CHART-topping rock duo Royal Blood have announced a Belfast show just days after their on-stage strop at the Radio 1 Big Weekend in Dundee went viral.
The West-Sussex-bred band have been roundly mocked after footage of them chiding the Scottish crowd for not being enthusiastic enough was shared online.
Royal Blood making their feelings known about the crowd at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend yesterday
— The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevival_) May 29, 2023
pic.twitter.com/Meh6GZnByJ
Bassist/vocalist Mike Kerr was captured sarcastically addressing the audience, saying: "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."
He then complains about how "we're having to clap ourselves because that was so pathetic", before appealing to the onstage camera operator to "clap for us". At the end of their set, Kerr threw down his bass and strode off stage with both middle fingers raised to the crowd.
Social media reaction to the strop was quick and severe. Veteran music journalist Neil Kulkarni condemned the band's behaviour as "hateful", describing the act - who have released three Number One albums but never had a Top 40 single - as a "mediocre crock of s***".
Every great band I’ve ever seen has never felt the need to do this. Hateful, especially from such a fucking mediocre crock of shit as Royal Blood. https://t.co/2xKCYxsVyX
— ⚫Neil Kulkarni (@KaptainKulk) May 29, 2023
Primal Scream bassist Simone Butler was also non-plussed by Royal Blood's actions, describing Mike Kerr as an "entitled mummy's boy"...
if u want a masterclass of how to act like a shitty entitled mummy’s boy even when someone’s paid u a huge fee to play infront of a massive crowd then just watch that thing from the royal blood at the Radio one big wknd . Must think they’re the MC5 in their heads
— simone marie (@simonemarie4) May 29, 2023
... while Belfast-born Levellers guitarist and vocalist Dan Donnelly condemned the group for acting "like little babies" at the well-paid show.
Royal Blood’s agent puts them on at a pop festival for money and instead of getting the job done and bollicking their management afterwards, they act like little babies and insult the crowd paying to see a band who probably shouldn’t be on the bill. https://t.co/bKtwY7qVmX
— Dan Donnelly (@dandinnerlady) May 29, 2023
The Warner Music-signed duo, whose new album Back To The Water is due out on September 9, have yet to respond to the controversy. However, they will get to experience a Belfast crowd's reaction to their music when they play at The Telegraph Building on October 29.
Tickets go on sale via ticketmaster.ie on June 2.
