Yungblud recently opened up about his early struggles in the music industry, revealing how UK record labels rejected him before he found success through direct fan engagement, as reported by The Guardian.
The British rock star discussed how he was forced to build his career outside traditional industry channels after facing widespread rejection from UK labels.
“No record label in the UK would touch me. I remember someone saying: ‘This music will never get played on Radio 1,'” Yungblud said. “I thought: ‘OK, I can’t rely on putting out music the old way, I can’t rely on good publicity and the press.’ I had to make videos on my phone instead and post them on social media: right, this is a song I’ve written called King Charles, it’s about Brexit.”
This rejection led him to connect directly with fans through social media, which unexpectedly opened doors internationally.
“People started sending me direct messages and I started hitting them back: no one gave a shit in England, it was kids in the Netherlands,” he continued. “I put a gig on there and we sold out 150 tickets in 10 minutes. I remember turning up in a van and there were kids outside the venue when we pulled up.”
The artist emphasized how his fan-first approach became the foundation of his success, drawing inspiration from punk rock legends.
“I loved the Clash and I’d seen pictures of Joe Strummer smoking outside gigs with his fans, so that’s what I did: I stood outside with them all day, bringing them cups of tea,” he said. “That’s how it all started – all I focused on was the fans, meeting them. I didn’t think I was building a brand or a community or anything like that.”
This grassroots approach has since evolved into major industry recognition and high-profile collaborations that validate his unconventional path to success.
Yungblud’s persistence has paid off with recent landmark achievements that demonstrate his growing influence in rock music. The Business Standard reported that he launched 2026 with a major collaboration, releasing a reworked version of his hit single “Zombie” featuring The Smashing Pumpkins. This partnership represents a significant milestone in his career trajectory from rejected artist to sought-after collaborator.
The collaboration holds particular historical significance in the music industry. XS Noize revealed that Yungblud made history alongside the two-time Grammy winners, as this marks The Smashing Pumpkins’ first guest appearance on another artist’s track in over 30 years. This rare collaboration underscores the respect Yungblud has earned from established rock legends despite his initial industry rejection.
The musical influences that shaped his rejected early work continue to resonate in his current success. Louder Sound noted that Yungblud has cited Smashing Pumpkins’ “Siamese Dream” as a key influence on tracks like his hit “Zombie,” creating a full-circle moment with this recent collaboration.
His rise from industry outcast to mainstream recognition extends beyond recording collaborations. The A.V. Club confirmed that MTV has recruited Yungblud alongside Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to perform an Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the Video Music Awards, positioning him among rock’s most respected performers. This high-profile platform represents the kind of mainstream recognition that UK record labels once deemed impossible for his music.
