It doesn’t get much more intimidating than this. Ghost frontman Tobias Forge took to the stage in Stockholm to perform Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in front of an audience that included Queen legends Brian May, Roger Taylor, and current frontman Adam Lambert. Even Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf was in attendance. Forge, masked as always, looked understandably nervous at first but quickly found his stride. He was joined onstage by Opeth guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, adding both power and elegance to the legendary rock anthem.
This standout performance took place during the 2025 Polar Music Prize ceremony—often described as the “Nobel Prize of music.” Forge’s cover was one of several musical tributes celebrating this year’s honorees, which included Queen, jazz great Herbie Hancock, and soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan.
Queen Takes the Spotlight
Receiving the award, Brian May shared a heartfelt reflection:
“In this special moment, I contemplate how that younger Brian May in 1974 would have felt if he knew that we would be living this kind of dream 50 years in the future.”
Roger Taylor added:
“We were fortunate in the fact that our four wildly different personalities came together to achieve a wonderful chemistry.”
Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Marie Ledin, managing director of the Polar Music Prize, said:
“Queen, a band synonymous with the very fabric of pop culture, have made an impact on music that spans decades, generations and genres. They are a most deserving recipient, beloved the world over.”
Music Royalty Meets Musical Tributes
The Polar Music Prize, founded in 1989 by ABBA’s former manager Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, is known for honoring global music icons. Past winners include Paul McCartney, Metallica, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin. Winners receive one million Swedish Krona and a live musical salute—sometimes from the very artists they’ve inspired.
This year’s show, broadcast live from Stockholm’s Grand Hôtel, also featured performances by Adam Lambert, Erik Grönwall, Miriam Bryant, and jazz artists Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, and Leo Genovese. And when Forge belted out “Bohemian Rhapsody” in his own theatrical style, it was a fitting tribute to a band whose music has never stopped evolving—or inspiring.
Watch Ghost’s amazing performance of this classic Queen track in the video below:
