British musician named 10 names that helped in his formation, in a balanced list between classics and more modern artists
THE Royal Blood has a slightly different operation compared to most rock bands. It is a duo with Ben Thatcher on the battery and Mike Kerr on vocals and… bass. That’s right: no guitar, although Kerr’s instrument sounds like one. The formula has worked, to the point that all of his albums have reached the top of the British charts.
Kerr was invited by Guitar World to make a list of 10 guitarists — and not bassists — who helped shape their sound. Initially, the English musician commented on this change and his approach to bass in the duo’s sound.
He said:
If I was playing bass in a more traditional setup, where I would have a guitarist with me, I would probably take a more traditional role sonically. In Royal Blood, everything I do has to be very riffy.”
According to the musician, Royal Blood’s duo format is something that forces him to enter the guitar territory — albeit with a lower-pitched instrument.
Being in a duo demands more melody, I think. I’m playing bass and changing what I’m playing an octave up and that transcends into guitar territory. It’s a combination of different things, but that’s the main reason.”
Regarding influences, Kerr mixed classic names with younger artists well. In the latter case, the presence of St. Vincentcited by him as one of the most brilliant and creative guitarists in the world. Regarding the artist’s real name Annie Clarkhe stated:
I would say that St. Vincent is without a doubt one of the best guitarists in the world today. I think she has that thing about her. Jeff Buckleywhere she has a great understanding of music theory, but manages to include this in her composition of riffs and songs in very subtle and enjoyable ways.”
Mike Kerr’s Top 10
Check out the list of 10 guitarists mentioned by Mike Kerr:
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
- Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)
- Marc Bolan (T. Rex)
- Jeff Buckley
- Jack White (The White Stripes)
- John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Andy Ghosh (Turbowolf)
- Kevin Parker (Tame Impala)
- Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
- St. Vincent
Jack White and the “joy in his fingers”
Another name on Mike Kerr’s list that stands out is Jack White. Just like Royal Blood, the White Stripes It was a duo, with the difference of having a guitar instead of a bass.
Therefore, the Royal Blood frontman’s observations regarding White’s playing are pertinent. About the guitarist, he said:
To begin with, I kind of missed the White Stripes. I didn’t discover them until later, but when I did, I was just taken by the aggression of his guitar playing. There’s an animation he has that’s just incredible. When he plays the guitar, it sounds like he’s so excited to be playing. It’s so inspiring. I love that energy, you know? He’s always bouncing off the walls when he’s got a guitar in his hands.”
Kerr also spoke about aspects more related to timbre, which are precisely where he and White would be closest. The vocalist and bassist said:
He’s also very interesting in terms of tone. He has a lot of interesting fuzz sounds, which have become a big part of my musical DNA. He loves vintage sounds, but he’s not into vintage gear… and honestly, I don’t know anything about gear. I think people are often surprised by that, maybe because of my setup or the sound. I just want things to work, but I’m not really interested in how they work.”
Finally, Mike mentioned another guitarist who plays with the same fuzz effect that he likes in Jack White’s sound. And, of course, another musician in a duo. He said:
Another fuzz guitarist I love is Dan Auerbach. Obviously, the Black Keys always sounds amazing, but I really like what he does in The Arcs too. Those records are unbelievable.”
The only artist mentioned who worked with Royal Blood was Josh Homme. The leader of the Queens of the Stone Age co-produced the album Typhoons (2021), the third in the group, alongside Paul Epworth and Kerr and Thatcher themselves.
Collaborated: André Luiz Fernandes.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
