Geordie Greep takes the stage to deny rape allegation at Vancouver show, saying “I’m not a rapist”

Geordie Greep at 2026 SXSW Conference & Festival on March 17, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Geordie Greep addressed a rape accusation from the stage last night in Vancouver. (Image credit: Griffin Lotz/Rolling Stone via Getty Images)

British guitarist Geordie Greep took the stage alone in Vancouver on Thursday, October 8, to address a rape allegation after someone distributed fliers accusing him of sexual assault outside the venue. The former black midi frontman denied the accusation and apologized for making someone uncomfortable, as he put it. He also offered refunds to anyone who wanted to leave.

Speaking to the audience, Greep recounted a late-night encounter following an evening out with members of his band.

“Essentially what happened last night, me and some of the band we went out to some bars, we went out, we met people, and it ended up in a situation really late at a house party. I got the wrong end of the stick with someone who was there, and I made a move, and it didn’t come off.”

October 8th, 2026 Geordie Greep discusses accusations by a man handing out flyers in Vancouver - YouTube October 8th, 2026 Geordie Greep discusses accusations by a man handing out flyers in Vancouver - YouTube
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Greep described the encounter as a misunderstanding and rejected the rape allegation.

“I really quickly apologized, and it was a complete misunderstanding on my part, and I felt extremely bad, I feel extremely sorry, and extremely upset about the situation,” he continued. “I would never rape a woman. I’m not a rapist. It’s not how that went down.”

Outside the venue, fliers handed out before the concert presented a starkly different accusation. One read: “Geordie Greep A Rapist. You know what you did this morning Oct 8th. He thinks he can do whatever he wants because he’s gone tomorrow. Let Him Know What Vancouver Thinks of Rapists.”

Greep, who was the frontman and guitarist for British experimental rock band Black Midi before launching his solo career with the 2024 album The New Sound, also explained why he performed without his regular backing band. He said he didn’t want to insist the musicians take the stage given the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

“It’s a very strange thing to have happened and a very scary thing, so all of the band, I understand that I didn’t want to force them to still play a show in the light of that happening. We were unsure what the response would be to all this, and I can only tell you that it’s okay if people want refunds, if they want to leave, it’s fine.”

Greep added that he was pledging the concert’s proceeds to an anti-violence organization in British Columbia.

“We are going to donate the proceeds of this show to the Against Violence organization in [British] Columbia, and basically, I just wanted to be transparent with you about what happened. I’m very, very, very sorry; I made someone uncomfortable without meaning to. It’s not a good thing, it’s not good.”

According to Setlist.fm, Greep went on to perform a 10-song set without his band.

His tour is scheduled to continue in Boise on Friday, October 9, followed by a performance in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 10. As of this writing, it remains unclear whether his backing band will rejoin him for either show.

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GuitarPlayer.com editor-in-chief

Christopher Scapelliti is editor-in-chief of GuitarPlayer.com and the former editor of Guitar Player, the world’s longest-running guitar magazine, founded in 1967. In his extensive career, he has authored in-depth interviews with such guitarists as Pete Townshend, Slash, Billy Corgan, Jack White, Elvis Costello and Todd Rundgren, and audio professionals including Beatles engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. He is the co-author of Guitar Aficionado: The Collections: The Most Famous, Rare, and Valuable Guitars in the World, a founding editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine, and a former editor with Guitar World, Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Maximum Guitar. Apart from guitars, he maintains a collection of more than 30 vintage analog synthesizers.