Aug 21, 2009

Kasabian Interview: Underdogs No More, the British Rock Rebels Are On Fire

By Daryl Tan & Madeleine Chong

Decked in a cream button-down shirt adorned with blue floral embroidery and casual jeans, Sergio Pizzorno (or simply, Serge) cut a relaxed figure as he lounged in a plush armchair. The Kasabian guitarist-songwriter seemed well-rested despite an electrifying show the night before where the band pulled no punches and sweated buckets rocking the MTV World Stage hordes.

We shared a hearty handshake, and went on to chat for a bit about women, whiskey and rock and roll. During the interview, Serge's enthusiasm for classic acts and bands from the '60s to 80's heydays shone through. The lanky, long-haired Briton struck me as someone who calls a spade a spade, and that devil-may-care inclination does manifest itself in Kasabian's music: blistering, boisterous, and brutally honest.

Perhaps this unsullied candor is the band's secret to chart-topping success. Their third and latest album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum - named after an actual loony bin - peaked on the UK Top 40 charts just a couple of months back. Listen to album tracks "Underdog" and "Vlad the Impaler" and you'll relish the sneering, searing admonishment of rock poseurs and critics. Lesson learnt: don't write off a band just because they've had a rocky start, and don't piss off an outfit that means business, especially an outfit like Kasabian.

For all of Kasabian's dark music underpinnings (asylums, murderers, and 15th century tyrants), Serge was anything but sombre or intimidating. As we eased into the interview proper, he prefaced it with a tongue-in-cheek affirmation. "I adore you, you're a genius."

More like the other way round, Serge. Compliments aside, if you happen to see the lad from Leicester around, do offer him a pat on the back and a swig of Jameson Irish Whiskey. I sure will the next time we cross paths.

Kasabian has been lamenting the state of rock music for some time now. Is this genre truly dead, and do you think you guys will be the ones to revive it?

I think pop music is having its day at the moment. There aren't many rock and roll bands out there. So yeah, I wouldn't say we're reviving anything, but I'd say we're pretty unique and probably the only ones left at this time.

Off the top of your head, can you think of any other bands that do this sort of music?

No, I can't really think of any. I know in England we sort of have the Arctic Monkeys there. They're good boys, good lads. But there's not many.

"West Ryder/Silver Bullet" features the lovely Rosario Dawson on backing vocals. Who do you think was more chuffed, or star-struck by this collaboration?

Definitely me. She's a huge Hollywood actress, but she was lovely, really sweet, beautiful voice. It was an honor to work with her.

Who else would you guys like to work with next time?

Jack Nicholson, if I could ever work with anyone.

What do you think separates good music from great music?

I think the ability to let yourself go, and not to care about opinion. I think what's happened is that people have just simply stopped taking risks. They've conformed to the idea of having a career, which is pretty f**king horrible. Know what I mean?

Bank jobs, perhaps?

Yeah! I think we've taken risks from day one so we're alright.

So the key to making good, no, great music is to take a lot of risks?

I think so, yeah. Personally, yeah. Not to worry about what anyone's gonna say or think or do.

What do you guys think of critics then? Love 'em, hate 'em, can't be bothered with them?

When you first start, you kind of read things and then go "Oh you know, that's a shame." But when you actually meet a critic face to face - the few I've met - I don't really care what he or she thinks about me. I think you should not let them anywhere near you, or enter your brain. They do a job, but don't worry about what they've got to say.

Do you guys read your own reviews?

No, I don't. I've not done so since 2005. I've never really gone for that. I think you can get obsessed with yourself, and that's a bit weird. It's just "So what?" You don't get a review for going to work everyday. The hardworking people don't get a review for what they do.

Have you guys had any Spinal Tap moments on tour?

Everyday there's something that happens, whether it's getting lost on the way to stage, or the drummer exploding, or the rider having tiny little sandwiches. It's frightening how on the f**king money that film is, it's scary.

Never trashed a hotel room, smashed guitars or anything like that?

Yeah we've had our moments. We've not been to bed for five days, and thought we were getting followed by snipers. We were out of our minds.

Your album is named after an asylum. The band also seems to be fascinated by all these dark stuff: killings, murder, all kinds of psychotic nonsense, crazy people. How did all this come about?

I think because we're sort of fascinated with the unknown. And in everyday life, I'm far from dark. So I get it out in my art, I suppose.

In your asylum, what are some artists or bands that you never tire of, and whom you'd like to invite down?

We'd definitely have Roky Erickson in there. We'd definitely have Bob Dylan. Whether he'd want to come. He'd probably want to start his own though, he wouldn't want to join anyone else's. And actually the people that I'd want to come would probably want to do their own thing. But I'd invite them all. Keith (Richards) and Ronnie (Wood) of The Rolling Stones, Joe Strummer (The Clash). Give him a place to have a campfire.

Wonderful. How about Bowie then?

Oh yeah. I love him. I'd like him to come as Ziggy though, not David.

Is there any defining moment in your career when you realized that you've finally arrived, that you've made it?

The first single we released, "Club Foot" in England, it didn't get on the radio. But it went in at like, #19, and we had a big party. It was a special moment because we did it without any help. That made us realize that you don't have to do it the way everyone else does. We did it our way. We started and did it our way. Big moment.

Starting out, what do you think were some of the more ridiculous things mentioned about Kasabian in the media?

The most ridiculous…there were people out there who assumed we are lad, neanderthal brutes, when in actual fact we are far from that. That illusion I don't mind because to be underestimated means you can get away with more, and I prefer it to be that way.

Every rock star has been called a hobo or a bum some time or another.

Yeah exactly.

Finally, if you did get put into some sort of mental asylum, what would it be for?

That's the best question I've been asked about this album. Setting up a tent in Buckingham Palace, the Queen's house.

You want to stalk the Queen?

I'd ask for a room, and they'd say "No, you're not having a room," and I'd say "Ok, I'll go and get a tent and I'll put that in the lobby."

That's really strange. Thank you for your time.

Watch Kasabian on MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia at these times!

Premiere - August 28, Friday
9pm (MY), 8pm (SG/HK)

Repeats
August 29
Saturday, 1pm (MY), 12pm (SG/HK)

August 30
Sunday, 2pm & 10pm (MY), 1pm & 9pm (SG/HK)

August 31
Monday, 7pm (MY), 6pm (SG/HK)

More interviews with MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia artists to come right here on www.mtvasia.com!