Neu Jeepers! Creeper: “It’s funny how the punk scene has this fascination with the finite”

Arriving on a wave of excitement, Creeper “painted a picture in their heads, and it’s slowly coming together.”

Words: Ali Shutler
2nd December 2015

“Most of the time I write these vampire heartbreak songs,” laughs Will Gould as he tries to describe his band, Creeper. “I know, it sounds ridiculous,” he continues - but then so much of their story does.

Sitting backstage at London’s Electric Ballroom before a show supporting Funeral For A Friend, Creeper are in jubilant spirits. Tonight marks their 15th show as a band but, as they take to the stage to the theme tune from ‘Casper, The Friendly Ghost’ and proceed to throw everything possible at a convincing and articulate half an hour, you’d never have guessed. The band still has that showroom polish but the individuals behind it have seen this life before.

When Our Time Down Here broke up due to real life commitments, the bands’ youngest members, Will and Ian withdrew. “The farewell tour was the best tour we ever did,” enthuses Will. “It’s funny how the punk scene has this fascination with the finite, when bands break up the shows are suddenly busy but we loved it all the same,” he finishes. Ian breaks the silence: “It was horrible for us.”

Taking a year off from music, the pair went their separate ways. “The longer you stay away from being creative the more that urge to create grows,” explains Will. And so, after a couple of abandoned avenues including eighties synth-pop and a musical about outer space, Creeper was born. They didn’t recruit - instead, whispers that they were making music again saw Sean Scott (bass), Dan Bratton (drums) and ex-Hang The Bastard guitarist Sina Nemati come to them. An eclectic, self-titled EP, bristling in catharsis and held together with a powerful sense of identity was recorded, released and that was that. Itch scratched.

Jeepers! Creeper: “It’s funny how the punk scene has this fascination with the finite.”

"The longer you stay away from being creative the more that urge to create grows."

— Will Gould

That was until Ricky Bates, the booker of the Southampton’s punk rock staple The Joiners convinced them to do a headline show. “I was really, really against it for so many different reasons, “reminisces Will. “I thought ‘Everyone’s going to think we’re such fucking pricks.’ We only had five songs but it sold out,” he gushes before admitting, “It still confuses me.” One show leads to another and then a tour supporting their teenage idols, Funeral For A Friend, brings us to today.

“We’ve gelled together as people,” Ian states. “A couple of the guys we met by getting them into the band, so we’ve grown together as people and as a group. The dynamic is stronger.”

“When you hang out with someone, you don’t have any real goals outside of just hanging out,” continues Will. “But when you play music with each other, that’s something special.”

“When our last band split up, we could step back and to focus on what we actually really wanted to do. The things we are trying to achieve now, we couldn’t with our old band,” furthers Ian.

“We never realised it would take off as quickly as it has or that it would have this impact,” offers Will. “We’re much more focused on making good records than our success but this time around, it’s come hand in hand. We’re just writing songs and playing shows and it’s the best thing ever. There’s nothing more to it.” “Normally, we’re more concerned about where we can fit a bit that sounds like Meatloaf or Elvis into a song, than what people are saying,” concludes Ian.

Years of musical osmosis has resulted in Creeper sounding like they do. Citing everything from The Ramones and The Replacements to AFI, David Bowie and Jim Steinman, whose worked with the likes of Bonnie Tyler, Meatloaf and The Sisters of Mercy, Creeper figured “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could combine these things and condense them into 3 minute punk-pop songs with really over the top theatrics.”

“In our own lives we’re anxious, problematic people but when we’re on stage, for half an hour we can take on the world,” states Will before continuing: “I would like people to feel at home at our show. We’ve always been the black sheep of the punk scene so if kids who are a bit fucked up, just like we are, come to our show they won’t feel out of place. Punk rock is a platform to have your voice heard.”

“Our band maybe wouldn’t have been so well received if it weren’t for Gnarwolves,” reveals Will. “They went out, did press and and shared their message. Being from that DIY punk scene, it was controversial but they’ve used their platform for something good and we want to do the same.”

An upcoming tour with Moose Blood and a slot at Takedown Festival, Creeper are already making good on their promise to spend a majority of 2015 on the road. There’s talk of a new EP in the pipeline but beyond that, the future is unplanned. ‘It’s because we’re children,” Will grins.

“What’s important to us is to carry on. This band is about creating something from nothing, going on stage and playing with real conviction. I think the special thing about Creeper is that unique connection we have with people. I want to see that grow,” asserts Will before Ian concludes. “The best case scenario is to get other people making art. The only reason we’re making music is because we picked up a record when we were younger, it’s all one big cycle.” Long may it turn.

Photos: Press and Sarah Louise Bennett / DIY. Creeper's self-titled debut EP is out now.

Tags: Creeper, Features, Interviews, Neu