Kasabian (2010)
Interview Background
Until he was found guilty of assaulting his fiancee in July 2020, I'd always believed Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan was a nice guy. What he lacked in rampant intellectualism in interviews, he more than made up for in excitable charm. He is a frank and funny interviewee in the mould of his heroes such as Liam Gallagher and Ian Brown: never lost for words, permanently excited by his band’s output, loose with the facts and quick with a quotable quip. Whereas his Kasabian sidekick Serge Pizzorno is quite a subdued and thoughtful chap away from the microphone, Meighan barrels through life at high speed. I’ve chatted to various members of Kasabian around half a dozen times since the release of Empire in 2006, but in a world of sheepish and modest musicians I have never tired of hearing Kasabian’s unrepentant belief in both their music and rock‘n’roll in general. Given his criminal conviction and removal from Kasabian, how Tom now progresses with a musical career is anyone's guess...
The following is an edited version of an interview first published in Rip It Up, June 2010.
Kasabian - Circus Envy
by Scott McLennan
Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan laughs when talking about how his band’s fame took another delirious turn a few months ago. Winning last year’s Brit Award for Best British Group fortified the band’s position as Oasis’ natural heirs, but it was a Britain’s Got Talent contestant’s use of a Kasabian tune that finally rendered the mouthy Meighan lost for words.
In April, former hardcore porn star Tia Brodie appeared on the Simon Cowell program dancing to Kasabian’s 2009 single Fire, appropriately rubbing fire sticks over her 30FF breasts as she performed her routine.
“Jesus Christ, it’s mental what’s happening nowadays, isn’t it?” Meighan splutters down the line from his manager’s house. “It’s fucking hilarious, isn’t it? It’s mental what can happen. It’s just funny - really, really funny more than anything. Usually our music is on TV adverts and programs, but it’s weird when it’s mismatched - a really serious song that’s on in the background of Eastenders or some shit like that. But that’s just hilarious.”
Have you had any feedback about Kasabian music being a favourite among strip club dancers?
“Yeah man! If people want to strip to our music then that’s cool, that’s great.”
Third album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum has strengthened Kasabian’s standing as one of the UK’s most potent rock acts, with the 2009 release finding the band meddling with everyone from Hollywood actress Rosario Dawson (a guest vocalist on the track West Ryder Silver Bullet) through to The Mighty Boosh’s Noel Fielding (the star of music video Vlad The Impaler). Album tracks such as Where Did All The Love Go? and Fast Fuse were standouts at the band’s Big Day Out performances this year, however the pale-skinned Limeys were stifled by the intense temperatures.
“The heat almost killed me, but the shows were great and the crowds were great. The heat was horrific and like being put in an oven, but I think the festival’s amazing. It’s a great festival, but the heat was a bastard.”
Unlike fellow Brits on the Big Day Out bill such as Lily Allen and Muse, Kasabian’s early afternoon slots meant the quartet performed when the sun was at its peak.
“Well by the time the sun was going down it was seven or eight o’clock, so what are you going to do? But it was a great festival and we really enjoyed it. When we come back, we won’t be on at two in the afternoon though!”
A recent breather from touring ensures Kasabian will be full of energy when they return to Australia this week.
“We’ll be feeling fresh from taking a break and ready to play again. I’ve just had six or seven weeks off, so I took a holiday with my missus and went to Marrakesh. Morocco was beautiful, it was really nice. Travelling brings a different perspective. I don’t know anything about the culture so it was cool to go over there.”
Did you pick up any Moroccan fashions to wear on stage here in Australia?
“I bought a few instruments, mate! I’ve got a few fucking drums and stuff and it’s cool. I’m into instruments…”
Inspired by The Rolling Stones’ Rock And Roll Circus, the video for last year’s Where Did All The Love Go featured all sorts of circus freaks and carnival performers. So if Tom Meighan curated his own Rock And Roll Circus, who would he invite to perform?
“I’d get Tame Impala, because they’re great, mate. I’d get Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – and I’m talking about bands of today rather than those that have been and gone – mates like SuperEvolver, I’d have MGMT, Willie Nelson would be good… nah, Willie Mason sorry, he’s a great songwriter, but Willie Nelson would be cool too…”
Once Kasabian have wrapped up their last leg of West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum touring, the recording studio beckons. Meighan is excited about the songs Kasabian guitarist Serge Pizzorno has played him so far.
“I think we’re going to start recording in October and November. Serge has demoed the album already and got it to the standard where he can give it to me and I can do what I want with it, so it’s 50 percent done and it’s wonderful. These songs are well exciting mate. I’ve heard it all and it’s a really great record. I can’t give you details about it because it’s so early, but it’s going to knock the shit out of West Ryder...”
That’s a big call – you’re talking about a bloody strong album there!
“It’s going to knock the shit out of it man, I promise you. West Ryder… is doing the business but this one is fantastic, it’s something else.”
Shit That Tom Likes
Adrenalin Rushes
“I’d love to go swimming with sharks one day. That would be really good to do that. I’m not one to jump out of a plane though, mate! I wouldn’t go that far.”
Military Costumes
“Dressing up for album photos and music videos is fun. As long as it looks good it’s okay. If people get a laff out of it they get a laff out of it, if people think it looks great then that’s great too. I quite like dressing up. It’s cool.”
SuperTed, Bananaman and assorted '80s UK cartoons
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! YouTube’s pretty cool man, so I sit there watching SuperTed. SuperTed and Bananaman are hilarious. They’re kind of tragic, but brilliant. YouTube is a wonderful thing to be able to watch these old shows.”
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (Sony)
Unpublished Interview Material
Where are you today? It sounds like you’ve got a bad phone line.
“Yeah, it’s awful mate. I’m at my manager’s house and it’s pretty bad. It’s disgusting, isn’t it?”
You’re often in military outfits – do you have any war heroes in your ancestry or Leicester infantrymen you’re descended from?
“Well my grandad was a sergeant major, but that’s about it mate to be honest. Sergeant major is pretty high though.”
You collect quite a lot of film merchandise, so I’m wondering if there have been many purchases while you’ve been taking a break from the road?
“Nah, ‘cos I live in an apartment and my bird will kill me if I buy anything else. There’s no room here for anything else in a minute. I just got my ET bike re-serviced and gave it a clean, though.”
Your bandmates Chris Edwards and Serge Pizzorno have both told me before that you’re picky with food when on tour – have you got better over the years?
“Definitely. We’re willing to try anything, but I’m not a massive fan of Japanese. I love barbecues though – you guys are brilliant at doing that, ain’t you? I’ve not been to a proper Aussie barbecue yet but I know you guys really rip it up and are the shit at doing it.”
When you were here in Australia for the Big Day Out, how did you spend your time off?
“I’ve got a few English friends who live in Australia so I caught up with them, which was nice. We went out to the aquarium and went to a zoo as well, which was cool (laughs).”
Axl Rose was famously recorded rooting a groupie in the Guns N’ Roses tune Rocket Queen. I was listening to Empire today and realised you can hear a gasping girl in the background – were there any shenanigans in the studio for that one?
“Nah mate, I wasn’t there either! That says it all really – if I wasn’t there then it’s all good. I think her name was Amanda & The Wolf or something like that.”
Until he was found guilty of assaulting his fiancee in July 2020, I'd always believed Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan was a nice guy. What he lacked in rampant intellectualism in interviews, he more than made up for in excitable charm. He is a frank and funny interviewee in the mould of his heroes such as Liam Gallagher and Ian Brown: never lost for words, permanently excited by his band’s output, loose with the facts and quick with a quotable quip. Whereas his Kasabian sidekick Serge Pizzorno is quite a subdued and thoughtful chap away from the microphone, Meighan barrels through life at high speed. I’ve chatted to various members of Kasabian around half a dozen times since the release of Empire in 2006, but in a world of sheepish and modest musicians I have never tired of hearing Kasabian’s unrepentant belief in both their music and rock‘n’roll in general. Given his criminal conviction and removal from Kasabian, how Tom now progresses with a musical career is anyone's guess...
The following is an edited version of an interview first published in Rip It Up, June 2010.
Kasabian - Circus Envy
by Scott McLennan
Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan laughs when talking about how his band’s fame took another delirious turn a few months ago. Winning last year’s Brit Award for Best British Group fortified the band’s position as Oasis’ natural heirs, but it was a Britain’s Got Talent contestant’s use of a Kasabian tune that finally rendered the mouthy Meighan lost for words.
In April, former hardcore porn star Tia Brodie appeared on the Simon Cowell program dancing to Kasabian’s 2009 single Fire, appropriately rubbing fire sticks over her 30FF breasts as she performed her routine.
“Jesus Christ, it’s mental what’s happening nowadays, isn’t it?” Meighan splutters down the line from his manager’s house. “It’s fucking hilarious, isn’t it? It’s mental what can happen. It’s just funny - really, really funny more than anything. Usually our music is on TV adverts and programs, but it’s weird when it’s mismatched - a really serious song that’s on in the background of Eastenders or some shit like that. But that’s just hilarious.”
Have you had any feedback about Kasabian music being a favourite among strip club dancers?
“Yeah man! If people want to strip to our music then that’s cool, that’s great.”
Third album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum has strengthened Kasabian’s standing as one of the UK’s most potent rock acts, with the 2009 release finding the band meddling with everyone from Hollywood actress Rosario Dawson (a guest vocalist on the track West Ryder Silver Bullet) through to The Mighty Boosh’s Noel Fielding (the star of music video Vlad The Impaler). Album tracks such as Where Did All The Love Go? and Fast Fuse were standouts at the band’s Big Day Out performances this year, however the pale-skinned Limeys were stifled by the intense temperatures.
“The heat almost killed me, but the shows were great and the crowds were great. The heat was horrific and like being put in an oven, but I think the festival’s amazing. It’s a great festival, but the heat was a bastard.”
Unlike fellow Brits on the Big Day Out bill such as Lily Allen and Muse, Kasabian’s early afternoon slots meant the quartet performed when the sun was at its peak.
“Well by the time the sun was going down it was seven or eight o’clock, so what are you going to do? But it was a great festival and we really enjoyed it. When we come back, we won’t be on at two in the afternoon though!”
A recent breather from touring ensures Kasabian will be full of energy when they return to Australia this week.
“We’ll be feeling fresh from taking a break and ready to play again. I’ve just had six or seven weeks off, so I took a holiday with my missus and went to Marrakesh. Morocco was beautiful, it was really nice. Travelling brings a different perspective. I don’t know anything about the culture so it was cool to go over there.”
Did you pick up any Moroccan fashions to wear on stage here in Australia?
“I bought a few instruments, mate! I’ve got a few fucking drums and stuff and it’s cool. I’m into instruments…”
Inspired by The Rolling Stones’ Rock And Roll Circus, the video for last year’s Where Did All The Love Go featured all sorts of circus freaks and carnival performers. So if Tom Meighan curated his own Rock And Roll Circus, who would he invite to perform?
“I’d get Tame Impala, because they’re great, mate. I’d get Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – and I’m talking about bands of today rather than those that have been and gone – mates like SuperEvolver, I’d have MGMT, Willie Nelson would be good… nah, Willie Mason sorry, he’s a great songwriter, but Willie Nelson would be cool too…”
Once Kasabian have wrapped up their last leg of West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum touring, the recording studio beckons. Meighan is excited about the songs Kasabian guitarist Serge Pizzorno has played him so far.
“I think we’re going to start recording in October and November. Serge has demoed the album already and got it to the standard where he can give it to me and I can do what I want with it, so it’s 50 percent done and it’s wonderful. These songs are well exciting mate. I’ve heard it all and it’s a really great record. I can’t give you details about it because it’s so early, but it’s going to knock the shit out of West Ryder...”
That’s a big call – you’re talking about a bloody strong album there!
“It’s going to knock the shit out of it man, I promise you. West Ryder… is doing the business but this one is fantastic, it’s something else.”
Shit That Tom Likes
Adrenalin Rushes
“I’d love to go swimming with sharks one day. That would be really good to do that. I’m not one to jump out of a plane though, mate! I wouldn’t go that far.”
Military Costumes
“Dressing up for album photos and music videos is fun. As long as it looks good it’s okay. If people get a laff out of it they get a laff out of it, if people think it looks great then that’s great too. I quite like dressing up. It’s cool.”
SuperTed, Bananaman and assorted '80s UK cartoons
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! YouTube’s pretty cool man, so I sit there watching SuperTed. SuperTed and Bananaman are hilarious. They’re kind of tragic, but brilliant. YouTube is a wonderful thing to be able to watch these old shows.”
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (Sony)
Unpublished Interview Material
Where are you today? It sounds like you’ve got a bad phone line.
“Yeah, it’s awful mate. I’m at my manager’s house and it’s pretty bad. It’s disgusting, isn’t it?”
You’re often in military outfits – do you have any war heroes in your ancestry or Leicester infantrymen you’re descended from?
“Well my grandad was a sergeant major, but that’s about it mate to be honest. Sergeant major is pretty high though.”
You collect quite a lot of film merchandise, so I’m wondering if there have been many purchases while you’ve been taking a break from the road?
“Nah, ‘cos I live in an apartment and my bird will kill me if I buy anything else. There’s no room here for anything else in a minute. I just got my ET bike re-serviced and gave it a clean, though.”
Your bandmates Chris Edwards and Serge Pizzorno have both told me before that you’re picky with food when on tour – have you got better over the years?
“Definitely. We’re willing to try anything, but I’m not a massive fan of Japanese. I love barbecues though – you guys are brilliant at doing that, ain’t you? I’ve not been to a proper Aussie barbecue yet but I know you guys really rip it up and are the shit at doing it.”
When you were here in Australia for the Big Day Out, how did you spend your time off?
“I’ve got a few English friends who live in Australia so I caught up with them, which was nice. We went out to the aquarium and went to a zoo as well, which was cool (laughs).”
Axl Rose was famously recorded rooting a groupie in the Guns N’ Roses tune Rocket Queen. I was listening to Empire today and realised you can hear a gasping girl in the background – were there any shenanigans in the studio for that one?
“Nah mate, I wasn’t there either! That says it all really – if I wasn’t there then it’s all good. I think her name was Amanda & The Wolf or something like that.”
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