The Dirty Royals

The Dirty Royals

The Dirty Royals are an Anglo-American power pop group formed in California in 2005 and active from 2005 to the present. The band grows out of The Samurai Seven: after that group finds success in the UK and Japan with several singles and the sold-out CD release Le Sport, its founding members form a new project in California, bringing in a drummer from Los Angeles.

Formation and sound

The band develops its sound in Los Angeles, shaped by the city’s atmosphere and the late-night setting of the Sunset Marquis Hotel Bar. Although they build what is described as an LA sound, they retain their Oxford accents, reflecting their Anglo-American background.

Live activity

The Dirty Royals build an audience on both sides of the Atlantic, with performances across California, the US Midwest, and the UK. They play at International Pop Overthrow in Los Angeles and San Francisco in August 2005, where they perform for an enthusiastic crowd, and then continue with further shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. In September 2005 they appear at MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, where they play to a full crowd at Neons Courtyard and receive strong reviews.

Context

The group is also noted as one of John Peel’s favourite bands on BBC Radio 1. At the time described, they are working on an EP under the Dirty Royals name and a planned full-length release.