outside with the monsters

A lot of the fandom: “GHOST IS OVER!!”

Tobias Forge recently: “Ghost isn’t over, I’m just pausing it.”

A lot of the fandom: “THIS IS NEW INFO. HE JUST NOW CONFIRMED THIS.”

Meanwhile, me at some of yall: 

Good lord …

"I like Ghost, but don't like Tobias Forge."

Girl ... what?

Someone actually said to me, “You can like Ghost but not like Tobias Forge.” And ... I have a few things to say!

Tobias Forge is the sole continuous "official" member of Ghost. He writes the music, builds the concept, does the vocals, and controls the lore and direction. If you like Ghost, you like something that exists entirely because of him. That stance is like "I want to like the band without giving credit or appreciation to the person who does literally everything associated with it." Girl, shut up.

This isn’t like “I hate Lars Ulrich but love Metallica.” (Which, valid) It’s closer to saying “I don’t like Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross but I love Nine Inch Nails,” which is … a strange distinction to make. I get that some see it as a separation of art from artist, but you cannot do that when the artist IS the creation. Ghost would not exist without Tobias Forge, and as of now, no one would continue it without him

You can dislike Tobias Forge as a person, sure. And if you don't like him, go ahead. No one is saying you must. But saying you like Ghost while disliking the person who IS Ghost in every meaningful way is just a bit incoherent.

I mean, if incoherent was what you were going for, great! You nailed it! Just don't act shocked when people notice. /shrug

Cross posted from my fansite, edseldopefan.org.

I went back and forth on whether I wanted to say anything about the upcoming Matt Zane “documentary” on Wayne Static and Tera Wray Static. But ultimately, staying silent doesn’t sit right with me. I care about Wayne, and pretending this is harmless would feel wrong. Please note that I am not speaking for or on behalf of Edsel Dope, Static-X, or Wayne and Tera’s families. All opinions are my own.

Matt Zane is producing an unauthorized documentary based on his time as a friend and collaborator to Wayne and Tera. Both families have publicly opposed this project – which, frankly, should have been the end of it. Instead, the project continues, complete with a crowdfunding campaign inviting fans to contribute.

I’ve watched the campaign video. “Disturbing” barely covers it. What I saw wasn’t remembrance. It wasn’t respect. It was exploitation.

If you want to hear Wayne’s voice, honour his art, or experience his final recordings, you already can. Static-X released them. There is also an officially authorized Static-X documentary on the way – created with the blessing of the people who knew and loved Wayne best.

So if Matt Zane truly cared, why didn’t he go through the proper channels? Why avoid the people who could give permission? The answer feels obvious: he knew they would say no. And with Static-X’s revival thriving and an authorized documentary in progress, Zane’s crowdfunded project reads far more like a predatory cash-grab than any kind of tribute.