Kasabian : There Is No Pub Rock On Our Records

Serge Pizzorno of Kasabian was asked if the Leicester lads’ latest album is a conscious attempt to shrug off the ‘lad-rock band’ label, he snaps, “We never were one. If you put our records on and press the play button, there’s no pub rock in that, man. It’s really British rock ‘n’ roll. It is what it is.

“It kind of makes me laugh when people say that to us – you ain’t got no idea,” he adds.

The West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum, the third from Kasabian , pays homage to the psychedelic albums of the 60s.

“That’s it, brother,” asserts lead singer Tom Meighan “All those mad records, like The Rolling Stones‘ Their Satanic Majesties Request, or Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake by The Small Faces. None of the titles really make sense and that’s what we wanted, in a way, but to make it modern and for the 21st-century.”

West Ryder’s album cover continues with that 60’s look as the Kasabian lads play dress up featuring  Meighan looking all  dapper in a Nelson-esque military costume.

“It’s like an English-heritage psychedelia cover, but it’s evil-looking too. That’s what we wanted, that was our concept,” he says, pausing. “That, and to make it really, really good.

“I think (the album] shows how beautiful we are as a band. How beautiful we’ve become. It was an ugly duckling, but it’s flowered, it’s blossomed. We’ve matured in every way.”

The band have just now realized how massive they are recently having crossed the two million sales mark with their albums.

“It’s really weird, man,” smiles Meighan. “We were doing Jools Holland the other week there and we were the biggest band on it.

“Before, we’ve been on with big names, Smokey Robinson, Jarvis Cocker and people. We were looking at the list for this one, and those names aren’t there – we’re the biggest band. It’s funny,” he adds. “About time.”

Brimming with self-confidence he adds:  “I’m so excited, as well as confused, on edge, you know, all these emotions are coming up before the album comes out (West Ryder was released on Monday]. I’m not sleeping properly, and neither is Serge.

“I don’t know if other bands get that pattern, but I just can’t switch off, it’s bizarre. I go to bed for about two hours, but I can’t sleep. I’m just waiting for things to happen. It’s what we’re like when we’re on tour as well!”