The Kaiser Chiefs Biography

They were later joined by Andrew Whitey White and art school graduate and Ricky Wilson, who they first spotted singing with a Rolling Stones tribute band. Initially Ricky refused their invitation to join the band but eventually agreed despite the band having a lack of actual material!

They started out recording in drummer Nick Hodgson's bedroom in 2003 and played their first gig under their new name ‘The Kaiser Chiefs’ at Joseph's Well, Leeds on 28th September 2003.

The Kaiser Chiefs’ (named after the South African football club where Leeds Utd, the band’s beloved team, bought their captain) style of music is sing along indie-pop. Their influences include The Beach Boys, Super Furry Animals, The Kinks, XTC, Beta Band, Blur, Supergrass, 10CC, Small Faces, Dexys Midnight Runners and Madness.

They released their first single ‘Oh My God’ on UK Indie Label ‘DrownedinSound’, it went in to the UK Charts at No.66. Their second single released on Indie Label ‘B-Unique’ charted just outside the top 20.

The Kaiser Chiefs' debut album ‘Employment’ was released by Universal Records in the US, after a battle with two other record labels. They were received well, with their debut single ‘I Predict A Riot’ gaining plenty of radio play, the band also landed several TV appearances on shows such as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

In the UK they remained in the top ten for several months and became one of the best-selling artists of 2005. ‘Employment’ topped the UK charts, where it went double platinum.

In July 2005 they were chosen to open Bob Geldoff's Live-8 festival in Philadelphia, their performance was broadcast by satellite to every Live-8 venue around the world, giving the band massive world-wide exposure.

The Kaiser Chiefs opened the 2006 Brit Awards, where they won three of the five categories they were nominated in, impressively beating bands such as Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Gorillaz, Oasis to win ‘Best British Group’, ‘Best British Rock Act’ and ‘Best British Live Act’.

When the band formed their original aim was merely to get an early slot at the Leeds Festival. Who could have predicted that they would achieve so much in just over two years? The band are currently back in the UK recording their next album.