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Manchester Band Hot Milk talk BBC blacklist and tease Download 2026 at MCM Birmingham
Manchester-based rock band Hot Milk took to the Live Stage at MCM Birmingham Comic Con today, where they covered a range of topics, including:
- Breaking into the arts from a working class background
- Touring with the Foo Fighters restoring their faith in humanity
- Their favourite international crowds to play for
- Being blacklisted by the BBC
- Teasing a potential appearance at Download Festival 2026
The panel kicked off with founder member and lead vocalist Han Mee opening up about the struggles of overcoming impostor syndrome as a working class person in the arts: “I still have to get over crushing self doubt. My dad was a builder, and when you come from the place that we come from - a working class background - to go out and be this person, everyone at home was telling me that I couldn’t. I had family members tell me “what are you playing at? You’ll go and be a secretary like your mother”. I still ask myself if I should be doing this and is it a waste of time, because when you come from a working class background you’re told that the arts aren't for you. You’ll always always have to deal with impostor syndrome”.
Fellow founding member and co-lead vocalist Jim Shaw praised the Foo Fighters for their friendliness while touring with them: “It’s so amazing to have people who are so big and iconic be as down to earth and friendly as that”. Han Mee chimed in: “They gave me faith back in humanity. When you meet people like that you realise that money and fame doesn’t turn everyone into evil, power-hungry goblins”.
Han Mee discussed the differences between crowds in different countries: America, at the minute, is a very difficult crowd to get going. They almost need permission - I think it’s a cultural thing. It takes a while for them to be like “I’m allowed to lose my mind and let loose.” Whereas you go to Manchester on a Saturday night, you don’t need to say anything to them. So I think the UK, Germany and Australia have the best crowds.”
When asked how she cares for her vocal chords while touring, Han Mee said: “Smoking, not sleeping and other things I won’t discuss…I don’t do even one thing to look after myself - I barely drink enough water. It’s not good. It makes me laugh at festivals because I see people warming up before a set and I think: “should I be doing that?” I never had a vocal or guitar lesson. I just learned from YouTube and I still have some bad habits.”
Things haven’t always been smooth sailing for Hot Milk however, as they revealed that their last record, A Call to the Void, landed them in hot water. Han Mee said: “This last record we did is quite politically charged. We got blacklisted from the BBC and all mainstream radio. So, did I prepare for that? Not really. But, I had to say what I had to say. I felt like there was some right wing sentiment which felt quite oppressive to the way I and a lot of people want to live their lives, so I felt like I had to speak about it. I think we sacrificed some growth of the band for a political statement, which I’m okay with.”
When asked if they would be performing at Download Festival 2026, Han Mee cryptically teased: “I can neither confirm nor deny…now we’re going to get told off.”
Official photography from the panel and the rest of the first day at MCM Birmingham Comic Con can be found below.
