British award winning rock two piece Royal Blood have courted controversy after their fiery festival performance.
The band, based in Brighton, has enjoyed massive success over the years after announcing themselves on the rock scene in 2014 with their self-titled debut album. The overwhelming warm feeling for the band is set to be put to the test however, as the duo were filmed criticising the crowds at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Performing on the festival’s main stage, frontman Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher mocked the audience accusing them of a lacklustre vibe and labelling them ‘pathetic’. During the band’s set, Kerr addressed the masses saying, “well, I guess I should introduce ourselves seeing as no one actually knows who we are. We’re called Royal Blood and this is rock music. Who likes rock music? Nine people, brilliant.”
Kerr went on to castigate the crowd, telling them that the band needed to clap for themselves since the reaction from spectators was pathetic. As the set came to a close, Kerr could be seen throwing down his guitar and walking off the stage as he gave the finger to the perplexed crowd.
The BBC removed the performance from their online coverage but reaction to the band has drawn many into a debate as to where and who the fault lies with: some have slammed the band, others have supported the duo and some have even laid blame at the festival’s door.
Some fans have expressed shock at the band’s behaviour, pointing out that Royal Blood need not show up to play festivals if they do not feel they fit in with the bill, with a Twitter user commenting, “the arrogance is absolutely off the scale.” Others have accused the band of being entitled whingers, lacking a respect for the audience. Some fans of the group have weighed in, saying a large band who have the ability to sell out festivals deserve more of a reaction from fans and can understand the reaction.
The rock band Royal Blood have got live music the wrong way round. You don’t get automatic applause & affirmation from a crowd; you have to earn it. Talk abt entitlement. And don’t try it in Dundee where folk ran Churchill out of town! pic.twitter.com/81EM6S6UCo
— Gerry Hassan (@GerryHassan) May 30, 2023
Still some others believe the festival should take responsibility adding a band to the lineup that may not exactly fit in with the rest of the headlining acts. Attracting a younger more pop slanted concert goer, some believe Royal Blood may have been comfortable on a more rock oriented festival instead of Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
State of the responses to this. Royal Blood will be co-headlining at the biggest festival in the world this summer. They deserve the crowd to be giving it a bit. Proper music like this is dying now a days. Kids haven’t got a clue. — Ryan (@Ryan0102030406) May 29, 2023
Festival organisers put them on between Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi, who’s idea was that?
— Askern Music Fest (@AskernMF) May 29, 2023
No matter which way one feels about the ‘tantrum’ thrown by a famous act, the debate surrounding on stage meltdowns will continue to divide opinion, with Royal Blood by no means being the first band to lose their cool in front of large audiences.
