Royal Blood: Rock duo on family life, intimate tour dates, and keeping music fresh

Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher joined The Evening Show with Dan O’Connell on Radio X to discuss their upcoming album, family life, and selecting smaller venues for their next tour.

Speaking about the venue selection for their upcoming UK dates—which include Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom—drummer Ben Thatcher explained that the chosen settings match the energy of the new record. Frontman Mike Kerr added that performing in more intimate venues creates a better experience for audiences, allowing the duo to feel closer to the crowd.

The interview also covered personal milestones for the band, with Thatcher opening up about becoming a father and balancing family commitments with a touring schedule. Kerr also announced his recent engagement. Thatcher noted that after spending a decade touring continuously, both members are in a settled phase of life that allows them to reflect on their achievements with greater clarity.

Addressing their creative process, Kerr discussed the challenge of keeping the band’s sound fresh across multiple releases, particularly within a two-piece lineup. He explained that their new music embraces heavy, drum-and-bass-driven elements reminiscent of Motörhead, a direction the band felt was largely unexplored in their previous work.

Kerr noted that while avoiding self-repetition grows more difficult with each album, using the natural limitations of a duo as a creative catalyst remains a satisfying part of their songwriting process.

Listen to The Evening Show with Dan O’Connell on Radio X Monday to Thursday from 19:00–22:00 across the UK and on YouTube.