The teenage rock band — made up of brother and sister Mathew and Issey Cartlidge — said their connection with the singer began during a chance encounter at The Hawley Arms, a well-known Camden hangout often frequented by musicians. According to Mathew, he had gone to the bar to grab a drink when he suddenly came face-to-face with Yungblud. The moment quickly turned surreal when the singer recognized him and told him he was a fan of the band.
The conversation didn’t stop there. Mathew recalled that the pair chatted briefly before Yungblud invited him behind the bar for a photo and suggested they meet again later at an afterparty. During that conversation, the singer also floated the idea of bringing the band along as support on his tour — an offer that soon became reality, with Yungblud’s manager reportedly encouraging the idea as well.
Despite the rock-and-roll circumstances of their first meeting, The Molotovs say they plan to approach the opportunity seriously. Mathew explained that the band intends to stay focused on delivering strong performances rather than falling into the stereotypical touring lifestyle. Playing shows while hungover every night, he said, would ultimately hurt their ability to give audiences their best performance.
Issey echoed that sentiment, saying the band isn’t interested in chasing the old myth of constant partying associated with rock culture. Instead, they prefer to focus on rehearsing, writing new material, and improving as performers.
The London-based duo has already built an impressive résumé for such a young band, sharing stages with legendary acts including The Libertines, Sex Pistols, Blondie, Iggy Pop, and The Damned.
Yungblud’s arena tour — which will feature support from The Molotovs and Mexican rock trio The Warning — is scheduled to kick off April 11 in Sheffield. Meanwhile, The Molotovs are also preparing for their own headline run later in the year, titled the “Welcome to Urbia” tour.
