RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2025 Tour Thread *SPOILERS INSIDE*

Prowler said:
I like Ghost in general, not my favourite or close to being that, but I don't understand the hate. Far worse bands are considered classic nowadays, like Motley Crue.
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I think the main issue is that they started as an awesome band but each new album delved into pop more and more. I can hardly find any metal influences in their music now. And Motley are a joke anyway. Never understood how they became so big.
 
Mosh said:
Mediocre dad rock hiding behind pretty lights?
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Dad rock? Get your genres straight. Ghost is Swedish pop rock down to a T with the slightest twinge of distorted guitars in the mix.

I don't begrudge Tobias Forge for finding ways to make a living off music (and all the same I don't have to enjoy it), but at the very least I'll still make sure I have the vaguest understanding of what music his band plays or how their stage shows are like.
 
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Lego said:
Can confirm. I saw Ghost recently and was absolutely blown away. Everything - the stage set, the lighting rig, the backdrops, and yes - the SCREENS, was all so engaging and perfectly utilized. The stage set even had semi-distinct "realms" a la LOTB, complete with an epic stained glass reveal!

It's just like, my opinion, man... but I really don't know how anyone who saw TBOS or the LOTB 2018-2019 shows can claim that the RFYL production is anything but a huge step backwards.
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Great point on the Legacy of the Beast comparison. The stained glass caught me by surprise as well as the transition to I guess what was 'Hell' for Rats.
 
Funny thing about Ghost, I saw them open for Maiden back in 2013, didn't know them at all but remember absolutely hating them on that day. They also didn't sound anything like they do nowadays, or at least that's how I remember them. Listening to their stuff nowadays it's pretty inoffensive. I get the appeal and I don't mind if their songs are in a playlist or something, but it's not something I'd go out of my way to listen to. It is kinda crazy how much they blew up in in the last few years though.
 
Ghost are gimmick band. You can like or dislike that fact, but it remains a fact, and anyone who tries to debate that is delusional.
I find it quite revealing that most Ghost fans praising the band online usually talk about how great the show is, but much less so about the songs or the performance or the albums.
Screens, props, costumes, that's the main talk. Music is secondary. That's the difference between Ghost and Alice Cooper, who is also extremely gimmicky, but still focuses on the music.
Nobody would know Ghost today if they never had this intense show-image from day one.
I saw Ghost live during their very very early days, it was one of their first 20 gigs. I think it was their very first show in Germany. Even back then, it was visually impressive. But musically, it was absolutely forgettable. Bland, boring, much too soft for that evil stage show (it was much darker back then). If that band I saw there had no awesome costumes and theatrics, nobody would have cared. They would never had gotten a chance to make it big.
For that reason, I actually applaude the fact that they became pure pop in recent years. It's more honest. They always were a gimmick pop band from day one, but in their early days they were trying to hide it, trying to fake Metal credibility. They don't do it anymore. They go straight commercial, and while I don't find this very interesting, it is at least honest, and I can respect that. My credo always is: do what you want, but be honest about it. Don't pretend.
They may write extremely commercial pop songs, but at least they are GOOD pop songs. I rather hear a good pop song than a forgettable Metal song, like the ones in their early days.

I still weep for Tobias Forges previous band Repugnant. Their sole album Epitome of Darkness is pure greatness, and they kicked ass live too. They surely didn't need gimmicks.
 
I think Maiden did right decision with upgrading their stage show to screens and it was enough, not too much, not too little. There were songs that had lots of moving pictures, visuals and I liked it. I think Rime benefitted from these visuals, even if it was mostly AI generated. Imagine having somekind of big boat prop or inflatable albatross - how cheesy would have that been? I loved Rime, visuals really helped to tell the story. That is one of the big upsides of Maiden show and screens. They have lots of songs that tell a story and that can be well translated onto screens unlike some other artists who use screen but tell nothing with it. Powerslave was also done right - there was change in screen visuals, but not too distracting. Someone said Trooper had just backdrop picture. I think, even that was right choice. You don't need to have every single song with lots of moving pictures, for some songs (Trooper, Clairvoyant) it's good to have just one picture even if it's just the same single artwork. The only song that I disliked was Number of the Beast with it's old school horror movie scenes, that was kinda meh, there it was like watching giant iPad with no real captivating images. I think Bruce used similar scenes in his solo show aswell, which he seems to think is interesting and cool (it's not).

Some fans are crying that the show isn't the same anymore and they want their static backdrops back but I think using backdrops is outdated and stubborn, shows inability to change. It's good sign that Maiden tries something different for them so late in their career. Could it be better? Of course, you could always improve. Am I satisfied with the show I got? Definetly.

All in all, it was first time for Maiden to use screens and in my opinion they justified it's use. Like some have said, next step is to incorporate some physical elements to the screens and then it would be 11/10 show.
 
Sure the discussion of the pros and cons of the stage make a good side quest. I will still say the main issue with the tour is the band performing songs that Bruce can’t do justice anymore. I won’t go into more detail, as I will get a slap on the wrist.

I’ll go back to sitting in the back row…
 
DorotheaMe said:
I personally find it worrying that Bruce thinks Ghost is so great (regards new songs solo and for Maiden).
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No worries for Maiden. For his solo stuff, well listening to the material on TMP, I understand why you say that, but then again it's still pure Bruce solo and I like to think he won't become too hard rock. Although he loves Purple and Rainbow. His solo career is about being really heavy. Let's see with the new young guitarists.
 
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