Ghost avoid recording obvious cover versions despite the complaints of “anal, puritan metal people,” says one of the band’s Nameless Ghouls.
And he adds that they’re “very far” into writing their next album.
Their Popestar EP debuted at the top of the Billboard chart this week, powered by the launch of new track Square Hammer. The release also includes covers of the Eurythmics, Echo & The Bunnymen, Simian Mobile Disco and Imperiet.
The Ghoul tells Billboard: “We always have a short list of songs we want to do. We find songs that are interesting for us to work with.
“There must be some kind of ignition, a spark, where you want to change it. Something I feel you can do a version that isn’t necessarily straight-up.”
He accepts some people don’t like their approach. “There’s always your more anal, puritan metal people who are like, ‘Aw, fuck, you should do King Diamond.’ Why?
“Why would we cover the bands that we’re obviously influence by? Why play a worse version of something?
“Yeah, you can take a Metallica song or an Iron Maiden song, or any band we’ve been influenced by, and make it completely piano-esque or symphonic or something. But I’d rather do something people may not expect so much.”
- Iron Maiden add London and Frankfurt dates to 2017 tour
- Robbie Williams reignites property feud with Jimmy Page
- Interview: Gene Simmons on the majesty of Gene Simmons
- Rainbow reunion shows set for home release
Work has begun on the follow-up to 2015 album Meliora, but the Ghoul reports: “We haven’t really started the pre-production yet, but I’m very far into the writing.
“I think we have a pretty good idea of what we’re doing next. Once we start recording I usually get very inspired and work a lot faster.”
Ghost are currently touring North America and aim to announce European dates in the near future.
Ghost: Popestar EP tracklist
- Square Hammer
- Nocturnal Me (Echo & The Bunnymen)
- I Believe (Simian Mobile Disco)
- Missionary Man (The Eurhythmics)
- Bible (Imperiet)
Watch Ghost in Square Hammer video
Ghost North American tour dates 2016
Sep 30: Kansas City Midland Theatre, MO
Oct 01: Janesville Sonic Boom, WI
Oct 02: Louisville Louder Than Life Festival, KY
Oct 03: Detroit The Fillmore, MI
Oct 04: Kalamazoo State Theatre, MI
Oct 05: Cedar Rapids Paramount Theatre, IA
Oct 07: Denver Paramount Theatre, CO
Oct 08: Salt Lake City The Complex, UT
Oct 09: Missoula The Wilma Theater, MT
Oct 11: Calgary MacEwan Hall, AB
Oct 13: Vancouver The Vogue Theater, BC
Oct 14: Seattle The Moore Theater, WA
Oct 15: Eugene McDonald Theatre, OR
Oct 16: Portland The Roseland Theater, OR
Oct 18: Riverside Municipal Auditorium, CA
Oct 20: Los Angeles The Wiltern, CA
Oct 21: Los Angeles The Wiltern, CA
Oct 22: Las Vegas Brooklyn Bowl, NV
Oct 23: Sacramento Discovery Park, CA
Oct 25: Phoenix Comercia Theatre, AZ
Oct 27: Lubbock City Bank Auditorium, TX
Oct 28: San Antonio The Aztec Theater, TX
Oct 31: Little Rock Metroplex, AR
Nov 02: Orlando The Hard Rock, FL
Nov 03: Miami Beach Fillmore Miami Beach, FL
Nov 04: Jacksonville The Florida Theatre, FL
Nov 05: Charlotte The Fillmore, NC
Nov 07: Raleigh The Ritz, NC
Nov 09: Toronto Queen Elizabeth Theatre, ON
Nov 11: Montreal Metropolis, QC
Nov 12: Brooklyn Kings Theatre, NY
