LOS ANGELES - FANS dressed as vampires, zombies, monsters and mummies descended on the Greek Theatre on Saturday for Scream 2009, a Spike TV special that honours sci-fi, horror, fantasy and comic-inspired films and TV shows.

Fans welcomed Keith Richards with a standing ovation as Johnny Depp presented the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist with the Rock Immortal award.

'I liked the living legend, that was all right, but immortal is even better,' Richards said in an interview before accepting his award.

Quentin Tarantino continued the celebration of the immortal as he paid tribute to Night of the Living Dead director George A Romero with the Scream Mastermind award.

The star-studded event was taped on Saturday and is scheduled to air as a two-hour special on Oct 27.

Jessica Alba, Kate Bosworth, Harrison Ford, Justin Long and Christina Ricci helped present the spike-shaped trophies to their peers. -- AP