Royal Blood top UK album chart with best-selling rock debut in three years

Royal Blood beat Ariana Grande to take the top spot

Let it bleed: Ben Thatcher and Mike Kerr or Royal Blood

Royal Blood have topped the UK Official Albums Chart to claim the fastest-selling British rock debut in three years.

The Brighton rock duo’s self-titled album sold almost 66,000 copies in the seven days up to Sunday, becoming the best-selling rock debut since Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in October 2011.

The band, consisting of bassist and singer Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, have gained increasingly popularity since the release of their debut single “Out of Black” last November.

Royal Blood have since supported Arctic Monkeys for two of their Finsbury Park shows in May, as well as performances at Glastonbury, T in the Park, Reading and Download festivals.

The duo is set to perform a string of gigs in the North America this autumn following the release of their debut album.

Elsewhere in the UK top 40, Ed Sheeran spent his tenth week in the top five with his album X at number two, as Ariana Grande’s new album My Everything debuted at number three.

Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro slid three places to number four with their debut album Stars, while Sam Smith’s The Lonely Hour completed the top five.

Read more: Royal Blood interview