Led by Papa Emeritus II and backed by a band of Nameless Ghouls, Ghost B.C. is one of the most mysterious bands in music today. Hailed by the likes of Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down) and James Hetfield (Metallica), the group’s ominous melodies are highlighted by snaking, distorted guitar riffs and vaudevillian keyboards.
The group’s newest record, Infestissumam, will be released in Canada this coming Tuesday. The closest that Ghost B.C. will be coming to New Brunswick for the time being is a May 8 show in Quebec City although in speaking with one of the Nameless Ghouls from Ghost B.C., he says they hope to find their way to Maritimes in the not too distant future.
Where did the idea of wearing outfits to conceal your identity come from?
From the outset, we knew that the material we were writing was going to sound a specific way. Knowing we were going to be a part of an “image: band, we knew that in order to keep people focused on what we are doing, we were better off if we weren’t polluting it with our faces. To make it believable, it is something that we needed to do. By wearing our cloaks on stage, it also allows us to go more fully into the role of what Ghost B.C. is and make that feel magical.
In your opinion, is originality, musical or otherwise, largely lacking in music these days?
What we do goes against the whole idea of becoming a rock star. Most groups these days are made up of a bunch of 20 year olds who just want to get messed up. Every one of their thoughts is posted on Twitter, every moment of their lives on Instagram. That is how I think we differentiate ourselves, for the things we do but also for the things that we don’t do. We feel it is more interesting this way.
How receptive has your label been to letting you follow through on your vision?
We have been very lucky thus far. Universal heard the record and were just in awe of the material so there was no pressure whatsoever coming from their side. We are very lucky to be working with Tom Whalley who signed left of centre bands like Helmet and Primus to Interscope. Tom’s specialty is to see and harness a kind of underground steam and to help it flourish as best as he can.
Article published in the April 11, 2013 edition of Here Magazine