Show Notes
Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr joins Scott Lipps to talk about the band’s unmistakable sound, having Jimmy Page watch them play, sobriety, and making their new album, Dead Company.
From learning piano as a kid to picking up the bass and the first Royal Blood rehearsal, Mike looks back at how it all started—and how quickly everything changed. He shares stories about opening for Queens of the Stone Age, navigating overnight success, and finding the desire to make music again after taking a break.
We get into recharging in Tokyo, Metallica’s influence on the new record, self-producing, and the stories behind “Ten Over Ten,” “Swallow the Bomb,” and “Mother Never Told You.” Mike also talks about training for the New York City Marathon, returning to Reading Festival, and the time he was left behind at a gas station on tour.
Plus: Mike’s top five Led Zeppelin songs and more on his conversations with Jimmy Page.
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SPIN presents Lipps Service with Scott Lipps.
CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:11 Playing SNL UK 03:25 How Royal Blood Get Their Sound 06:15 Jimmy Page Watching Royal Blood Play 08:18 Mike’s Childhood & Learning Piano 10:54 Learning to Play Bass 11:54 Opening for Queens of the Stone Age 12:52 The First Royal Blood Rehearsal 15:19 Royal Blood Start Taking Off 17:35 What Overnight Success Felt Like 19:08 Rock ’n’ Roll’s Resurgence 21:49 Making Music Again After a Break 24:14 Recharging in Tokyo 27:06 Metallica’s Influence on the New Record 28:45 Mike’s Songwriting Process 32:31 Self-Producing the New Record 35:24 Bringing in Nick Raskulinecz 37:09 Why the Album Is Called Dead Company 38:30 “Ten Over Ten” & NYC Marathon Training 42:38 The Story Behind “Swallow the Bomb” 44:15 The Story Behind “Mother Never Told You” 46:13 Returning to Reading Festival After a Two-Year Break 48:42 The Upcoming UK Tour 51:11 Left Behind at a Gas Station on Tour 53:34 Mike Kerr on Sobriety 56:09 Mike’s Top Five Led Zeppelin Songs 1:00:17 Conversations with Jimmy Page
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