All you should know about who Ronnie Pickering is and if he has a song for himself
On September 1, 2015, Ronnie Pickering’s life took a dramatic turn during a spat with a scooter rider. Little did he know that his words would become iconic. Unbeknownst to him, the entire exchange was being recorded, making “Who are you? I’m Ronnie Pickering” a phrase that would echo through the years.
Fast forward eight years, and Ronnie Pickering, a grandfather of five, remains synonymous with his now-immortal one-liner. This incident unfolded as he found himself trapped behind a moped driver near Bransholme Fire Station in Noddle Hill Way. The video, uploaded to YouTube by Steve Middleton, introduced the world to “road rage Ronnie,” a moniker that continues to define him. In a recent interview with Hull Live, Ronnie revealed that his infamous outburst had unintentionally inspired numerous road rage videos by other individuals.
Reflecting on the incident, Ronnie expressed, “I had no idea it was being filmed, and the first I knew was when a friend texted me and told me it was on YouTube.” He estimates that the video, along with its subsequent uploads and memes, has likely accumulated over 100 million views. The sheer reach of this footage is staggering, and it has even served as inspiration for countless other road rage videos.
However, Ronnie clarified that the video was “heavily edited,” offering a more nuanced perspective on the encounter. He emphasized that not all aspects of the altercation were captured, as the moped driver had selectively removed footage that showcased his own provocations.
Ronnie Pickering admitted to having some regrets about his words and actions during the incident. In the video, he even challenged the moped driver to a “bare-knuckle fight” while they were both stuck in traffic. Reflecting on his behaviour, he acknowledged, “To be honest, I was just spouting a lot of gobbledegook. I said things I wouldn’t normally say. I now wish I had never said all that but what can you do?”
In the now-famous video, Ronnie Pickering repeatedly asks the motorcyclist, “Do you know who I am?” The bemused motorcyclist responds with indifference, igniting the verbal exchange. This moment, captured for eternity on the internet, has transcended borders and been viewed worldwide, making Ronnie Pickering a name known even in far-off places like Australia.
Renowned Irish comedian, Michael Fry, aged 27, has recently crafted a unique “indie” song inspired by the infamous road rage incident involving Ronnie Pickering. Remarkably, this song has amassed over half a million views on Twitter, turning it into a viral sensation. Fry revealed that the idea to create a song centred around Pickering came from suggestions made by his loyal followers.
He described the clip as exceptionally humorous and among his personal favourites. In his distinctive style, Fry is both the composer and performer, taking pride in independently creating all of his content.
The decision to focus on Ronnie Pickering came after Fry released four similar videos in a single week, where he ingeniously transformed viral voice notes and clips into tunes reminiscent of Indie pop bands. This innovative approach has often led to comparisons with popular bands such as Hot Chip, The xx, and Two Door Cinema Club.
More entertainment news: