Ghost, teh Swedish rock band known for its theatrical performances, is experimenting with a “phone-free experience” during its 2025 world tour. This initiative, utilizing Yondr pouches, aims to create a more connected and immersive concert surroundings. A fan-filmed video of Ghost performing “Square Hammer” on may 24 at Spektrum in Oslo, Norway, offers a glimpse into the band’s electrifying stage presence.

The European leg of Ghost’s 2025 world tour commenced April 15 in Manchester, United Kingdom, and concluded in Oslo. The North american leg is scheduled to begin July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland, and end August 16 in Houston, Texas.

The rationale Behind the Phone Ban

Ghost mastermind Tobias Forge recently discussed the band’s decision to implement the phone-free policy in an interview with Audacy. He emphasized that the move is an experiment driven by a desire to enhance the live concert experience.

It’s an experiment. And to be perfectly honest, my 16-year-old daughter was very, very, very, very skeptical of this idea. And then she was, like, ‘No one’s gonna buy a ticket.’ And I was,like,’I don’t know. I have no idea what people [will do].’ I just know one thing, and that is that over the years it’s gone absolutely insane.If you have 10,000 people at a concert and 8,000 of them are holding a phone, there’s something deeply disconnected.

Tobias Forge, Audacy interview

Forge elaborated on the disconnect he perceives between artists and audiences when phones dominate the concert atmosphere. He likened it to a breach of intimacy.

That’s like having an intimate moment with someone and that person would just take out the phone like that. ‘Oh, hold on. I’m just gonna take a photo.’ I know some people do that.

Tobias Forge, Audacy Interview

While acknowledging the promotional benefits of social media, Forge stressed the importance of the live connection.

I’m not saying that all social media is bad.I’m just saying that when it comes to the actual live show, my calling, my reason for being there is the connection between myself and everybody that I brought with me that are working in tandem to give you an experience, that experience is completely decocked if everybody’s just filming. Am I wrong? am I right? I don’t know. that’s how I,and we,felt.

Tobias Forge, Audacy Interview

“Rite Here Rite Now”: A Device-Free Case Study

Ghost’s feature film debut, “Rite Here Rite Now,” filmed over two nights in September 2023 at the Kia Forum in los Angeles, served as a practical test for the phone-free concept. Attendees were required to secure their devices in Yondr pouches upon arrival, unlocking them only at the event’s conclusion.

this is where we put some practice into the theory. Some of the best shows we’ve ever done in modern time was – I meen, as far as how it felt for us, what the vibe was – was when we played in L.A., when we recorded ‘Rite Here rite Now’. We were all taken by the fact that people were there.The crowd was there. We have never seen people like that. That was, like, 10 years ago when you saw people engaging.

Tobias Forge, Audacy Interview

Forge highlighted the overwhelmingly positive response from fans who attended the Los Angeles shows.

Fans were saying afterwards, like, ‘I was allowed to just sing along and just act… I could do whatever I want. I don’t have to worry about someone filming me or…’ I mean, I’m not gonna place all the words in everybody’s mouths here, but it’s a great feeling, and I wanna recreate that.

Tobias Forge, Audacy Interview

The Yondr Solution and Its Impact

Yondr pouches, created by Graham Dugoni, are designed for “phone-free spaces” to foster creativity and productivity. These pouches secure phones and smartwatches with a magnetized lock, unlockable only at specific unlocking bases.

Forge clarified that the phone ban is not about copyright control but about enhancing the audience experience.

I realy wanna underline that the ban has nothing to do with, let’s say, copyright control. It’s not that we wanna sit on all the material and we don’t want anybody to monetize [GHOST videos]; it has nothing to do with that.

tobias Forge, Planet Rock Interview

He expressed a desire to recapture the magic of past concerts where audiences were fully engaged.

I swear that the experience of shows and the making of memories, the making of magic, was much more powerful. Some of the best shows I’ve ever been to, I have maybe not even seen a picture from that because they all live here [in my head]. They live in my core. That’s the memory I have of that.And that is an experience I wish for.

Tobias Forge, planet Rock Interview

Industry-Wide Concerns About Phone Use at Concerts

Ghost is not alone in its concerns about the impact of mobile technology on live performances. Numerous artists have voiced similar sentiments.

• Jack White, Alicia Keys, Dave Chappelle, and Jerrod Carmichael have all utilized Yondr pouches at their shows.
• Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour) acknowledges that while taking pictures is acceptable, filming entire performances detracts from the experience. It’s one thing to film it, it’s another thing to just be staring at your screen while you’re filming it.It’s right there. Are you so terrified of real life that you can’t do anything unless it’s on that little four-by-four screen? Ugggh. It’s very weird.
• Sebastian Bach (former Skid Row singer) urged fans to keep their phones away and be present in the moment. Be in the moment. You’re distracted and it’s distracting to the performer as well. Like,put your fuckin’ cell phone away,dammit! You’re never even going to watch that footage.
• Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) famously chastised a fan for texting during a concert in 2012,calling him a “wanker.”

The reunited Guns N’ Roses’ 2016 Troubadour concert was also phone-free, with Duff McKagan describing it as having the old-school feeling, where people were dancing and getting down.It was really cool.

Recent Releases and Availability

• Ghost released its new album, “Skeletá,” on April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings.
• The physical home video of “rite Here rite Now” was made available on December 6,2024.