Who are YUNGBLUD’s fans?

This month, YUNGBLUD has been tearing across the UK on a sold-out arena tour, bringing his ambitious amped-up blend of classic rock, punk, pop and much more besides to some of the biggest venues his homeland has to offer. And it somehow feels like he's still in the ascendancy.

But who are the tens of thousands who turn out each night to witness Dominic Harrison deliver one of the most exhilarating live shows of the year? We took a trip to Manchester's AO Arena to meet the Black Hearts Club and find out what they love most about YUNGBLUD’s music and why he proves such a divisive figure amongst rock fans.

How long have you been a fan of YUNGBLUD?
“My friend Kim came to me one day and said she is obsessed with this guy, and asked if I'd heard of him. Obviously I'd heard of YUNGBLUD – everybody has. I was rushing around, trying to find her a Christmas present and saw he had some tickets left on Viagogo and thought, 'Let's have a go!' So I bought the tickets and have been listening to him ever since. I had a little delve and I'm liking it, and I'm excited to see him tonight!”

What do you like about him now?
“I love his personality, his stance on life, his positivity, his love for all sorts of walks of life.”

What's your favourite song?
“The one I have on repeat is The Funeral. I've been loving that one.”

Why do you think YUNGBLUD divides opinion in the rock world?
“I think he has totally changed masculinity, he's been a huge force in that. I like heavy metal and he's a bit gentle for what I like, but I am a massive fan of who he is and that's why I've started listening to his music.”

What other bands are you listening to?
“Meshuggah, Gojira, a bit of Malevolence. My number one band is Neck Deep.”

What's your outfit today?
“I'm wearing platform Converse and fishnet leggings with roses on. These shorts are from Vinted and my jumper is from a charity shop.”

How long have you been a YUNGBLUD fan?
“For about four years. The first song I ever heard was Lowlife, which is an absolute tune. I resonated with that song so much because he says he's a low life and that he made bad decisions, and I make bad decisions! Well, I used to make bad decisions. I like that he's not scared to show himself and his emotions as a man, and it's difficult to do that. That's why I've got his lyrics tattooed on my arm – it says, 'Does that look like a good shot to you? Are you ready boy?' and it's about showing yourself. Being ready to show that you're a man and you do have emotions. Men's mental health is a big thing. When I heard these lyrics for the first time they made me cry.”

Why do you think YUNGBLUD divides opinion in the rock world?
“I think it's to do with the instruments, to be honest. I think some of his songs have piano solos and stuff like that, which is not very heard in rock. And I think people who are heavy rock fans say that's not rock. But I think he brings every genre into rock. Like in Ghost, it's very rocky but goes to strings for a bit, then to a rock instrumental that brings it back.”

What other bands do you listen to?
“Not many like YUNGBLUD, I won't lie. People like Catfish And The Bottlemen, The 1975, Lumineers. All of them.”

What's your favourite song?
“Oh, it's Ghosts. I go on such a rollercoaster with that song. Even though I have the lyrics to Change on my arm, Ghosts is another level.”

What's your outfit today?
“I'm wearing a YUNGBLUD T-shirt, some nice flared jeans and some Docs.”

How long have you been a YUNGBLUD fan for?
“In the last four or five years. I love his music so much – the meaning to his music, the way he is, the way he respects his fans. He's so normal and humble for being such a massive artist and I love that so much. I think I first heard him on Radio 1 and it was just love from there on. I was like, 'Oh is he northern?!' and he sounded so fucking cool.”

Why do you think he divides opinion in the rock world?
“You either love him or hate him. I love him. He's young, he's northern, he's genuine, he's gifted and he's so in-tune with his fans regardless of age. He's got such an open view of everything, he supports us as his fans. I can't wait to see him tonight. This is the highlight of my 2026!”

What's your favourite song?
“War, it hits deeply with me. I can't describe why, it's just a personal thing I love about the tune. Every time it comes on I get goosebumps, I get emotional, and it hits me spiritually. I get into it whether I'm in my van, walking dogs or driving around.”

What other bands do you listen to?
“I'm varied, I love P!nk, I love Bon Jovi, I love a bit of R&B. But… YUNGBLUD! He's got me, I just can't explain. He's got me.”

What are you wearing today?
“A YUNGBLUD T-shirt, fishnets, a mini-skirt, my black long boots, a low-cut top and my leather wristbands.”

How long have you been a YUNGBLUD fan for?
“Probably since 21st Century Liability came out [in 2018]. My son photographed him for an interview when he was younger in his career and that's when I really got into him. His lyrics really relate to my experiences and some of the things I've been through – the songs Loner, My Only Angel and Ghosts especially. Anything that relates to going through hell-times. He's got the energy of a young Ozzy Osbourne or Mick Jagger. He's got the jig, he's got the whole X factor! All of us mums love him as well as the youngsters.”

Why do you think he splits opinion in the rock crowd?
“He's got the attitude of an older person in a younger person's body, I think. He thinks like older people do. He's a bit more sensible in some ways, but still got that attractive sort of rock vibe we still have. Even though you might look at us and think we're older, we're still 20 year olds in our heads.”

What's your favourite YUNGBLUD song?
“It's got to be Zombie. I love it. The lyrics hit so deep – I get really emotional listening to it.”

What other bands are you listening to?
“I listen to everything. I listen to really embarrassing crap. I can listen to country and rock, and whatever appeals to me at the time, really. I love finding new groups, new music.”

What's your outfit today?
“Black shorts, high trainers, a striped top and YUNGBLUD socks!”

How long you been a YUNGBLUD fan for?
“About three years. He's got that sexual persona. He's very, very good looking and he's a great entertainer. I love how much he loves his fans and the fact he's got a festival is cool. When he did that song with Ozzy that really grabbed me, and I just think he's such a beautiful person.”

Why do you think he divides opinion in the rock scene?
“I don't think he does. I think maybe some people get annoyed because he was born into money. But I disagree, I don't think he's Marmite.”

What's your favourite YUNGBLUD song?
“Zombie, definitely. It's very sexy, it's nice. I wouldn't kick him out of bed, mate. His missus is a very, very lucky girl.”

What else are you listening to?
“I'm a heavy metal girl. So Slipknot, Korn, Deftones, and I'm going to see The Prodigy this year.”

What are you wearing today?
“I've got the spikes on my choker. I always wear a bumbag at a gig so I can have my hands free.”

How long have you been YUNGBLUD fans?
Donna: “Since he came out, really. Maybe six or seven years?”
Alistair: “About six years for me, too. I first got into him just by rocking out.”
Donna: “My kids started really liking him so I just got into it as well. He's also fit as fuck.”
Alistair: “I like his vocal pitch – he's high, he's low and he can keep it very, very sweet.”

Why do you think YUNGBLUD divides opinion in the rock scene?
Alistair: “I know the answer to that without a doubt. The guy has a different volume between two genres of music: he doesn't just do rock, he does everything else as well. He brings an element to it and he loves his fans so much.”
Donna: “That's what I love so much about him, he gives so much of his time to his fans. He's cool.”

What other bands are you listening to?
Donna: “I like Papa Roach. I also love Robyn at the minute, which is a bit random but great.”
Alistair: “Everything, man! I'm still old-school so I like Queen. I like everything from them to Kasabian. And I like Prince a lot.”

What are you wearing today?
Alistair: “These trainers are rare as shit, they're adidas Pros. The hat is Jordan.”
Donna: “A bit of a Shein number for me! A tight leatherette dress and some long boots.”

How long have you been a fan of YUNGBLUD for?
“I'm still a little bit of a newbie. I've known about him for a long time but in recent years his music has changed a bit, the style has changed and that's what really got me in. He brought out Zombie and that was what hooked me. I've been listening to all of his tunes since then. I just think he's a really light-hearted guy and I'm like, 'Why wouldn't you love him?' He's cheeky and funny.”

What's your favourite YUNGBLUD song?
“Zombie! But I also really do love Lovesick Lullaby, and a cheeky bit of Fleabag as well.”

Why do you think he divides rock fans?
“I think because he's a little bit different. He comes across quite confident and sometimes people don't like that. I guess maybe with everything that went on with Ozzy, people thought he was a bit in-your-face, maybe? But I just think it's a sign of how amazing he is, and that the baton has been passed on. It's his time.”

What other bands are you listening to?
“A bit of a weird one but I'm more of a techno girl!”

What's your outfit today?
“Stompers are from ASOS, glittery tights from Shein, little mesh top from Shein. And jewellery from Pandora.”

How long have you been YUNGBLUD fans?
Sally: “I've been a fan for years and years. I liked him when he was doing kinda ska music like Madness, when he was 16, 17, 18.”
Beth: “I tried listening to him and couldn't get into him, but then my fella got some tickets for Sheffield two weeks ago. He couldn't get anyone to go with him so I said I'd go. And this is now my third time seeing him! I fell in love with him live. I liked him as a person but it wasn't my kind of music and now I'm obsessed. Seen him at Sheffield, Leeds and now here.”
Sally: “I saw him a couple of years ago and when I got tickets, they came with a CD which was cool.”
Beth: “That's because you're old.”
Sally: “What do you call me? A pretend mosher? I like going in and out. So I like more ska. You know like in the '80s when they shaved their head around their fringe and with their Docs? That would have been me.”

What is your favourite YUNGBLUD song?
Sally: “Fleabag, I think.”
Beth: “Nah, The Funeral. Because it reminds me of Billy Idol and I love a bit of Billy Idol.”
Sally: “Did he not do something with Billy Idol?”
Beth: “I don't know, I only got into him two weeks ago!”
Sally: “He did something with Steven Tyler and I don't know if you know, but that's my husband. We're secretly married.”

Why do you think he divides opinion in the music scene?
Sally: “He's very controversial. Some of the stuff he talks about. And he gets a lot of shit with people saying he's a poser. But have you heard his cover of [Linger by] The Cranberries? It's one of my favourite covers. He got a load of shit for being a poser for doing that but he's extremely talented. When we grew up you could get killed for being a mosher.”
Beth: “I think the older generation were happy with Bowie, happy with Freddie but then suddenly it wasn't alright to do all these things. He's now bringing back that ultimate mixture of fluidity. He can be whatever he wants, dress however he wants. But the old generation now don't like him because it's not what they had. It was alright back then but not okay now.”

What other bands are you listening to?
Sally: “Have you heard of Alright from Blackpool? Or The Reytons? I'm right into them.”
Beth: “I'm a little old-school baby. I like my System Of A Down. The Offspring. Papa Roach. If you could put together a typical millennial playlist of pop-punk, it's mine. Oh, and Lorna Shore, they're doing sick right now.”

What is your outfit today?
Sally: “Comfortability!”
Beth: “Little slut!”

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Read this next:

• YUNGBLUD: “It’s so funny when people don’t understand me”
• “This will be a homecoming”: Inside YUNGBLUD’s spectacular return to the stage – and his biggest UK tour ever
  
• YUNGBLUD: “I needed to get my fight back. I’ve always been a fighter, and I’ve found it again”