From the opening strains of Sister Christian or some Meat Loaf blasting through the PA to Hannah Greenwood emerging from a coffin and William Von Ghould surveying proceedings from a handcrafted gothic throne, the Off With Their Heads Tour arrived in London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town as the grandest Creeper production to date.
Creeper
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026
Words: Rhys Tagg
Photography: Jessica-Rose Lena
Filmed for posterity as part of a short UK run, the near-capacity O2 Forum Kentish Town witnessed a band performing with supreme confidence.
Ambitious stage shows are hardly new territory for Creeper, but something about the energy of this one pushed things even further. Every set piece, character appearance and theatrical flourish felt like another bite of a delicious meal, with songs strong enough to carry the weight of it all.
That connection between band and audience remains one of Creeper’s greatest strengths.
At various points throughout the evening, Will stood almost stunned as hundreds of voices sang entire verses back at him. Fans had travelled from across the UK and beyond, with some flying in from the United States and others following multiple dates on the tour.
Grown adults and young children painted in the band’s iconic vampire makeup made the atmosphere feel less like a standard rock show and more like a gathering of a community that continues to grow with every passing year.
For this writer, every London Creeper show has become essential viewing. Each tour adds another chapter to a story that began years ago and continues to evolve, while the world surrounding the band grows richer with every release. Audiences transcend gigs, stepping into a universe that exists far beyond the duration of a setlist.
As has become tradition in recent years, Creeper’s presence extended well beyond the venue itself. Camden effectively became Creeper’s lair for the day, with The Black Heart, Lost Souls Pizza and The Underworld each playing their part in the celebrations.
The Black Heart opened its doors early for the band’s pop-up shop, tattoo studio and themed cocktails. Bargain hunters delighted in heavily discounted merchandise, with shirts available for as little as £5 and hoodies reduced to £20.
Judging by the queues, plenty of fans arrived home with additions to their wardrobes before the evening had even begun.
A short walk away, Lost Souls Pizza embraced the occasion with Creeper-themed pizzas and cocktails. Few bands inspire enough devotion for fans to spend an afternoon eating black pizza before heading to a huge show, but few bands have cultivated a fanbase quite like Creeper’s.
The music began with Atlanta’s Starbenders, who brought swagger, energy and a healthy dose of hard rock attitude. Opening with Blood Moon, the quartet tore through songs including The Beast Goes On and Sex before closing with Saturday. A shirtless guitarist, punchy riffs and infectious enthusiasm made for an entertaining start to the evening.
London-based trio Calva Louise followed with a performance that repeatedly left onlookers wondering how frontwoman Jess Allanic was managing to sing, play guitar and handle keyboard duties seemingly all at once. Tracks including W.T.F showcased the band’s adventurous approach, while the international makeup of the group only added to their appeal. With members hailing from Venezuela, New Zealand and France, Calva Louise felt every bit the world-class act their growing reputation suggests.
As the house lights dimmed for the main event, a voiceover echoed around the venue before a lone silhouette appeared against blood-red lighting. Closely followed by the arrival of the Mistress Of Death. An imposing force from the moment she stepped into the light, she commanded immediate attention, dispatching her first victim to the delight of the crowd before the curtain dropped and Creeper launched into Blood Magic.
The reaction was immediate. Voices bounced back towards the stage with astonishing volume as fans greeted every lyric, every riff and every dramatic gesture with unwavering enthusiasm. Material from Sanguivore and Sanguivore II understandably dominated the set, with songs from both records proving tailor-made for large stages and devoted audiences.
During Lovers Led Astray, Hannah emerged with outstretched arms, encouraging a sea of waving hands and foam headstones above the crowd. Parasite landed with equal force before Headstones provided one of several opportunities for Hannah’s vocals to shine.
For Black House, Will was presented with a rotary phone, singing directly into the mouthpiece before taking a seat upon his elaborate gothic throne.
One of the evening’s standout sequences arrived with Razor Wire as two vampire familiars appeared carrying a coffin onto the stage. The lid creaked open, Hannah emerged to a deafening reception and delivered a haunting performance that perfectly captured the dark romanticism at the heart of Creeper’s identity. Around her, the stage resembled the set of a gothic horror film brought vividly to life.
Throughout the night, Will remained a magnetic presence. Whether directing crowd singalongs during Cry To Heaven, pouring emotion into More Than Death or simply watching the audience take ownership of a song, his ability to connect with people remains extraordinary.
The guillotine’s arrival towards the end of the set brought knowing cheers from every corner of the Forum.
Returning armed with her axe, the Mistress of Death stalked across the stage like Creeper’s own Ninth Wonder Of The World. Will’s theatrical decapitation prompted one of the loudest reactions of the night, with the severed trophy raised triumphantly overhead while fans roared their approval.
The encore shifted gears slightly for the final three tracks. Hiding With The Boys provided a welcome nod to earlier chapters of the band’s catalogue and sparked another huge singalong from a crowd that had somehow found even more energy.
But Misery, a song that has gradually become something larger than Creeper themselves, proved the night’s ultimate triumph.
Before Will reached the first line, vast sections of the audience had already begun to murmur the lyrics. Friends threw arms around shoulders, strangers sang every word together, some smiled through tears while others simply stood absorbed by the occasion.
Will recognised what was happening and stepped away from centre stage, leaving the crowd to carry the song for him. Few frontmen can command attention quite like Will Gould, but recognising when a song belongs to the people in front of him may be an even rarer gift.
As the closing stretch approached, Will thanked the audience on behalf of the band before Creeper crashed headlong into a thunderous finale.
By the time the final notes rang out, black makeup and fake blood streaked countless faces throughout the venue. Whether caused by sweat, tears or a mixture of both scarcely mattered.
What remained was the feeling of having witnessed a band operating at the absolute peak of their powers.
Long after the final encore, Creeper’s grip on Camden continued. Fans drifted towards The Underworld, where Creeper Karaoke kept spirits high before members of the band took control of the decks themselves.
Those who stayed until the small hours were rewarded once again when Hannah grabbed the microphone and joined in singing along to Ice Nine Kills, Twisting The Knife, bringing an already memorable day to a fitting conclusion.
Most shows leave behind memories. Creeper leave chapters, and judging by the scenes inside the O2 Forum Kentish Town, plenty more pages remain to be written.
