Ghost Pulls the Plug on Mexico City Opener as Frontman Falls Ill

Swedish rock powerhouse Ghost was forced to cancel the first of its three scheduled shows in Mexico City after frontman Tobias Forge became ill just hours before showtime. The band was set to perform on Tuesday, September 23, at Palacio de los Deportes as part of its global “Skeletour,” supporting the chart-topping album Skeletá.

Forge, currently performing as the masked character Papa V Perpetua, reportedly suffered a bout of food poisoning severe enough to prevent the band from taking the stage. Ghost released an official statement shortly before showtime, apologizing to fans and confirming that the concerts scheduled for September 24 and 25 would proceed as planned.

“It is with deep regret that we must inform you the Ghost show tonight, September 23, has been cancelled,” the band stated. “Tobias Forge is suffering from food poisoning, which makes it impossible for the band to perform. The concerts scheduled for September 24 and 25 will take place as planned.”

Refunds for the canceled show will be issued automatically for online purchases. Fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster outlets can request a refund starting September 26 at the original point of sale.

The Skeletour: A Theatrical and Technological Leap

Ghost’s “Skeletour” has quickly become one of the band’s most ambitious and visually striking tours to date. Designed by Tobias Rylander in collaboration with Tobias Forge, the tour embraced a grand theatrical scale, combining gothic symbolism with brutalist architecture. The set design transformed the stage into a shadowy sanctum of sound—part cathedral, part coliseum.

At the center of the visual experience stood the “Grucifix,” a massive reinterpretation of Ghost’s iconic crucifix logo. Suspended above the band, the Grucifix served both as a lighting rig and a dramatic focal point, casting an ethereal glow over the stage. Scenic facades on lighting pods mirrored the soaring verticality and textures of European cathedral interiors.

Drawing from classic rock influences, the lighting design nodded to the aesthetics of Queen and Van Halen, while video projections, created in partnership with Green Wall Designs and directed by Amir Chamdin, expanded the stage into a fully immersive multimedia environment.

Mechanized lifts, hidden entrances, and elevated platforms allowed for dynamic character reveals and dramatic transitions, making the stage an active participant in the storytelling. Ghost’s live show has evolved into a performance art spectacle, where sacred themes meet the raw edge of rock and roll.

Chart-Topping Album and the Rise of Papa V Perpetua

Ghost’s sixth studio album Skeletá, released in April 2025, made an immediate impact—debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album moved 86,000 equivalent album units in its first week, with 77,000 of those being traditional album sales. Vinyl accounted for over 44,000 of the units, underlining Ghost’s strong appeal among collectors and audiophiles. Skeletá became the first hard rock album to top the Billboard chart since AC/DC’s Power Up in 2020.

The album’s lead single, “Satanized,” introduced fans to Ghost’s newest persona: Papa V Perpetua. In keeping with the band’s theatrical mythology, Forge has adopted a new “Papa” character for nearly every album cycle. Previous incarnations include Papa Emeritus I, II, III, and IV, with a brief interlude led by Cardinal Copia during the Prequelle era in 2018. Papa V was officially introduced at the end of the band’s Prequelle tour in Mexico City in March 2020.

Ghost’s 2025 world tour launched in Manchester, UK, on April 15 and concluded the European leg on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American run began on July 9 in Baltimore and wrapped up on August 16 in Houston. Throughout the tour, Ghost implemented Yondr pouches to create phone-free zones, allowing fans to experience the show without digital distractions.

Phones and smartwatches were secured in magnetically locked pouches, which could be opened only after exiting the restricted zones or at designated unlocking stations within the venue.

A Minor Setback in a Monumental Year

While the canceled Mexico City show was an unfortunate blip in an otherwise triumphant year, Ghost’s momentum remains unshaken. With Skeletá dominating charts and the “Skeletour” pushing the boundaries of live rock performance, Tobias Forge and company continue to redefine what it means to deliver a modern rock spectacle—complete with mythology, message, and mesmerizing production.