February 10, 2012 7:58

The Black Keys: 'We don’t care if rock music is dead'

'All that talk is jut fads and stories,' says singer Dan Auerbach

Photo: John Peets/Press

The Black Keys' frontman Dan Auerbach has said that he doesn't 'really care' if rock music dies out.

Last month (January 4), his bandmate – drummer Patrick Carney – had claimed there was a current lull in guitar music and blamed the popularity of Canadian band Nickelback for its decline, adding: "Rock and roll is the music I feel the most passionately about, and I don't like to see it fucking ruined and spoonfed down our throats in this watered-down, post-grunge crap, horrendous shit."

However, in an interview with the Independent, Auerbach said he wasn't concerned or worried about the future of the genre, stating:

Is rock music dead? Ha. Honestly? I don't really care. I don't listen to just one kind of music.

He went on to add: "As long as music doesn't die, I'll be OK. All that talk is just fads and stories and that's not my job. I don't worry about anything other than playing music. We've always ignored the trends."

The Black Keys are currently touring the UK and will play a one-off London show as part of the 2012 NME Awards Shows. They will headline London's Alexandra Palace on Saturday night (February 11).

Marina And The Diamonds, The Drums and former Gallows man Frank Carter's new outfit Pure Love will also play one-off London shows as part of the 2012 NME Awards Shows.

Kurt Vile, Totally Enourmous Extinct Dinosaurs, The Big Pink, Alabama Shakes and tUnE-yArDs will also all play gigs in February as part of the build-up to the NME Awards.

The full list of gigs is as follows:

The Black Keys, Alexandra Palace (11)
Pure Love, Bush Hall (14)
Band Of Skulls, XOYO (15)
Tune-Yards, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (15)
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Heaven (16)
The Big Pink, Garage (20)
Kurt Vile, KOKO (21)
Alabama Shakes, Boston Arms (22)
The Jezebels, KOKO (22)
Oh Land, Heaven (23)
Little Dragon, Forum (24)
SCUM, Bush Hall (24)
Marina And The Diamonds, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (26)
The Drums, Roundhouse (27)
The Cribs, ULU (28)

To check the availability of NME Awards London Shows tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0844 858 6765.