Simon Söderberg

Simon Söderberg

“Alpha / Fire #1 (Fire element Ghoul)”

Musical co-founder of the project; recorded and produced Opus Eponymous. Simon Söderberg was Ghost's first lead guitarist and one of Tobias Forge's closest musical collaborators in the project's early years. The two knew each other from Linköping and had played together in Magna Carta Cartel, an alternative rock band, before Ghost took definitive shape. Under the alias 'Alpha' —the Fire element Ghoul—, Söderberg contributed not only the guitar riffs and solos on Opus Eponymous, Infestissumam and Meliora, but also programming and arrangements in the production of the early albums. In fact, it was he who recorded and produced the Opus Eponymous sessions, being fundamental in establishing the dark and melodic sound that would define Ghost. Söderberg was part of the band throughout the era of the first three popes, being the lead guitarist during the band's most important tours. Tobias Forge dismissed the entire lineup at the end of 2016. In 2017, Söderberg was the first of the four former Nameless Ghouls to publish a Facebook statement identifying himself and his fellow plaintiffs, revealing their identities and ending years of mystery. The lawsuit was heard before the Linköping District Court for six days but was dismissed in October 2018, with the plaintiffs also ordered to pay Forge's legal costs.