kasabian web

Recording their latest album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Muzu.tv is  giving five lucky Kasabian fans (plus one guest each) the chance to attend the EXCLUSIVE preview party in Dublin for the brand new album ‘The West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ out in Ireland on Friday 5th June.

For your chance to win PLUS grab one of the first copies of the album in Europe PLUS the back catalogue PLUS drinks and a few nibbles, just head to www.muzu.tv/kasabian for entry details.

Hundreds of lucky Kasabian fans who managed to get tickets for the band’s sold-out home-town shows descended on De Montfort Hall last night for the first night of a “three-day party” in Leicester.
The local heroes are playing three gigs in the city to kick off their 20-date UK headline tour.

For loyal fans, it is a welcome return for the band – Tom Meighan, Serge Pizzorno, Chris Edwards and Ian Matthews – whose last Leicester gig was a secret show at Athena almost two years ago.
Around 6,000 people will get to see Kasabian at the gigs, which are promoting their upcoming third album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

Fans last night said they were one of the best acts about.
Claire Gray, 22, from Hinckley, who went to the gig with Arron Smith, 33, said: “It is so good because it is their homecoming gig. I have seen them lots of times before, in Amsterdam and at the V-Festival. Their music is top notch.”
Arron added: They’re one of my favourite bands. Their music is so cool, it’s just my type of music. They’re a top band.”

Giovanni Corbo, 28, from Knighton, and friend James Gray, 28, from Whitwick, said: “I have followed them from when the first album came out.
“We’ve been to lots of festivals but never managed to catch them, so it is great to come and see them play at home.”
Support act and close friend of Kasabian Jersey Budd said prior to going on stage: “It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to play with the guys at De Montfort Hall”.
Singer Tom told the Mercury: “To start off the tour in Leicester is amazing.”
Kasabian are also due to play at De Montfort Hall tonight and tomorrow.

Source//This is Leicestershire

Kasabian are having the time of their lives, launching their UK tour tonight, about to release their new album, and being courted by the likes of Oasis and Bruce Springsteen. They share the love with Andy Welch.
Kasabian have had an epiphany. Despite having sold nearly two million records and been invited to tour with good friends Oasis, the band have only just realised they’re huge.
“It’s weird, man,” begins frontman Tom Meighan, with puppy-dog enthusiasm.
“We were doing Jools Holland the other week and we were the biggest band on it. Before, we’ve been on with big names — Smokey Robinson, Jarvis Cocker and people.
“We were looking at the list for this one, and those names weren’t there — we were the biggest band. It’s funny …” he says, chuckling, pleased with himself. “About time.”

Kasabian’s star will shine even brighter come June 8, the day they release their cryptically titled third album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
“It was a real hospital in Wakefield,” explains Tom. “Serge (Pizzorno, guitarist and songwriter) saw it on a documentary and thought it was a cool name and that was about it.”
While that might seem a simple enough explanation, the reason the album is so titled actually has deeper roots.

This third effort from the Leicester quartet is a homage to the psychedelic albums of the 1960s, albums with ludicrous titles and equally preposterous contents.
“That’s it, brother,” asserts 28-year-old Tom. “All those mad records, like The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, or Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake by The Small Faces … None of the titles really make sense, and that’s what we wanted, in a way, but to make it modern and for the 21st-century.”
West Ryder’s sleeve continues that tip of the hat too, with the Kasabian boys getting out the dressing-up box. Tom looks particularly dapper in a Nelson-esque military costume.
“It’s like an English heritage psychedelia front cover, but it’s pretty evil-looking too. That’s what we wanted, that was our concept,” he says, pausing. “That, and to make it really, really good.”

A swaggering frontman from the simian school of Liam Gallagher and Ian Brown, Tom’s never been short of confidence. Now, however, with their best, most ambitious album in front of them, he’s positively brimming with emotion.
Thankfully, that cocksure streak doesn’t manifest itself as arrogance — he’s too likeable for that. Instead, it’s his boundless enthusiasm that comes to the fore.
“I’m so excited at the moment,” he says. “As well as confused, on edge, you know, all these emotions are coming up before the album comes out. I’m not sleeping properly, neither is Serge.
“I don’t know if other bands get that pattern, but I just can’t switch off, it’s bizarre. I go to bed for about two hours, but I can’t sleep. I’m just waiting for things to happen. It’s what we’re like when we’re on tour as well,” he says.

The band have been away from the public eye for around a year, although nine months of that was spent recording what would become West Ryder.

After getting to a point with the album, “about 70% done”, Kasabian decamped to San Francisco to seek out the services of renowned producer Dan ‘The Automator’ Nakamura, highly acclaimed for his work with Beck, Gorillaz, DJ Shadow and various hip-hop artists including Busta Rhymes and Kool Keith.
“He’s not a natural choice, I guess,” admits Tom, “but Serge has wanted to work with him for a while. “It was amazing to get him, and to have another pair of ears on the album, to guide us through. He’s brought out the big beats and the album sounds amazing.”

Being out on America’s West Coast clearly suited Tom. Having only been there while touring before, he says it was good to be in one place for a length of time, and feels the city energised his singing.
“You don’t get more psychedelic than Haight-Ashbury,” he says, referring to the district of San Francisco synonymous with 1967’s so called Summer of Love and fledgling hippy scene.
“I think being there improved my singing 100%, gave me more of an edge. Dan’s studio is underneath his house, which was lovely. I escaped for four weeks or so.”

Back in Britain, there’s going to be no escaping Kasabian over the coming months. With a tour kicking off in their home town tonight, a support slot with Oasis on their summer mega-shows and more festival appearances in between, it’s a gruelling few months for the band. Factor in their reputation for hard-living while on the road, and the prospect would make all but the hardiest of folk wince. Tom however, can’t wait.
“I climb the walls when I’m off,” he says. “I’ve started painting – I’ve had a portrait of Brian Jones on the go for ages but I haven’t finished it – and I catch up with friends when we’re not busy, but I miss touring. Having time to yourself is great, don’t get me wrong, but there comes to a point when I have to get back on the road and start playing rock shows again.”

Source//Belfast Telegraph

Check those interviews out, you know..

View also Underdog & Thick as Thieves live accoustic videos

Behind the scenes on the shoot for the Fire video and the artwork for their latest album.
Thanks to Veronica for the heads up.

In this week’s NME magazine You will find a great photoshoot of the band and a long interview that digs deep into their new album.

In addition, NME has added to thier site the video to the cover shoot where the band is also talking about the album. you can watch the video in HERE!

****UPDATE*****
I have added some photos taken from this photoshoot to the gallery. Click on the photo below to view the whole set.
I simply love the whole Alice in wonderland theme.

The Eden Sessions in conjunction with MySpace are giving away the most amazing prize. We’re offering 1 x pair of VIP tickets to the Kasabian gig plus 5 pairs of Kasabian tickets. How amazing is that!
Join the Eden Sesssions mailing list and you and someone you love / like a lot, could be attending the Kasabian gig in a VIP capacity.

Closing date: Midnight June 19 2009
For more information go to Eden Project website.