- Kasabian
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This article is about the music group. For other uses, see Kasabian (disambiguation).
Kasabian 
Background information Origin Leicestershire, England Genres Rock,[1] space rock, neo-psychedelia, electronica Years active 1997–present Labels RCA, Columbia Website kasabian.co.uk Members Tom Meighan
Sergio Pizzorno
Chris Edwards
Ian Matthews
Jay MehlerPast members Christopher Karloff Kasabian are an English rock band formed in Leicestershire in 1997.[2] Originally comprising vocalist Tom Meighan, guitarist and keyboardist Christopher Karloff, guitarist and backing vocalist Sergio Pizzorno and bassist Chris Edwards, the band has released four studio albums – Kasabian (2004), Empire (2006), West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009), and Velociraptor! (2011). The band currently features Meighan, Pizzorno, Edwards, drummer Ian Matthews and former touring guitarist Jay Mehler who became a full-time member in late 2010. Pizzorno has become Kasabian's lead songwriter since Karloff's departure.
Contents
History
Early years (1997–2002)
The band was formerly called Saracuse and started recording at Bedrock Studios in Leicester where Chris Edwards worked as an engineer. The original band members all hailed from Countesthorpe and Blaby, and the band formed while Pizzorno and Meighan were attending Countesthorpe Community College.[3][4] The influence of The Stone Roses can be heard in their first jams. The first demo EP was produced by Scott Gilbert and handed to the band late on 24 December 1998. Three songs were recorded live: 'Whats Going On', 'Life of Luxury' and 'Shine On'. Their first public appearance was at the Vipers Rugby Club to celebrate Edwards' 18th birthday with family and friends. The band were soon spotted and changed their name to Kasabian, after Linda Kasabian, a member of the Charles Manson cult (aka the Manson "family") famous for serving as his getaway driver. In an interview with Ukula, bassist Chris Edwards explained how the former guitarist Chris Karloff picked the name. Reading up on Charles Manson, the Kasabian name stuck with Karloff. "He just thought the word was cool, it literally took about a minute after the rest of us heard it... so it was decided,” says Edwards.[5] Kasabian is a common Armenian surname, originated from the Arabic word, Kasab, meaning a butcher or slaughterer, and suffix (ending) -ian.
Debut album (2003–05)
Their eponymous debut album was released in the UK on 13 September 2004 receiving good sales and generally positive reviews. During the recording, the band lived in a farmhouse near Rutland Water to avoid being disturbed.[citation needed] Kasabian featured at Glastonbury Festival 2005 on the 'Other Stage'.[6]
Despite having two prior single releases with debut single "Processed Beats" and lead single "Reason Is Treason", it was their third single release "Club Foot" that finally gave Kasabian success in the UK Singles Chart. The song, which was written in the early years of Kasabian, went on to enjoy both critical and commercial success, becoming one of the band's best loved songs, and being performed at nearly every Kasabian live performance since its release. The song was the theme for the skate game Tony Hawk's Project 8, Pro Evolution Soccer 5 and WRC: Rally Evolved, as well as being featured in the movies The Guardian and Goal!. The song was also featured on the hit TV show "Alias" in Season 4, Episode 11 "The Road Home" and later used to promote the 2008 Series My Own Worst Enemy .
"Reason Is Treason" was featured in the games Gran Turismo 4 on the PlayStation 2 and Shaun White Snowboarding on the Xbox 360. "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)" was featured in the game FIFA 2004 also on the PlayStation 2.
During this period, various drummers played with Kasabian as they did not have a permanent drummer, including current keyboard player Ben Kealey, DJ Dan Ralph Martin, brothers Mitch and Ryan Glovers and some others. While recording in Bristol, the band met Ian Matthews, who plays on "Processed Beats", "Butcher Blues", "Beneficial Herbs" and possibly some other songs on the debut album and b-sides. He was asked to tour with them in 2004 and became a permanent member in April 2005.
Empire (2006–07)
During the recording of Kasabian's second album, Empire, Christopher Karloff, one of the band's chief songwriters, had "artistic and creative differences" and was asked to leave the band, according to the band's website, although there is evidence to suggest that Christopher Karloff left due to personal circumstances and a lack of evidence to suggest he was "kicked" from the band.[7] He had contributed to three of the songs on Empire.
The album was released in the UK on 28 August 2006. "Empire" was released as the first single from the album, and reached #9 on the UK Singles Chart "Shoot the Runner" reached #17 in the same chart. A third single, "Me Plus One", was released on 2 January 2007.
Kasabian won the Best Live Act award at the 2007 NME Awards.[8]
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2008–10)
The band released an EP titled Fast Fuse in late 2007 which featured the songs "Fast Fuse" and "Thick as Thieves", however the EP was not given any promotion or advertisement. Both tracks are featured in their third album.
Kasabian started work on their third album in late 2007 with producer Dan the Automator. On 5 March 2009, it was revealed that the album title would be West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, with a release date of 8 June 2009. The song "Vlad the Impaler" was released as a free download for a period of 4 days, as a preview for the album. The promo video for "Vlad the Impaler" stars Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh.[9] The album's first official single was the track "Fire", which was released on 1 June 2009, and the song "Where Did All the Love Go?" was released as the second official single. The third single "Underdog" was used in the movie Takers (2010).[10]
On 14 June 2009, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum reached #1 in the UK Albums Chart, spending two weeks there. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum was shortlisted for the 2009 Mercury Prize, and was named 'Best Album' at the 2009 Q Awards. The band won "Best Group" at the 2010 Brit Awards. At the 2010 Q Awards the band won the "Best Act in the World Today".[11]
The song "Fire" was used as the Barclays Premier League theme song for matchday program from 2010-11 season onwards.
Velociraptor! (2011)
Kasabian started work on their fourth album, Velociraptor!, in November 2010 with Dan the Automator as producer. It was revealed in a number of interviews that some songs were already written. One track, titled "Green Fairy", which featured on the London Boulevard soundtrack, is present on the record under the name "La Fée Verte", but the Album Version is different to the soundtrack version. In June 2011, Kasabian closed the Isle of Wight Festival. They also headlined Rockness festival and played at Rock Werchter in July 2011. The band confirmed that the album will be released on 19 September 2011.[12][13]
"Switchblade Smiles" first song to be heard from the forthcoming album "Velociraptor!" was exclusively played on UK radio on 7 June 2011 during Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1. The title and release date of the fourth album was also confirmed on the show. This first single from the album is available for visitors to listen to on the Kasabian website, and is available as a download for people who pre-order the album.
Tom waves goodbye at a warm-up date.
Two tracks from the album ("Velociraptor" and "Switchblade Smiles") were premièred throughout the four-date warm-up tour including playing at the Leeds O2 Academy before the RockNess and Isle of Wight festivals in June 2011. A track from the album "Days Are Forgotten" was due for radio release on 22 July 2011. However, it surfaced online the night before.
On Monday 5 September 2011 the band played a gig to a small crowd of just 230 people, on a Boeing 747 at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome for online music video platform VEVO. The crowd witnessed the band play new songs "Velociraptor", "Days Are Forgotten", "Switchblade Smiles" and previously unheard "Re-Wired".
On 9 September 2011, the album leaked online, 10 days ahead of its official UK release.
The album failed to crack the Billboard Top 200 charts upon its first week of release in the United States.
Band members
- Current members
- Tom Meighan – lead vocals (1997–present), tambourine (live)
- Sergio Pizzorno – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards & electronic programming (1997–present)
- Chris Edwards – bass (1997–present)
- Ian Matthews – drums (2004–present)
- Jay Mehler - guitar (2010-present; previously touring member: 2006-2010)
- Former members
- Christopher Karloff – lead guitar, bass (on 'Club Foot'), keyboards & electronic programming (1997–2006)
- Touring members
- Ben Kealey – keyboard (2006–present)
- Gary Alesbrook – trumpet (2006–present)
For a few performances they also have been joined by James Morton and Andrew Kinsman on the horns section.
- Studio members
- Ryan Glover - drums (2004)
- Daniel Ralph Martin - drums (2004)
Awards and nominations
Kasabian has found success in the UK primarily at the NME Awards, winning three awards: Best Live Band (2007) for the band, and Best Album and Best Album Artwork (2010) for the album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. After the release of Empire, the band received several nominations. The band won 5 awards out of 18 nominations.[14]
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1977. To date, Kasabian has received one award.
Year Nominated work Award Result 2005 Kasabian Best British Rock Act Nominated 2005 Kasabian Best British Live Act Nominated 2005 Kasabian Best British Group Nominated 2006 Kasabian Best British Rock Act Nominated 2007 Kasabian Best British Live Act Nominated 2007 Kasabian Best British Group Nominated 2010 Kasabian Best British Group Won 2010 West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Mastercard British Album Nominated Q Awards
The Q Awards are the UK's annual music awards run by music magazine, Q. To date, Kasabian has won two awards.
Year Nominated work Award Result 2004 Kasabian Best New Act Nominated 2006 Empire Best Video Nominated 2007 Kasabian Best Live Act Nominated 2009 Kasabian Best Live Act Nominated 2009 Fire Best Track Nominated 2009 West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Best Album Won 2010 Kasabian Best Act In The World Today Won 2010 Kasabian Best Live Act Nominated NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show founded by music magazine, NME. To date, Kasabian has won three awards.
Year Nominated work Award Result 2007 Kasabian Best Live Band Won 2010 Kasabian Best Live Band Nominated 2010 Kasabian Best British Band Nominated 2010 West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Best Album Won 2010 West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Best Album Artwork Won MOJO Awards
The MOJO Awards are the UK's annual music awards run by music magazine, MOJO. To date, Kasabian has won one award.
Year Nominated work Award Result 2010 West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Best Album Nominated 2010 Fire Song of the Year Won 2010 Kasabian Best Live Act Nominated Discography
Main articles: Kasabian discography and List of Kasabian songsReferences
- ^ "Kasabian's Serge: I'm no indie boy". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 2011-09-01. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/kasabians-serge-im-no-indie-boy-16044102.html. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
- ^ "Gallagher 'is not joining Kasabian'", Leicester Mercury, 3 November 2009
- ^ "Kasabian on tour with Oasis", Leicester Mercury, 17 October 2008
- ^ Turnell, Cat (2005) "We're grafters, not lazy gits", Leicester Mercury, 2005
- ^ "Kasabian interviewed at Ukula". http://www.ukula.com/TorontoArticle.aspx?SectionID=2&ObjectID=1465&CityID=3.
- ^ BBC.co.uk – Glastonbury 2004
- ^ "Kasabian Official Website". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070303113133/http://www.kasabian.co.uk/news/236/-/24/. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
- ^ "Kasabian win Best Live Band at Shockwaves NME Awards". NME. http://www.nme.com/news/26761. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
- ^ "Watch 'The Mighty Booshs Noel Fielding teaming up with Kasabian now". NME. http://www.nme.com/news/kasabian/43821.
- ^ Takers (2010) - Soundtracks
- ^ "Florence and the Machine wins two Q Awards". BBC News. 25 October 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11618672.
- ^ "Kasabian "Velociraptor!" @ Kasabian Store". Myplaydirect.com. http://www.myplaydirect.com/kasabian/details/25832604?cid=lg%3A6tv&utm_campaign=velociraptor+instant+grat+pre-order&utm_medium=post&utm_source=facebook. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ "Kasabian To Release 'Epic' New Album In October". UltimateGuitar. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/kasabian_to_release_epic_new_album_in_october.html.
- ^ "Kasabian awards and nominations". Metrolyrics. http://www.metrolyrics.com/kasabian-awards-featured.html. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
External links
Kasabian Sergio Pizzorno • Tom Meighan • Chris Edwards • Ian Matthews • Jay Mehler • Ben Kealey
Ash Hannis • Christopher KarloffStudio albums Live albums Live from Brixton Academy • iTunes Live: London Festival '07 • iTunes Live: London Festival '09 • iTunes Live: London Festival '11Extended plays Fast Fuse • West RyderRelated articles Discography • SongsCategories:- Brit Award winners
- English electronic music groups
- English indie rock groups
- Leicester musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1999
- People from Leicester
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