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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mia O'Hare

Royal Blood slammed for demanding 'pathetic' Big Weekend crowd clap before walking off

Rock band Royal Blood have been slammed by fans after they called out the "pathetic" crowd and walked off stage holding two middle fingers up.

The Figure It Out hitmakers were performing at BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Dundee when they made sarcastic comments about how the audience were reacting to them.

Front man Mike Kerr took to the microphone and said: "Well I guess I should introduce ourselves seeing as no one actually knows who we are.

"We are Royal Blood and this is rock music."

He then asked the crowd: "Who likes rock music?"

The duo were met with cheers and Mike quipped: "Nine people, brilliant."

Royal Blood called out the crowd for not knowing them (BBC)

Mike then introduced the crowd to drummer Ben but then added: "We are happy to clap ourselves because that was so pathetic. Well done Ben.

The singer turned to the camera onstage as said: "Can you clap for us? You're busy? Can you clap - oh yes even he is clapping."

He then said to the crowd: "What does that say about you?"

Drummer Ben slammed his drum kit and Mike took off his guitar and walked off stage with his back to the audience, holding up two middle fingers.

The band were met with criticism from fans on social media as one said: "It’s Radio 1 Big Weekender .. what they expect . Don’t take the gig on if you’re to rock n roll to play in front of teenagers n families."

"Any band, no matter how big, need to work and make the crowd enjoy it. You cannot assume love," added another.

Singer Mike demanded the crowd clapped for them (BBC)

Someone else commented: "It’s a festival put on by Radio 1 for a Radio 1 audience. Not sure what type of crowd they were expecting."

"There's plenty of bands that'd love the chance to play to a crowd like that and deliver to get them onside. If you show the crowd you're having fun they will too," quipped a fan.

A gig-goer explained: "I was there in the crowd yesterday they did have support just not at the very front and tbh I left before they finished because of Mike's attitude, felt sorry for Ben."

"Impressively cringe behaviour from @royalblooduk," added another.

The rock duo have been going since 2011 and have three albums.

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend was held at Camperdown Park in Dundee and featured performances from Anne-Marie, Arlo Parks, Lewis Capaldi, Niall Horan, RAYE and The 1975.

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