How Ghost Are Using A Metallica Cover To Help Trans Kids
One of the planet's most polarising bands is trying to make the world a little bit more inclusive.
Ghost have divided the opinion of rock and metal fans all around the globe throughout their meteoric rise to the top of the industry - and their cover of Enter Sandman by Metallica was greeted with chagrin among elitists. However, love it or hate it, the track is helping a very worthy cause - as the man behind the mask, Tobias Forge, recently told Revolver.
When asked how it came about that Ghost would cover Metallica and, in particular, the iconic Enter Sandman, Forge revealed how the band actually asked him - and that he was initially hesitant to do so.
"In 2018, when they were going to be given the Polar Music Prize, we were invited to play for them at the ceremony. I immediately said yes because they've been so instrumental for me, mentally and career-wise. Then they asked if we'd open the whole ceremony by playing 'Enter Sandman' because that's their biggest song. And then I was like, 'Uh … do we have to play that? There's so many other songs that would feel more comfortable.' That's like playing 'Smoke on the Water' or 'Highway to Hell.' I felt we would just look like a bad cover band. But they said that's what they wanted, so they asked us to consider it."
Forge, of course, rose to the challenge and the Ghost frontman performed the track at the ceremony with Candlemass. That version, surprisingly, was rather laid back in comparison to the newer version which appears on Metallica's Blacklist record - which sees the likes of Miley Cyrus, Biffy Clyro, Elton John and Phoebe Bridgers take on tracks from one of the most legendary bands the genre of metal has ever known.
One little-known fact about the album, though, is that it's philanthropic - with proceeds being donated to charity... Or charities! Tobias Forge went on to say how he was asked to pick a charity for the track to support, so every play of the cover actually benefits a unique organisation which supports transgender children.
"They also asked us to pick a charity to support. I had heard about this organization called Camp Aranu’tiq that was organizing summer camps for transgender kids. I felt that was a cool little connection because the track is being sung to a child, and also has that threatening but comforting hand being sort of held over the kid. So, it felt like, 'F*** yeah — that’s something we can completely support."
The charity, which was founded in 2009, hosts week-long camps with over 650 attendees every summer, and aims to build confidence, resilience and community for transgender and non-binary youths - and their families - by allowing children to be themselves while partaking in all the traditional activities any child would while at camp.
Fans seeing Ghost on their UK tour can expect to hear the song live, too, as Forge wants to raise as much money as possible for Camp Aranu'tiq.
"The way royalties flow, the more we play it live, the more money is generated for them, so we knew we had to play it on this tour. Every time we play it, more revenue ends up in their hands to allow these kids to go to these camps. Many of these kids don’t dare to be themselves where they live, so these camps are good for that."
The former Repugnant frontman was also keen to point out the synergy between the band and the charity. Forge has oft-mentioned how he doesn't believe he'd have been able to be a lead singer without becoming a completely different character - discussing how his temporary transformation allows him to be much more confident within himself.
"It’s ironic because we’re dressing up to become what we want to become. We have to transform. So that’s an additional little connection there. And I love the song, and we’re doing it for the kids.”
While it's incredibly brave to take on such an iconic track, we're sure Tobias Forge and Ghost will agree that it's nothing compared to the bravery of overcoming adversity to become the person you feel you truly are - but perhaps the true irony is that a band who are so polarising are doing what they can to make the world just a little more inclusive.
Love or hate the song, the benefits are clear to see, and we think a lot of people could agree that nothing else matters.
To support Camp Aranu'tiq, you can listen to Ghost's cover of Enter Sandman below - or simply find out more about the charity here.