Blur frontman Damon Albarn had some choice words for the crowd at Coachella over the weekend, after festival-goers didn’t exactly give the band the warmest of receptions.
The British group performed at the US festival on Saturday night, delivering a set that included classic hits and new material.
However, the crowd at Coachella (where Grammy-winning rapper Tyler, The Creator was Saturday night’s headliner) didn’t exactly seem too fussed about the fact they were watching British rock royalty.
In particular, Damon seemed displeased at not being able to get the crowd singing along with hit single Girls & Boys, despite his best efforts.
“You’re never seeing us again, so you might as well fucking sing it,” he told the crowd towards the end of the song, adding: “Know what I’m saying?”
As clips of the set began being shared across social media, they sparked plenty of debate about if the crowd actually “deserved” to see Blur – or whether the Britpop group were an appropriate booking for such a prominent slot on the Coachella line-up.
Blur’s set also included a version of their rousing signature tune Song 2 (which, to be fair, did get the crowd going), as well as tracks from their chart-topping 2023 album The Ballad Of Darren.
The group also welcomed the Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers, a group of indigenous singers from the region where Coachella is held, to the stage towards the end of their set.
Damon Albarn was previously a surprise guest during Billie Eilish’s headlining Coachella set in 2022, joining the two-time Oscar winner for a rendition of her song Getting Older.
While Blur will not return for Coachella’s second weekend, another of Damon’s acts, Gorillaz, will perform a set on Friday night.