Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs are a Leeds, United Kingdom group active since 2003. Their music spans alternative rock, britpop, dance-pop, indie rock, pop rock and post-punk revival, and they are closely associated with the post-britpop and indie rock scenes.

Formation and line-up

The band forms in Leeds in early 2003 from members who have previously played garage rock together under the names Parva and, before that, Runston Parva. The current line-up includes Ricky Wilson on vocals, Andrew White on guitar, Simon Rix on bass, Nick Baines on keyboards and Vijay Mistry on drums. Nick Hodgson, the former drummer and main songwriter, leaves the group in December 2012 to focus on other projects.

Early releases and breakthrough

Kaiser Chiefs issue their debut single, Oh My God, before signing a full recording contract, first releasing it through Drowned In Sound in 2004. After signing to B-Unique, they gain wider attention with I Predict a Riot at the end of 2004. Their debut album, Employment, appears in 2005 and reaches number 3 on the UK chart. The record includes I Predict a Riot and helps establish the band internationally, including radio play around the world and an opening slot at Live 8 in Philadelphia. Oh My God is later re-released and reaches number 6 in the UK singles chart.

Albums and key singles

The band follows Employment with Yours Truly, Angry Mob in 2007, which includes Ruby; the single reaches number 1. Their third album, Off With Their Heads, appears in 2008 and features Never Miss a Beat. In 2011 they release The Future Is Medieval through their website, with a format that lets listeners build their own version of the album from a larger track selection. Education, Education, Education and War follows in 2014 on Fiction Records and includes the UK Top 40 single Coming Home; it becomes their first UK number one album since 2007. Stay Together, also on Fiction, appears in 2016 and moves further towards dance-pop, reaching number 4. In 2019 the group moves to Polydor and releases Duck, which includes Record Collection and People Know How To Love One Another and reaches number 3.

Releases, media and collaborations

The band releases seven albums by 2020 and 27 singles overall. Other recorded material includes a cover of Marvin Gaye’s Heard It Through the Grapevine for the War Child compilation Help! A Day in the Life. A DVD titled Enjoyment appears in 2005 and combines documentary-style footage, promotional videos and live performances, with narration by Bill Nighy. The song Sink That Ship is used in an unbranded promotional video on Electronic Arts’ website for the game Burnout Revenge. Ruby also appears as a bonus song in Guitar Hero III, while I Predict a Riot is later released as downloadable content for the game.

Live work and recognition

Kaiser Chiefs build their reputation through festival and touring appearances, including early major sets at Reading and Leeds in 2004, Pinkpop in 2005, Glastonbury in 2005 and V Festival in 2005. They open Live 8 in Philadelphia, tour the United States with The Cribs, appear on the Foozer tour, support Foo Fighters in Australia and perform on Later... with Jools Holland on 31 December 2005. Employment is shortlisted for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize but does not win. Ricky Wilson also raises money for Shelter by auctioning a red tambourine in 2005.

Name and influences

The band takes its name from Kaizer Chiefs Football Club in South Africa, the former team of Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe. Their stated influences include The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Blur, Eric Burdon and The Jam, alongside other new wave acts. Several members are also supporters of Leeds United.