Royal Blood’s performance at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend was pretty controversial. According to NME, the events in Dundee on May 29, 2023, became one of the most talked-about moments in the band’s career.
Royal Blood’s Dundee Controversy
The tension began when frontman Mike Kerr addressed the unresponsive crowd with pointed sarcasm. “I guess I should actually introduce ourselves seeing as no one actually knows who we are,” he remarked. The situation got pretty intense after Kerr commented on the minimal response to his question about rock music fans. “Nine people. Brilliant,” he noted before the band started clapping for themselves.
According to Consequence, the band performed between Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi. This scheduling may have contributed to the audience’s lukewarm reception.
What Happened After The Shocker?
The performance ended dramatically. Kerr threw his guitar to the floor and exited the stage with both middle fingers raised to the crowd. The incident quickly went viral. Stereogum reported that the band later addressed the controversy and accepted that they misdirected their frustration.
Critical Success Despite Controversy
The band’s triumph with their album ‘Back to the Water Below’ makes this story interesting.
Warner Records released the band’s fourth studio album on September 8, 2023. The controversy didn’t have an affect on their artistic progress. The Independent noted that the incident may have increased public interest in their new material.
The record earned a Metacritic score of 81 out of 100 based on seven critics’ reviews. Publications like Mojo praised its ‘top-drawer tunes throughout.’ Kerrang!’s Mark Sutherland noted the album’s potential to ‘broaden Royal Blood’s appeal still further’ through its ‘tightly-wound riffing and ludicrous lyrics.’
