Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs are a four piece from Leeds in the UK.

In 2013, Kaiser Chiefs are one of the best festival bands in Britain - in 2004 they exploded out of the radio with their first single “Oh My God”.

The following February they played the opening slot on the NME Awards Tour and in March 2005, Kaiser Chiefs debut album “Employment” entered the UK Album Chart at number 3 (later peaking at #2). Produced by Stephen Street, and written by the band over 2003/2004, “Employment” would deliver a further four singles including the “I Predict A Riot” and “Every Day I Love You Less and Less”.

“Employment” went on to win Album of the Year prizes at the Ivor Novello and NME Awards as well as being nominated for the coveted Mercury Music Prize. In 2006 the band won three Brit Awards and Kaiser Chiefs reputation as a live band was cemented with tours around the world.

“Yours Truly, Angry Mob” was released in 2007 and would bring even greater success. “Ruby” became the biggest UK & European radio hit of 2007 and helped break the band in South America and Australia. “Ruby” was a Top 5 AAA Airplay hit in North America and buoyed by Lily Allen’s cover of “Oh My God”, the sound of the Kaiser Chiefs was instantly recognizable.

The Mark Ronson produced “Off With Their Heads” followed in 2008 lead by another massive radio hit “Never Miss A Beat”. The band’s live star continued its rise, after performing at 2008’s Brit Awards, a triumphant Kaiser Chiefs returned to Elland Road Stadium in Leeds to play their biggest show to date in front of a 45,000 strong crowd, and went on to take home the Q Award for Best Live Act later that year.

In 2010 Kaiser Chiefs took stock, drummer Nick Hodgson took time to build a studio in East London and he set about writing the band’s fourth studio album “The Future Is Medieval” (2011). The album was accompanied a bespoke ‘build-your-own’ album for which the band won two coveted Yellow Pencil Awards at the D&AD in Cannes, and the Q Award for Innovation 2011.

“The Future Is Medieval” would be Hodgson’s final recording with the Kaiser Chiefs, as he wanted to focus on songwriting and production. “He doesn’t want to be in a rock band anymore, and I understand that” said singer Ricky Wilson. In 2012 Kaiser Chiefs played Coachella, the Olympic Closing Ceremony (performing a cover of The Who’s “Pinball Wizard”) ahead of Nick’s final show which was a storming set at the Reading Festival. Hodgson also oversaw the release of the band’s first singles collection “Souvenir: The Singles 2004-2012” which was released in July 2012.

2013 is a new dawn for Kaiser Chiefs and set to be a big year - with a headline UK tour in February, Lollapalloza Festival in Brazil and Chile, Benicassim in Spain before a stadium tour with Green Day in the summer and a giant homecoming gig to open Leeds Arena in September.

And along the road Kaiser Chiefs are writing and recording what singer Ricky Wilson calls their “first record for the second time”.

Kaiser Chiefs are: Peanut Baines, Simon Rix, Ricky Wilson, Andrew White.

January 2013