The Vamps’ James McVey: I tried Tinder – but I never got a match

McVey was unsuccessful when he tried out the popular dating app during a “single period” 
Unlucky in love: James McVey of The Vamps
RMV/Rex
Emma Powell4 May 2017
The Weekender

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James McVey may be one quarter of a world famous band – but he struggled to bag a date on Tinder.

The Vamps singer – who had a brief romance with Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner – said he tried out the popular dating app during a “single period” but failed to match with anyone.

Speaking to Standard Online he said: “When Tinder came out I had a single period and I never got matched. Not one.”

Asked if his pictures were putting people off, he replied: “No, my pictures were just me.”

Band mates: The Vamps' Brad Simpson, Tristan Evans, Connor Ball and James McVey
Matt Crossick/PA

The band, made up of McVey, Tristan Evans, Brad Simpson and Connor Ball, rose to fame after finding each other on YouTube in 2012 and have since gone on to have chart success with hits including Wake Up and All Night. They have also supported McFly, Demi Lovato and Little Mix on tour.

Despite their success and more than 10 million followers on Twitter and Facebook combined, the band said they are able to lead relatively private lives.

“We don’t live together so walking around at home I don’t really get recognised,” McVey said. “I moved to London in the summer and I’ve been recognised maybe twice. But when we’re together it’s a different story.”

Simpson added: “It’s a lot about how you hold yourself. If you hold your head up [you’re going to get recognised]. We’re four very normal people.”

But they have had a handful of awkward encounters with fans, including requests for selfies in a sauna and on the toilet, as well as a fan invasion in their hotel suite.

Simpson said: “[I had one in a sauna]. Brave girl. She brought the phone in and sat down and we didn’t speak. She went out and came back in and we had a chat. She went ‘can I have a photo?’ and I said ‘I’m going to get out now’. I told her I’d take one later.”

Evans added: “Brad was taking a pee once and a kid walked behind him and went ‘can I have a picture?’ while he was peeing.”

McVey said: “When we’re doing shows it’s fine. But Connor and I have been in a hotel before in bed together and the door wasn’t locked so fans ran in and asked for pictures. We got security to chuck them out.”

The band are currently promoting their new single Middle of the Night, which saw them team up with DJ Martin Jensen.

Speaking about the new track, Simpson said: “We saw it as a challenge and we as a band wanted to see how we’d have a go at doing the EDM thing and take it on. It’s been a really enjoyable and interesting process looking at how you integrate the guitars with the dance stuff.”

McVey added: “It's a continuation on from All Night. It was a gamble going into EDM sounding stuff. I think the fans seem to be liking it.”

Brit Awards 2017 After Parties - In pictures

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Middle of the Night is out now. The band will play London's O2 Arena on May 13.

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