Toploader absolutely roasted as ‘worst band imaginable’ for performing at Tory party conference

The world of social media wasn’t too impressed at Toploader’s appearance at the Conservative Party Conference (Picture: Twitter/@emilyhewertson)

Toploader have faced, shall we say, a fair bit of mockery after they played a gig at 2023’s Tory party conference.

Famed for their big 2000 hit Dancing in the Moonlight – which is actually a cover of the 1970 track written by Sherman Kelly – the band is now comprised of three of the five original members; Joseph Washbourn, Dan Hipgrave and Rob Green.

While they’re in the middle of a tour – with their next stop on October 6 in Southend – the band took a moment to pop into the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester last night for a live performance.

Let’s just say the Tories’ event, with Rishi Sunak at its helm, has been met with backlash in general, as thousands marched the streets surrounding the Manchester Central convention conference in protest of 13 years of Tory rule.

Elsewhere, Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced criticism for her language after she warned of a ‘hurricane’ of migrants coming to the UK.

During her speech, the quietest heckler in the world was escorted off the premises by police, describing Braverman’s words on gender ideology as ‘trash.’

The band performed their cover hit Dancing in the Moonlight (Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

‘This Home Secretary was basically vilifying gay people and trans people by this attack on LGBT ideology, or gender ideology,’ he told reporters. ‘It is fictitious, it is ridiculous.’

So it wasn’t a huge surprise when Toploader were faced with a bit of an online backlash after entertaining the politicians in blue at their annual event with some hip-swinging tunes.

One video posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows the crooners performing their big hit (yep, that one) while the crowd goes wild, singing along and filming the moment.

The band were performing playing an event for UK Music, News Movement & TikTok that was about highlighting why UK music is important. Toploader are also playing at the Labour Party Conference next week

But even so, on seeing the footage, many people weren’t impressed – quite the contrary.

Suella Braverman has faced criticism for her language surrounding immigration (Picture: Gary Roberts Photography/Shutterstock)

‘Dancing in the Moonlight. Why? Because the Tories have made them homeless and now they need to dance for their food,’ wrote one X user.

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Sharing the video, music critic Simon Prince remembered when he once ‘hit a guy from Toploader with a champagne cork’ at the Q awards, from ‘right across the room.’

‘Hell of a shot, but I felt slightly guilty afterwards. (What had he ever done to me, except be in a c**p band?),’ he remembered, before adding a savage drop: ‘I don’t feel guilty any more.’

‘Inexplicably popular a long time ago, followed by decades of mediocrity. But enough about the Tories, it’s nice to see Toploader getting out and about,’ expertly quipped the popular Secret Tory X account.

Another said: ‘Imagine playing the same sh***y cover version for 25 years to people who aren’t into music, then performing at the Tory conference. Toploader are officially the worst band imaginable.’

‘Up next, it’s Toploader with a medley of their greatest hit,’ joked another.

Meanwhile, Absolutely Fabulous actor Kathy Burke delivered a savage blow, as she wrote: ‘Toploader must be really skint as well as being really s**t.’

Safe to say that one went down like a lead balloon, guys.

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