Radio 1 DJ Greg James has addressed a row involving Royal Blood after the band branded the Dundee Big Weekend crowd “pathetic”.
The Brit Award-winning rock duo performed on the main stage before Niall Horan on Sunday.
Not impressed with the crowd’s reaction, the band – consisting of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher – made their feelings known throughout their set.
Singer Kerr said: “I guess we should introduce ourselves seeing as no one knows who we are.
“We’re called Royal Blood and this is rock music. Who likes rock music? Nine people, brilliant.”
After performing hit Little Monster, Kerr said: “We’re having to clap ourselves because that was so pathetic, well done Ben.”
Focusing on the camera, he continued: “Will you clap for us? Or are you busy? Even he’s clapping, what does that say about you?”
After finishing the set, the bass player walked off stage holding his middle fingers aloft.
The band’s performance has now been removed from the BBC’s iPlayer service and a video of the pair’s reaction, shared by The Rock Revival, has gone viral on Twitter – with millions of views.
Royal Blood making their feelings known about the crowd at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend yesterday 😂
— The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevival_) May 29, 2023
Music fans have reacted in their thousands to the footage.
One said: “If you can’t win a crowd, it’s not the crowd’s fault.”
Another wrote: “Huge fan of Royal Blood and their music, but throwing a tantrum like this at a crowd filled with teenagers isn’t as “rock ‘n’ roll” as you think it is.”
The Courier columnist Alistair Heather branded the group “fillers of a stage while we wait for proper talent to turn up”.
And comedian Alexandra Haddow joked on Twitter: “Ahhh, what a lovely relaxing bank holiday, now to log on for my first day as the PR manager for very cool and popular band Royal Blood.”
Fans blame scheduling for Royal Blood reaction
But some music fans sympathised with the group – blaming the scheduling.
One user wrote: “Festival organisers put them on (before) Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi, whose idea was that?”
Another said: “I was there and enjoyed Royal Blood.
“However, the Sunday audience had a large proportion of kids and a crowd predominantly there to see Lewis Capaldi.
“Not exactly going to go down a storm in that environment.”
Greg James addresses Royal Blood Dundee row
Presenter Greg – who donned a kilt at the festival on Sunday – addressed the row on his breakfast show on Tuesday.
He said: “Because there was a lot of fuss I watched their set.
“They always do the best show, those two.
“I know there’s a lot of fuss around Mike having a bit of a hissy fit with the crowd but that’s rock and roll.
“Also, the thing about the festival is you’ve got loads of people there to watch Lewis and Niall Horan – that’s the whole point, you get people into it.
“I think people are taking it too seriously. Mike and Ben are very funny boys and rarely do anything that’s not tongue-in-cheek.”
Representatives for Royal Blood have declined to comment.
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