Interview: Kasabian

By Alex Eldridge

Interview with Kasabian

Kasabian

As I was walking up the stairs to the Intercontinental Hotel today, I was steeling myself. For what you might ask? Well, steeling myself for a surly interview with a dour pair of hung over, hooliganistic musicians caught in the bitter daylight and looking only for peace and quiet from nosy music journalists, or at the very least, some patented British smartarsery.

"It will be alright", I unconvincingly convinced myself. "I am sure they are actually really nice guys". As it turned this was an understatement. 

Tom Meighan and Ian Matthews are among the warmest, friendliest men in rock and roll today.

Before I had even gingerly entered the room, the singer strolled up and, without any preconception of whom I was or why I was there, proffered a hearty "Ows it goin', mate?". To which I replied meekly that..."It was good".

It soon emerged that Kasabian were nothing like the rowdy beer-rockers I had anticipated. Amicable and good natured singer, Tom Meighan, essentially represents the face of the band and not unsurprisingly is outspoken. Ian is a little quieter, though not at all unwilling to give his two cents.

Throughout the course of the interview, neither looks either bored or distracted and gives every one of my questions a genuine and reasonable answer. Thoroughly likable chaps, they don't exert a vibe of superiority or rockstar pretension. I feel guilty having to constantly avert their gaze by staring at my laptop for another question.

"We are like the Incredible Hulk in a way because we just walk around normally and when we get onstage we turn monstrous!" drummer Ian Matthews blurts out joyfully. Indeed, a quick glance at one of their live performances confirms that. Meighan struts the stage with a barely contained swagger and Matthews crashes and roars behind the kit. Yet here, they seem like perfectly normal guys.

"The Big Day Out is great for us, or as we call it - The Big Day Off", Meighan chortles.

"We have got a promo today, a gig tomorrow. From the crowd point of view, it is great. We get really good reactions from Australian crowds and we are going on quite early so the poor buggers in the audience are out there in the blazing sun".

So was it a conscious choice to make their new record, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, a little different?

"I think Sergio and us have definitely improved as songwriters. Every record we try to make better than the other records. We never sit on the fence and try and make a record for radio", muses Tom.

"We haven't hit a formulaic thing, some bands get dragged into the idea that 'We’ve got to keep making that record that was successful'. We are always looking for new places to be, musically" Ian suggest, sitting back thoughtfully.

The only time I can sense any sort of hostility was when a certain Gallagher-heavy band was brought up. "F**kin’ hell..." Tom moans as I drop the "O" bomb.

Now let us put this in perspective: for many people, particularly critics, Kasabian have been portrayed as Oasis Version 2.0. This dubious label has clearly been doing their heads in since the early days, and their close personal affiliation with Noel hasn't helped. 

"I think we are playing our own game", Ian says somewhat cooly, as I ask them whether they see themselves taking Oasis' place in the rock and roll game.

"We see ourselves as Kasabian", Tom picks up the trail, “If we were [making records] in the 90’s we’d be ten times bigger or have sold 20 million albums. I mean Oasis were huge, they were one of the biggest British bands ever. Probably in the top three. I don’t think we can do what they did, we gotta take our own road.”

“Play our own field... I don’t think I can come up with any more analogies,” Ian laughs.

"So does Serge write all the music by himself", I ask?

“Serge is kinda’ like Pete Townsend, really. He gets an idea in his head and then lives it out through us.” This is Tom.

“Each song’s different,” Ian elaborates, “I might bring a different drum sound to one and then Tom’s vocals might change it up a bit, everyone has something to bring to it. We’re like the Knights of the Round Table. It’s quite a complicated process.”

When it comes to influences the band's scope is far from limited. Tom reckons his desert island record would have to be Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. “I got stoned and listened to it the other night... wonderful.” Ian is torn between a Best of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky’s 1912 Overture. My suggestion of the Nut Cracker doesn’t go down terribly well.

It appears, their also a big fan of a couple of Aussie acts playing at Big Day Out.

“When it comes to Aussie bands, their all sound. Everyone’s really cool.”

“We’ve always liked Jet.” Tom nods, “You know its real highway music: driving down the road on LSD, robbing banks, getting chased by the police.”

“Actually,” Ian breaks in, “It’s not really my kind of music but when I was backstage, setting up my kit I saw that band Karnivool come on and they really looked like they had the crowd going.”

We wrap it up and I shake their hands. Walking out Tom asks me “So you going to the Big Day Out, geez?” I reply forlornly that I’m flat stony and couldn’t get the tickets. Without missing a beat the singer turns to his manager and asks “Hey, we can get a plus one to the Big Day Out on Friday can’t we?”

After some brief calculations he confirms that they can and just like that I’m on the guest list. What a swell dude. Somehow I get the feeling that this isn’t the first time Tom has gone out of his way to help someone either. Hooligans? Nah, their just good hearted blokes trying to play a bit of rock n’ roll. 

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