Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno says band nearly split after Tom Meighan axed for hitting his wife
KASABIAN could have been derailed after frontman Tom Meighan was kicked out last year.
But guitarist Sergio Pizzorno stepped up as frontman and has helped them move on, with the group preparing to release their explosive new record The Alchemist’s Euphoria on August 5.
In 2020 singer Meighan was sentenced to 200 hours community service for hitting his now wife Vikki Ager.
Now Serge, drummer Ian Matthews, bassist Chris Edwards and guitarist Tim Carter have begun the next chapter of the band by unveiling their seventh album at an exclusive event at a secret London location.
And while Serge may not have been the most comfortable frontman, he more than proves himself as the band’s new leader on their upcoming record.
Revealing his initial reluctance to take over as the group’s leader, he said: “I was really happy — I was pipe and slippers. I didn’t need the frontman job. I was very happy at the side.
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“It keeps me awake at night, thinking about that. But needs must.
“I love these boys, we’re a band of brothers. I needed to step up or it stops. So it doesn’t matter if I wanted to or not, you have to.
“I have been watching videos of all the greats and taking notes.
“I started notes with Elvis, watched him for a bit, watched a bit of Freddie Mercury.
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“Nicked a bit of this, a bit of that, nicked a bit of Iggy Pop. I take a little bit from everyone.”
And he joked: “Then the Chuckle Brothers got in there. Anyone who is good at stuff, really.”
The group’s new record is outstanding and Serge, who has been their main songwriter since 2006, has surpassed himself with what they have on offer.
Their songs — aside from ALYGATYR, out last October, and SCRIPTVRE, which was released this month — are being closely guarded.
But I can confirm they are smashers and the sound is even more electric than before.
Serge explained: “It’s a bit of a ferocious start. There are a lot of ideas. In four songs you probably hear about eight.
“It is a journey of the alchemist looking at the sea and wondering, ‘Do I get in this boat and see what is out there or do I stay at home safe and sound?’.
“I am going to get sued by Disney I reckon, or Life Of Pi might have something to say.”
Kasabian will per- form some of their biggest hits from their five No1 albums, including Empire and Shoot The Runner, at Knebworth next week when they support Liam Gallagher
And although Serge and the lads are no strangers to playing massive shows, the new singer admits he is feeling the pressure.
He said: “Some mornings I think, ‘I can’t wait to get back on that f***ing stage’.
“And some mornings I think, ‘I don’t know if I want to do it’.
“We needed a party before, with Covid and whatever.
“Now we have been hit again with more madness in the world, so we need a good party.
“And Knebworth is going to be the best, biggest party and we’re happy to be a part of it.
“No one brings it like we bring it.”
They certainly don’t. Welcome back, lads.
Madge twigs new bestie
NEW pals Madonna and FKA Twigs treated the streets like their own catwalk after partying together in central London.
It was the second night on the trot the singers had hit the town together.
And they held hands as they left bar The Twenty Two in Grosvenor Square on Wednesday after a night on the tiles.
The day before they had sat front row at the Central Saint Martins graduation BA fashion show before going out.
They went on to Oswald’s private members’ club in Mayfair in outfits just as eccentric as these.
Neither singer has told how they were introduced to each other, but they have been hanging out together a lot recently, with Madonna last week sharing a photo on Instagram of hugging her new pal.
FKA Twigs, real name Tahliah Barnett, may find her boyfriend, The 1975’s Matty Healy, is eager to be introduced to her mate, too.
He said in 2014: “Madonna and Michael Jackson were my first two loves.”
Joy of decks for DJ Daisy
PARTYING is in Daisy Lowe's genes but now she’s got the best job ever - being paid to do it.
The model, the daughter of Bush rocker Gavin Rossdale and fashion designer Pearl Lowe, got in the spirit of things by DJing at a bash in London to launch Grey Goose’s new drink Essences.
She wore a white crop top and blazer with blue jeans for the event, which singers Ella Eyre and Vanessa White were also at.
One person who wasn’t there was her property developer boyfriend Jordan Saul, although she could probably do with some time away from him.
She said recently: “I always knew good sex made me feel a lot better - orgasms are so good for stress relieving.”
Speaking about how often they are at it, she added: “On a great day, two or three times a day if that’s where it gets to.”
I only wish I could relate.
No1 Harry is chasing after eight
HARRY STYLES is set to score an eighth week at No1 with As It Was this evening but he will have competition in the charts next week following a raft of new releases, including from Ed Sheeran.
Ed has today dropped a deluxe version of his latest album Equals, featuring two new songs, I Will Remember You and Welcome To The World.
Also on the record will be the songs One Life and Penguin, which were partially heard in the 2019 movie Yesterday.
There are lots of other new releases today too, including Calvin Harris’ Potion, featuring Dua Lipa and Young Thug.
In another three-way collaboration, Anne-Marie has teamed up with Neiked and Latto on the breezy tune I Just Called, which samples Stevie Wonder.
But while he called to say he loved you, Anne-Marie is calling to say she hates you.
Charming.
Liam's having a nightMaya
LIAM PAYNE has landed in of hot water with his ex-fiancee Maya Henry.
The One Direction singer has been accused by friends of the American model of not telling her their relationship was over.
Maya is holed up with pals in London, telling friends she is heartbroken about the split which she says came out of the blue.
Liam’s pals insisted Maya is wrong about the split and he is now worried their break up could now turn sour, especially after he started a new romance with American model Aliana Mawla.
A source said: “None of this is what Liam wanted and it’s all become very public and rather messy.
“He is hoping he and Maya can now just go their separate ways. Those around him are concerned she might speak out about their relationship – and given how angry she is about their break up, that is less than ideal.”
The Sun revealed this week that Liam had moved on from his engagement to Maya with model Aliana.
He returned to the capital with her after a short break in the US ahead of Soccer Aid next week, where Liam is the captain of the England squad in the charity footie match.
After showing Maya the red card and bringing in his new girl on a transfer…I think the game might have already gone to his head.
Space Man Sam's wealth lift-off
HE may have missed out on a Eurovision win and a No1 single but Space Man singer Sam Ryder is about to see his bank balance rocket.
New paperwork shows he made £59,000 last year through his performing arts company – working out at more than £1,000 per week – following his success as a viral artist on TikTok.
But following his incredible performance at Eurovision in Turin this month, he is expected to make a whole lot more.
Space Man went to No2 last Friday and he is now readying the release of another single, with a tour planned for later in the year.
He also has a debut album in the pipeline and has been tipped to make a fortune through social media, now that he has even more followers.
Sam gained more than 140,000 fans on Instagram in the 24 hours after his performance at the Eurovision grand final, and according to research by betting website Odds Scanner, he can now command more than £10,000 for a sponsored post on the platform.
Before hitting the big time Sam worked as a builder, a wedding singer and ran a vegan juice bar.
Something tells me his current line of work will be far more lucrative than all three of those jobs combined.
What a Legend
JOHN LEGEND is gearing up to release his eighth solo studio album - and it will be his longest yet.
I was invited to a secret listening party yesterday to get a sneak preview of some tracks from his forthcoming record, which he revealed will be out later this summer.
He said: “It’s a double album. We haven’t finished the master yet but it will be about 20 or 22 songs.”
Fans can expect the first single next month and although it’s a jam-packed album, lots of songs didn’t make the cut.
He added: “There will be, like, 60 tracks that you won’t hear that I wrote for it.
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“I wanted it to feel big and global and joyful.
“I’ve got some introspective tracks on the album too but I wanted the singles to feel welcoming and exciting.”