Lady Gaga turned the O2 into a cathedral of chaos on Monday night as her Mayhem Ball rolled into town for the first of four shows.
The two-hour spectacular had everything: monster costumes, death-defying staging and enough costume changes to fill a Vogue spread.
But beyond the spectacle, it was a show packed with moments that reminded fans why Gaga remains pop’s most fearless superstar. Here are five things we learnt.
1. Gaga still knows how to make an entranceDescending from the rafters in a metallic cage, she tore into the opening number with full pyrotechnic fury. The roar from the sold-out arena set the tone for a night that was as much theatre as it was concert.
2. The fashion was as outrageous as everOn stage, Gaga cycled through a dizzying wardrobe — from spiked leather bodysuits to a shimmering gown with a 20-foot train. Each look pushed boundaries, cementing her reputation as pop’s reigning style provocateur.
3. It wasn’t just about the hitsYes, Bad Romance, Poker Face and Shallow all had their moment, but Gaga gave just as much space to tracks from her latest record, showing she is still intent on challenging her audience with new material rather than resting on greatest hits alone.
4. The quiet bits landed just as hard as the chaosFor all the flames and choreography, the stillest moments proved some of the most powerful. Gaga sat behind the piano for a stripped-back run of Million Reasons, Shallow and Speechless, before closing with the unadorned ballad How Bad Do U Want Me. Twenty thousand fans holding their breath was as electrifying as any pyro blast.
5. Fans turned up in Gaga-inspired looks of their ownIt wasn’t just Gaga serving outrageous fashion. The O2 was filled with little monsters in sequins, wigs and towering platform boots, nodding to everything from the disco-stick days of Poker Face to full Chromatica couture. Some fans had clearly made the most of a recent Gaga-themed fashion pop-up in London, arriving in rented looks as theatrical as the star’s own. Together, the crowd became part of the spectacle — a glittering extension of Gaga’s vision.
If the Mayhem Ball proved anything, it’s that Gaga hasn’t lost her knack for turning a pop show into an all-consuming experience — one that is as much about community as it is about chaos.
Our evening at the O2 was kindly hosted by Nordic Spirit, the nicotine pouch brand.
