Yungblud: ‘I Think Me and India Are Going To Become Best Friends’

If there was one artist grabbing the spotlight before, during and after Lollapalooza India 2026, it was British rock artist Yungblud, aka Dominic Richard Harrison. Even in our short interview a week prior to his performance, he was fully certain that he and India were going to get along like a house on fire.

“I’m going to show you guys what British rock and roll is. I’m going to give it everything I got, best set of the weekend at Lollapalooza, or your money back,” Yungblud told Rolling Stone India ahead of his performance.

Yungblud has built a steady following over the last decade, but it’s only after the release of the 2025 album Idols that he entered a new era. Songs like “Hello Heaven, Hello,” “Lovesick Lullaby” and “Zombie” were not only standout hits that repped rock globally and across genre charts, they also pulsed with a charismatic energy when he and his band belted it out live at Lollapalooza India in Mumbai on Jan. 24, 2026.

The artist commanded the stage right from the start, ever the demanding performer who preferred to be doused in the audience’s sweat, adrenaline, and tears. The 28-year-old, at one point in our conversation, summed his gigs up as “the best rock show in the world under 30.” He forewarned and said, “India, whether you like it or not, I’m gonna get you the fuck up. I’m gonna get you screaming.”

If there’s one cardinal rule for Yungblud, it’s about focusing on the audience. “I think a lot of singers can get arrogant, and a lot of singers can forget that there’s no show without the people. The greatest thing you can use as an entertainer or as a frontman or as a rock star is the people. The people make the show. That’s what I live by,” he explains.

Roaming the city of Mumbai, from airport arrivals, a temple visit, linking up with rap star Hanumankind, and designer Aaquib Wani, to playing cricket, hosting a merch signing at a jam-packed Antisocial on Jan. 25, 2026, it’s safe to say Yungblud was certainly only about people, even as he ticked a lot of boxes for a first-time visitor.

“If you know about Yungblud, you know that this whole thing started because I want to meet people. I want to go to new places and find new culture, and I’m just gonna come with my eyes wide open,” he says.

The India shows came after his Australia leg of arena shows, although 2025 ended with a slew of shows across the Americas canceled on doctor’s orders for rest. He says, “I love this shit. I love it, to be honest. If I could be on the road for the rest of my life, I would be. I don’t do well in the quiet times, you know?”

It’s hard to imagine anything close to quiet times with Yungblud. Growing up in Doncaster in northern England, he says he was always familiar with Indian culture and wanted to come to India “since forever.” His friends would tell him, “it’s the craziest place in the world,” and it’s a dream he’s held on to for years. “Since I was about five years old, I’ve wanted to come to India as a tourist, let alone play it and play a rock show out there,” he adds.

Ahead of the show, he said, “I just think Yungblud and India are going to become best friends.” That’s a prediction that’s certainly come true, thanks to a mix of the persona as well as the music that was blasting out of the H&M stage at Lollapalooza India 2026. A special moment was his dedication to the late Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of pioneering metal act Black Sabbath. He sang “Changes,” bringing even more emotional power than when he played it in the presence of the Prince of Darkness at Villa Park in 2025.

In addition to Ozzy, Yungblud has been co-signed by everyone from Queen’s Brian May to Aerosmith (they have an EP together called One More Time), Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and the Smashing Pumpkins (who teamed up for a new version of “Zombie” released at the start of the year). “All these people you just mentioned, I grew up listening to them and loving. So for them to now be my friends, and for me to now know them and collaborate with them and vibe with them, is a dream come true. It’s pretty shocking, really,” Yungblud sums up.

He’s just getting started with this new era. A second part of Idols is expected to be out “pretty soon,” and he’s already working on another album. “There’s so much music coming, because last year was so inspiring. I’ve got a lot to write about and a lot to sing about,” he says.

While some interviews suggested the follow-up to Idols Part II might turn away from the “maximalist” sound to something more bare-bones, Yungblud insists he and producer Andrew Watt still “want it to be rock and roll” and fun. It might be a shorter album, but it’ll be just as fun. “The shows right now are going to 30,000 people up. So in my head, I’m looking at the Rolling Stones and INXS… bands that can make 30,000 people move as one. That’s the goal,” the artist explains.

Up next, there’s an arena tour of the U.K., amphitheaters in the U.S. and “loads of new music” in 2026. “This year started fucking crazy,” he says.

At Lollapalooza India, he promised to return for more performances. Among the possibilities might be bringing his own festival, Bludfest, to India. “I want to bring everything. It’s gonna be sick,” he says.