A Texas venue has issued a statement defending their booking of Swedish rockers Ghost, whose presence was met with apprehension by local churchgoers.

Over the weekend, it was noted how Ghost’s performance in Midland, Texas was being opposed by members of a local church group, who came together to pray against the band’s show.

Speaking to ‘The Morning Show With Craig Anderson’ on a local radio station, Pastor Larry Long explained that he’s not protesting the show per se, but wondered what the organisers of the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center were thinking when they booked the gig.

“I don’t know that we can stop the band from coming — I don’t know how that works — but this is very concerning to me,” Long explained. “I’m not so much concerned about the band as I am about the fact that Wagner Noël didn’t have better sense than to sign this band.”

“What are those people thinking? Are they a part of our community? Do they care what the majority of our community might think about something like that? It’s quite remarkable to me that they would even sign a band like that.”

Larry Long went on to explain that the lyrics and beliefs of the “devil-worshipping” band are troubling to him.

“We have a freedom of religion in America, which means a freedom of irreligion and anti-Christian faith, if that’s what people want to do. And so, from that sense, yes, the band bothers me,” Long noted.

“I think the community should be alarmed about it. This is not healthy for our community. Because we Christians believe the devil is real, so when you have a devil-worshipping band… And I’m sure the band believes the devil’s real; I doubt that they’re just doing this as a part of their schtick for music and music they produce and so on.”

“And if you were to read some of the lyrics of their songs, they’re really quite disturbing.”

While the band’s performance took place on Monday night in Texas as planned, the organisers of the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center released a statement to a local news station (via Brooklyn Vegan) defending the band’s appearance.

“Shock rock has been a part of the heavy metal landscape from the early days of Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson,” the statement explained.

“Each performer bringing to the stage their own version of a cruel world. Ghost, with their album’s No. 3 spot on the Billboard charts, is continuing in those metal bands’ footsteps.”

“The venue is dedicated to offering a variety of performances that appeal to different audiences,” they concluded, noting that Christian rapper Toby Mac recently played a show at the same venue.

While we’re sure this isn’t the last time that Ghost will be met with controversy, we just hope they don’t attract the same amount of attention when they visit Australia next year.

Appearing as part of the 2019 Download Festival, the band also announced a sideshow for Brisbane during their visit next March. Check out all the details below.

Check out Ghost’s ‘Square Hammer’:

Ghost Australian Tour 2019

Wednesday, March 6th, 2019

The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD

Tickets: Live Nation

Also appearing at Download Festival 2019

Saturday, March 9th, 2019

Parramatta Park, Sydney, NSW

Monday, March 11th, 2019 (Long weekend)

Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, VIC

Download Festival 2019 Lineup

Sum 41 (Only Aus Shows)

Pennywise (Only Aus Shows)

Thy Art Is Murder

Polaris

Twelve Foot Ninja

Slaves

Voyager

Joining…

Ozzy Osbourne (Only Aus Shows)

Slayer (Final World Tour)

Judas Priest (Only Aus Shows)

Alice In Chains

Ghost

Rise Against (Only Aus Shows)

The Amity Affliction (Only Aus Shows)

Anthrax

Halestorm (Only Aus Shows)

Behemoth

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes

I Prevail

Converge

Frenzal Rhomb

Luca Brasi

Code Orange

Andy Black

The Fever 333

War On Women

High Tension

Outright

Ruins

Alien Weaponry