamenting them for not being Metal (and suggesting they because of that are an inferior shit band), is however elitist.
 
Yax said:
play shit music concocted for playlist-idiots full of earworms
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Yax said:
Lamenting them for not being Metal (and suggesting they because of that are an inferior shit band)
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Maybe I missed it but I don't really feel like anyone is making these accusations.

In all honesty, my thing with the Ghost vs Maiden comparisons is that the two bands are trying to do different things. Ghost has always relied on a visual stage show/costuming gimmick that undoubtedly drives a lot of the massive audiences they've accumulated over the years - I really don't understand how anyone could believe that they would've reached the same heights playing the type of music they do without an extra something. Nothing wrong with that, but I genuinely feel that the music is a secondary reason for their popularity. I've heard every Ghost album btw and like a lot of what they've done.

The thing about the Ghost gimmick though is that it is such a draw that they have to go bigger with each tour to keep audiences coming back. I agree that they have become a great live band and fantastic performers on stage, but they have visual expectations they have to keep up with. IMO Maiden's approach to staging is based on completely different motivations. Specifically, I think the logic behind the screens is largely that since the band (especially Bruce) are physically slowing down, Maiden needs a stage show that is more visually augmented to compensate. Again, nothing wrong with it, but I think this is the reality for where these guys are at in age. So while i'm not going to argue with you if you think Ghost's stage show is better, I also think it's worth considering why Maiden has the type of stage show they have and why Ghost has the type of stage show they have by comparison.

Someone mentioned Chappell Roan, similar situation here. She's one person on stage which can only be so entertaining for 3 hours or however long her concerts are. There has to be some sort of visual stimulation to keep audiences engaged. Maiden still has 6 guys on stage. They might be moving slower, but there's still enough going on that the stage show doesn't need to dwarf what they are doing.
 
Iron Lurker said:
After RFYL in 2026 hopefully we get a new album tour or something really different. Bruce had an idea to do a scaled down, smaller show for hardcore fans. It would be cool to see a show primarily of rarely/never played songs. I would name that tour "Eddie's Oddities". Doubtful they would do something like that but I would be all for it.
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When Bruce mentioned smaller venues shows/concerts? Any links? In Ljubljana we have one great smaller venue, called Križanke, standing capacity 3.500, Maiden would fit there perfectly for that kind of show. Maybe they can play 2 shows, not just one. Maybe they can do tour at that kind of venues, 2 or maybe 3 shows in each city. They could use only their backline and few background drapes, no screens, small support, just few of band's roadies (plus local crew), band monitoring and FOTH mixmans. PA and light would be provided by local organizers of that kind of shows. That kind of tour would be very cheap for band, ticket prices too, maybe 85 €.
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This whole debate about “gimmicks” is pointless. KISS was entirely about gimmick. Ghost has an enormous gimmick. But so what? Unlike KISS (for the most part), Tobias actually knows how to write great songs—and surrounds himself with people who can. Anyone denying that Skeleta is great must be deaf, ha!

A gimmick is just stage theatrics: an immersive tool that creates awe, wonder, a sense of cult, whatever. We could even argue that Bruce dialed up his own theatrics after looking at Ghost. Either way, theatrics enhance a performance in my view. Personally, I like Fear of the Dark with the “lantern and moon.” Sure, Bruce’s theatrics compared to Ghost’s are like toddlers’—his cape in ROTAM, for example—but that’s just a creative choice and the band’s vision.

Tobias has had the advantage of looking back at the music scene of the ’70s–’90s and distilling, cramming, and crafting everything he liked into his vision of Ghost (and yes, he keeps the business side in mind, which is clever). And on top of that, he writes catchy tunes. That’s not even debatable. Case closed.

And to be clear, I don’t even call myself a proper Ghost fan. I’m more of a “nodding to their side” type. I think I’m already too old to be a full-fledged maniacal fan. But I see what they’re doing, and when they do it well, I applaud them. I don’t drool over Tobias’ pope masks or anything—that part was already nailed by KISS.
 
Azas said:
This whole debate about “gimmicks” is pointless. KISS was entirely about gimmick. Ghost has an enormous gimmick. But so what? Unlike KISS (for the most part), Tobias actually knows how to write great songs—and surrounds himself with people who can. Anyone denying that Skeleta is great must be deaf, ha!

A gimmick is just stage theatrics: an immersive tool that creates awe, wonder, a sense of cult, whatever. We could even argue that Bruce dialed up his own theatrics after looking at Ghost. Either way, theatrics enhance a performance in my view. Personally, I like Fear of the Dark with the “lantern and moon.” Sure, Bruce’s theatrics compared to Ghost’s are like toddlers’—his cape in ROTAM, for example—but that’s just a creative choice and the band’s vision.

Tobias has had the advantage of looking back at the music scene of the ’70s–’90s and distilling, cramming, and crafting everything he liked into his vision of Ghost (and yes, he keeps the business side in mind, which is clever). And on top of that, he writes catchy tunes. That’s not even debatable. Case closed.

And to be clear, I don’t even call myself a proper Ghost fan. I’m more of a “nodding to their side” type. I think I’m already too old to be a full-fledged maniacal fan. But I see what they’re doing, and when they do it well, I applaud them. I don’t drool over Tobias’ pope masks or anything—that part was already nailed by KISS.
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Kiss and Ghost gimmicks? You elitist.
 
Yax

Post in thread 'RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2025 Tour Thread *SPOILERS INSIDE*'

Belshazzar said:
find twatty bands like Ghost repugnant, cheesy rubbish that cater to the simple, straightforward, non-album oriented Spotify randomised artist playlist consuming kids who just want to nod their heads to an earworm. So what?
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  • Haha

You missed the important context. They are my opinions, not stated as fact.

Quote the full post, don't cherry pick:

"It's not elitism. It's an opinion and taste, two things that differ in every person.

To me KISS are no more a serious band than The Darkness or bloody Spinal Tap. They're a joke designed to sell comic books, lunch boxes and action figures.

Opinions don't have to converge. Everyone has them, and they often differ. I find twatty bands like Ghost repugnant, cheesy rubbish that cater to the simple, straightforward, non-album oriented Spotify randomised artist playlist consuming kids who just want to nod their heads to an earworm. So what?"
 
Belshazzar said:
You missed the important context. They are my opinions, not stated as fact.

Quote the full post, don't cherry pick:

"It's not elitism. It's an opinion and taste, two things that differ in every person.

To me KISS are no more a serious band than The Darkness or bloody Spinal Tap. They're a joke designed to sell comic books, lunch boxes and action figures.

Opinions don't have to converge. Everyone has them, and they often differ. I find twatty bands like Ghost repugnant, cheesy rubbish that cater to the simple, straightforward, non-album oriented Spotify randomised artist playlist consuming kids who just want to nod their heads to an earworm. So what?"
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Elitisism isn't facts though. Elitisism is opinions, but with the type of superiority and disdain you displayed. Calling a band simply being a gimmick (not having gimmicks, which is facts) is elitist.
 
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Diplomat said:
When Bruce mentioned smaller venues shows/concerts? Any links? In Ljubljana we have one great smaller venue, called Križanke, standing capacity 3.500, Maiden would fit there perfectly for that kind of show. Maybe they can play 2 shows, not just one. Maybe they can do tour at that kind of venues, 2 or maybe 3 shows in each city. They could use only their backline and few background drapes, no screens, small suport, just few of band's roadies (plus local crew), band monitoring and FOTH mixmans. PA and light would be provided by local organizers of that kind of shows. That kind of tour would be very cheap for band, ticket prices too, maybe 85 €.
View attachment 43455
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I would love to see Maiden in a venue that size.

Well done for trying to get back to discussing Iron Maiden again by the way, :lol:
 
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