Ghost announce April 2022 UK arena tour

Seen Papa Emeritus IV and co. at four UK venues

Ghost - Imperatour - Europe 2022
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 23rd Nov 2021
Last updated 23rd Nov 2021

Enigmatic Swedish metallers Ghost have announced a four-date UK arena tour for April 2022.

Ghost’s sprawling European arena tour – dubbed ‘Imperatour – Europe 2022’ – opens at Manchester AO Arena on Saturday 9th April 2022 before calling in at London The O2 Arena (Mon 11th April), Glasgow The SSE Hydro (Wed 13th April) and Birmingham RWA Arena (Fri 15th April).

Following the UK leg, Papa Emeritus IV and co. then hit mainland Europe for 19 further dates throughout April and May.

Support on all shows comes from Uncle Acid & The Dead Beats and Twin Temple.

Ghost UK arena tour tickets:

Tickets to Ghost’s UK arena tour go on sale from Planet Rock Tickets at 9am on Friday 26th November 2021.

Ghost's Papa Emeritus IV

Ghost last played the UK in November 2019 as part of their five-date A Pale Tour Named Death tour. The two-year trek opened with a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall in September 2018 and also included support slots with Metallica on their stadium tour.

Earlier this autumn, Ghost unveiled their first new song in two years, ‘Hunter’s Moon.’

Produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, ‘Hunter’s Moon’ is lifted from the soundtrack to the Halloween sequel, Halloween Kills, which hits UK cinemas in October. The song came with a suitable macabre video:

‘Hunter’s Moon’ will get a single release on vinyl on 21st January featuring a B‑side by legendary composer John Carpenter.

In September, Ghost premiered their cover of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ from the charity covers album ‘The Metallica Blacklist.’

Ghost’s April UK tour dates:

APRIL 2022

Manchester AO Arena – Sat 9th

London The O2 Arena – Mon 11th

Glasgow The SSE Hydro – Wed 13th

Birmingham RWA Arena – Fri 15th

Buy Ghost tickets

Rock stars unmasked, including Ghost:

Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan unmasked

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Slipknot’s Mick Thomson unmasked

Slipknot guitarist #7 Mick Thomson's metallic hockey mask is so perfectly formidable it has remained relatively unchanged for years. On the right is an Mick Thomson without his mask traversing the streets of New York in 2019 ahead of Slipknot's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Buckethead unmasked

The highly enigmatic guitarist, who wears a KFC bucket on his head, revealed his real identity on self-released 2013 album 'Pike 13'. It poignantly depicts a younger Buckethead – real name Brian Carroll – without his mask on and hugging his late dad.

Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg unmasked

Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg and his proper horrorshow burlap mask. On the right is the devilishly handsome Jay Weinberg without his mask. Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 replacing the departing Joey Jordison, who sadly passed away in 2021.

Slipknot’s Sid Wilson unmasked

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Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland unmasked and without makeup

Chameleon-like Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland is constantly coming up with brilliant new looks for the band's live shows. Fusing a mask with crudely painted make-up, this brilliantly disturbing guise is like a cross between Salvador Dali, The Joker and a demented aristocrat. Here is Wes Borland without his mask and makeup at a photoshoot in 2017.

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor unmasked

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Ghost’s Tobias Forge (aka Papa Emeritus) unmasked

Flanked by his band of Nameless Ghouls, Tobias Forge has adopted a number of papal guises over the years; from the various incarnations of Papa Emeritus through to Cardinal Copia and Papa Emeritus IV. On the right is Tobias Forge without his mask at the Grammy Awards in 2019.

GWAR’s Blothar unmasked

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Slipknot’s Alessandro Venturella unmasked

Slipknot bassist Alessandro "Alex" Venturella's mask changed from a hessian fabric mask into patterned copper mask in 2019. The genial-looking chap on the right is Alessandro Venturella without his mask.

KISS’s Paul Stanley unmasked and without makeup

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Slipknot’s Jim Root unmasked

Slipknot guitarist #4 Jim Root has worn a Jester mask for the entirety of his career with only minor changes in its design. Why change perfection?! Jim Root is immediately identifiable even without his mask thanks to his luscious, voluminous beard.

Behemoth’s Nergal unmasked and without makeup

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Ex-Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn unmasked

Before he exited Slipknot in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in April 2019, #3 Chris Fehn wore a distinctive Liar Mask – aka the Pinocchio Mask. On the right is the Chris Fehn without his mask at the premiere of Shawn Clown Crahan's movie 'Officer Downe' in 2016.

KISS’s Gene Simmons unmasked and without makeup

On stage and wearing his trademark makeup, Gene Simmons adopts The Demon persona.

KISS’s Eric Singer unmasked and without makeup

Following the death of the late-great Eric Carr in 1991, new drummer Eric Singer didn't adopt his The Fox persona; instead he resurrected original drummer Peter Criss' The Catman guise.

KISS’s Tommy Thayer unmasked and without makeup

Joining KISS permanently in 2002, Tommy Thayer jumped straight into Ace Frehley's platform heels and took on his The Spaceman makeup design.

Ghost Nameless Ghoul unmasked

In March 2017, a Swedish musician called Martin Persner shared a video claiming he was formerly a Nameless Ghoul in Ghost called Omega. He left the band in July 2016 after a seven-year stint.

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