We’re both very proud to say our fourth album ‘Back To The Water Below’ is now all yours.

We never imagined we’d make it this far! We’d like to make a point of saying thank you to all our wonderful fans, You’re the fuel to this rocket of ours, thank you for keeping us in orbit. pic.twitter.com/s2zmBg39oi

— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) September 1, 2023

The release of Royal Blood back in 2014, announced the guitar and drumming pair of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher onto the garage rock scene and kick started their journey to super- stardom and sold out arena shows. The album, debuting at number one on the UK album charts, went on to chart within the top ten of multiple countries around the world and also grab a Mercury Prize nomination. To give the album its deserved due and celebrate the momentous achievement, Royal Blood are now mulling over the idea of touring the album next year, in time for its 10 year anniversary.

The band have acknowledged there are a few proposals up in the air to mark the milestone, including a complete live album play-through and/or a revisit of the original tour. They’ve even, most assuredly tongue in cheek, suggested a firework display complete with drones and a musical score. The pair have also hinted at a possible stop along the way at 2024’s edition of the Reading and Leeds festival. It is fairly certain that, whatever the band do decide to do, fans will be poised and ready to join the band on what is sure to be an exciting honouring of such a huge landmark for the group.

The duo released their fourth studio effort, Back To The Water Below on the 1st of September, and are once again on course for another number one record in the UK. Speaking about the new album, guitarist Kerr said the intention behind the experimentation with new sounds was to be sure to not over think the process.

We can’t wait to play these songs live for you and hope to see you out there very soon.

Until then, turn it up

Nothing but love

Mike and Ben xhttps://t.co/nkOvkSSIMP pic.twitter.com/5TuE7Q933b

— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) September 1, 2023

Kerr said, “when we play together, that’s all that’s required for it to be Royal Blood. If we want to go somewhere new, we just go for it. We were basically always in agreement. We very rarely have disagreements about the songs and if we do, it means it’s wrong and we move on to something else. The chemistry is all you have. That’s the thing you have to cherish and if you push that to one side, it defeats the point of doing this.”

Royal Blood found themselves the unlikely centre of controversy earlier this summer, when their performance at BBC 1’s Big Weekend went viral for the band accusing the crowd of not being into the music and then flipping the finger as they walked off stage at the end of the set. The duo, perhaps understandably, continue to field questions over the matter but the band are happy that their music is once again taking the spotlight- for all the right reasons.

Royal Blood will be heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland this autumn. Tickets can be purchased here.

Royal Blood Tour:

20/10/2023 – O2 Apollo – Manchester
21/10 – Usher Hall – Edinburgh
22/10 – Stockton Globe – Stockton-on-tees
24/10 – Eventim Apollo – London
25/10 – Liverpool University Mountford Hall – Liverpool
26/10 – The Halls Wolverhampton – Wolverhampton
27/10 – Portsmouth Guildhall – Portsmouth
29/10 – The Telegraph Building – Belfast
30/10 – 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin
31/10 – 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin

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.

Get your towels ready.

29th July, we’re set to play our biggest ever local show on Brighton beach. We’re going to give it everything we got…

Pre-sale from Thursday at 10am. General sale Friday at 10am

Sign-up for pre-sale access https://t.co/7hxtHo8NnE

Sea you there pic.twitter.com/P3Ck5pfleL

— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) February 6, 2023

Pre-sale access will be available at 10 am on Thursday 9 February, followed by tickets available for purchase the next day on Friday 10 February at 10 am.

Royal Blood were also announced as one of the headliners for the Y Not Festival not long ago. This upcoming summer, they will be headlining Truck Festival alongside Alt-J, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats and Kendal Calling 2023 at the Lake District. They will also accompany Muse on their UK and European Tour, commencing on May 27 at Plymouth.

In the Truck Festival which takes place on July 21-23, Royal Blood expressed their thoughts about their headlining position. They said, “After being booked to play in 2021, we can’t wait to finally head to Oxfordshire and headline Truck Festival this summer! Expect a party.” 

Frontman and vocalist, Mike Kerr spoke to NME last year about their leading single, Honeybrains, which Kerr described as “a snapshot of right now.” including more “inclusive” music that would follow. He said to NME, “Even with “Typhoons” (2021 album), which was more of a departure than anything we’d done before, it’s never a designed or premeditated idea. We just follow what we’re feeling at the time. Having just made that record, we felt the most free, secure and unlimited. No thought went into this track- in the best possible way! I wasn’t writing for any reason. I wasn’t trying to write a single or the next Royal Blood song; I was just making music.”

The duo consists of bassist and vocalist, Mike Kerr and drummer, Ben Thatcher formed in 2013. They are known for their powerful and high-energy dynamics in most live performances, not to mention the electric drums Ben uses can change into different snare sounds, once the snare is hit. Their style consists of various combinations of punk, blues and hard rock that create a unique and electrifying musical experience.

Their self-titled debut album in 2014 rose to recognition, reaching number one on the UK album charts. Following up on their second album, How Did We Get So Dark? released in 2017 also received the widespread recognition that it truly deserved.

The main characteristics of their performance include a heavy bassline and beating drums which combine their uniqueness for a massive sound for their two-piece lineup. Overall, their neverending energy in live performances has been proven to be one of the most exciting acts ever, plus they have been touring extensively across the UK and Europe, as well as performing at very massive festivals like Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds.

In retrospect, Kerr commented how the band may have suffered from anxiety in regards to expectation for their second record, ‘How Did It Get So Dark?‘.  ‘It just wasn’t normal‘, he stated, ‘The usual progression is that your career and your fans grow with you on a nice and gentle lead up, whereas for us it was straight to the top. We’d only just worked out how to be in a band. We’d played together for our whole lives, but the thing was successful as soon as we put it out.’

Indeed, after the end of their second tour, the singer’s touring life – including drinks, drugs and hangovers – made its way into his personal life: ‘The problem wasn’t what was happening; the problem was me,’ he said. ‘Being someone who didn’t want the party to stop meant that I didn’t stop the party when I got home. It’s like coming back to work but still thinking you’re on holiday in Ibiza, wearing a Hawaiian shirt while you cook a barbecue up in the office.’

‘Typhoons‘, out on April 30th, is Royal Blood’s third album, is the representation of Mike Kerr’s sobriety: ‘Sobriety was something I knew I had to do in order to make this record. This album or this band wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t have done this. It was all quite scary.‘ Indeed, four songs already came out, giving us a taste of the highly anticipated album: ‘it was like I had woken up from a coma and someone said, ‘Right, Mike, you’re in a band and it’s called Royal Blood – you play bass; these are the songs. Have fun!’