The time has come. After the stadium shows with Oasis, the number one album, the heart-stopping Glasto gig and more gongs than a Shaolin temple, comes what we’ve all been waiting for: Kasabian’s arena tour. The rehearsals at a secret London location have been completed; the stage set has been finalised, the tour programmes despatched from the printers.
Now, all that’s left to do is wait- for the days slip by and the minutes to count down until the roar of the crowd sucks the band from subterranean dressing rooms and back into the light. Call your mates, dress like a dream, and like the song says, make up for days when we never feel a thing. Until then – the latest thoughts from Serge, live from the glitter bunker.
Come on and meet me at the Carnival…
Elliot Palm
Consultant Narcologist
WRPLA

How was it taking over the NME the other week?
“That was really good day. Enough respect to The NME –they’ve always been right with us, so it was nice to go in there. The new officers are very flash. It’s a bit different to the old place, Kings Reach Tower. That was a lot more old school. We even did a photo shoot on the roof there once. The new place is very high tech. It’s a very serious building. It’s all split up into different sections- the newspaper, the website, the radio station.
So there’s all sorts going down. We took questions off the fans on the website which was good fun.”

How was the gig at the Paris Bataclan ?

“That was a truly amazing evening. I love that venue. It was electric from the moment we plugged in. It’s funny. It’s a beautiful room but the dressing rooms are horrific. The fans were totally with us. We played ‘West Ryder’ which we’ve never played before and ‘Mothman’, the b-side of Underdog, and the response to that was beserk. We’ve been playing ‘Secret Alphabets’ too. It’s an odd song to do live- it makes you feel really moody. It’s not one we’ll do all the time but we pick and choose the gigs for it to make it special.”

Did you go out afterwards?

“We took it quite easy in Paris. The next show was in Lyon. It’s a beautiful place-it’s got a real Mediterranean feel. After the gig we went out to this mad little bar which was like someone’s front room. You could smoke in there which was a really nice feeling. Just like in the old days- very conspiratorial. The album is doing reall well over there, which is really gratifying. Out of all the countries in Europe they seem to get us. We’re still banging down doors everywhere else. To them I think we seem like an odd little outfit. Psychedelic music doesn’t really get on the radio in Europe, but the gigs always sell out. And we enjoy a battle.”

How do the crowds differ?

“There are a fair few English who come over to see us in Europe which is brilliant. I think they like to see us in small venues-about 1,500. I always think it’s great to see a band when you’re really in the mix with them. It’s really good for us to play those venues too, it keeps us fresh.”

How were the Q Awards?

“That was a great day. We walked over to the Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair from where we were staying, and there was just a scramble of photographers outside the gates. It was a bit like being in the zoo. There were people bashing into each other, red carpets, it was totally mad. Holly Johnson and Gary Numan were on the red carpet at the same time as us, which was a bit weird. It was equally mad inside. We only really knew the Muse boys, and Lily Allen, who we met on tour in Australia. A highlight was when Robert Plane told me he’d bought the record, which for me, was just off the scale. As someone who grew up listening to Zep, the fact that he knew who we were and was talking about the tunes was pretty fucking special.”

How did it feel winning best album?

“I had an inkling we might do it, but it still blows me away to think about it. Obviously when you write the songs you don’t think about these things, but it’s really good to get the nod. Just in terms of the future- when people look back it will be there in black and white. You look at the past winners –Radiohead, U2- and it’s usually left to those boys. It’s nice that someone else can win it.”

Does it feel like a vindication for all the work you put into the album?

“In a way. WRPLA was reaction against those cynical albums that bands put out just to have continued success. I always thought that even if it doesn’t work, it’s got an amazing title and the covers preposterous and it’s clear we had a go. I always say- fall on your own sword rather than let someone else kill you.”

Then you had to fly straight back to Europe for a gig in Cologne….

“That was a mad little show. We’re slowly winning people over in Germany. I always like the fact that you can have this amazing day in London and then suddenly you’re back in front of 1,500 people who don’t know who the hell you are. It gives some real energy to the band, which you could easily lose if you’re massive everywhere. It makes you prove yoursleves again. It keeps you sharp.”

Any big plans for the UK arena tour?

“I’ve found that a lot of bands buy all the lights and all the screens and go really over the top. Our show is a bit of a reaction against that. It’s centred around ideas. There isn’t an elaborate stage set as such, more little things which make it unique. It’s not theatrical in any way, but it’s designed so that people go away thinking, wow, the music was incredible and that they’ve just had the best night ever
I’d rather let people see it for themselves, but it’s going to be very trippy. I hope people go away thinking they’ve never seen anything like it. We’re basically playing inside a mirror, so that’s a little hint of what’s going down. It’s a bit Alice in Wonderland –we’re going through the looking glass.”