I first heard of Royal Blood last year, when I heard their single, “Figure It Out,” on the radio, and was immediately impressed. I was even more impressed when I found out that the band, hailing from Brighton, UK, only consisted of the duo, Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher. They manage to create a sound that’s much greater than the sum of their parts with tremendous vocals and intense drumming and bass.
Since the debut of their self-titled album last August which climbed its way to #1 on the UK Album Chart, the band has taken off in a big way in the UK and Europe, grabbing both NME and Brit Awards. They have sold out major venues overseas and have toured with huge bands like the Arctic Monkeys and The Pixies… just to name a few.
The duo are now touring across the U.S., looking to take the States by storm. Following their performance at Governors Ball three weeks ago, Royal Blood is gearing up for their tour with the Foo Fighters, where they will be playing at Citi Field on July 15 and 16. Drummer Ben Thatcher took some time to answer a few questions about their music, touring, and what’s next for the band.
What do you wish more people knew about Royal Blood?
That we have exactly the same sized hands. I’m surprised it’s not been talked about more.
For those who have never heard your music, how would you describe your sound?
Rock and roll. Unabashed, uninhibited. Expect the unexpected. Loud.
What’s it like touring with and opening for such a huge band like the Foo Fighters?
Well, unfortunately due to Dave’s injury, we didn’t get to play the huge London shows he had planned – so we play our first show on July 6 in New Jersey. We can’t wait!
How do crowds in the U.S. compare to those in the UK and Europe? How about playing in NY specifically?
The U.S. Crowds can be wild, and in the tiniest towns & cities. We love not knowing and so long as everyone is there to have a good time, then that’s all that matters. New York we’ve only played a couple of times, we can’t wait to play Citi Field in New York!
If you could collaborate with any other artists right now, who would it be and why?
Tough question- I like the idea of doing something with an artist from a different genre. Like Run The Jewels or something like that.
What’s it like going from playing small gigs to selling out huge arenas opening for big bands and playing at festivals?
It’s amazing – but you treat both the same; we’re there to put on a show and leave the crowd breathless. It’s a high energy show. It’s definitely mad how fast things have progressed, but it’s such an enjoyable journey and everything happens so quickly that it’s hard to have a moment to think about it.
Already given your massive success, winning NME and Brit Awards, what can we expect regarding new music in the future?
We’re starting to play around with a few ideas for album #2 – I don’t anticipate going away for a long time; we’re keen to start work after we finish touring and get something out next year. At the moment, it’s a combination of brain riffs and iPhone snippets!
What advice would you give to new/struggling artists looking to break into the music scene?
Keep going with it, and ultimately have fun with it. It should never lose its fun.
