Morning Ricky, how are you?
I’m feeling a bit sick to be honest and I need a wee. I’ve just been woken up really quickly. This is my first day off in three weeks and I got a phone call to say I had to do this interview.
Cracking start. Shall we talk about your new album or do you want to pop off for that wee first?
I’m very excited about this album. I think it’s our best yet. I’m excited to read the reviews, to read what people are saying on the internet. I’m confident people are going to like it.
You cut short your world tour last year, so keen were you to get writing this album. Is that right?
Not strictly true, no. That was a bit of a lie. We cancelled a few dates in the States because we were absolutely f*****. And we just said we wanted to write songs as an excuse. We did write some to be fair. The thing is, your management draws up these schedules with all sorts of gig dates on them, but they don’t have to perform them. We do.
Do you feel more in control of your lives now that you’re on a new record label?
Not at this precise moment, no. Otherwise I’d still be asleep now. And I’ve got a lot to do today. My mobile phone is broken and I’ve got to drive into town and then get a train to London and everything… Listen, sorry for being grumpy. I really do love being in a band, honest.
The new album was produced by producer du jour Mark Ronson and features tracks with likes of Lily Allen and New Young Pony Club…
[New enthusiasm] Do you know what, it’s a bloody great album!
But it’s coming out at the same time as some other big British indie albums – Oasis, Bloc Party.
I was going to say Keane, but I don’t want to offend you. Does that worry you? [Laughs] Keane! No, it’s good. We’re excited to be coming out at the same time as a lot of other big albums. And Keane. People haven’t been buying a lot of records recently, so maybe us all coming out together will create a bit of buzz. You know, if they’ve gone to the record shop to buy the new Oasis album, maybe they’ll pick up the Kaiser Chiefs at the same time, and vice versa.
Noel Gallagher recently slated you on the radio, comparing you to The Monkees and saying ‘I did drugs for 18 years and I never got that bad as to say, “You know what? I think the Kaiser Chiefs are brilliant.”’
It might sound a bit bigheaded to say this, but I agree with what [drummer] Nick [Hodgson] said – which is that when people compare our album to theirs, they’ll say ours is better. It’s good to have a bit of rivalry.
Which band excites you most at the moment?
Late of the Pier. I cannot stop listening to them. I think they might be geniuses. Or is it genii?
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Murder mysteries. Crap ones like Diagnosis Murder. Poirot is about as intellectual as I get. Murder She Wrote is the best. George Michael recently bought Angela Lansbury’s typewriter [from the opening credits] as a present for Geri Halliwell. He paid £6,000 [Dhs34,500] for it. I read that and thought, ‘I’d have paid £6,500 [Dhs37,000] for that’. I might give Geri a call. I’ve never spoken to her, but I might see if I can buy it. It’s just a joke to them, but not to me.
If you could make one apology to anyone in the world, what would it be and to whom?
To the girl I wrote ‘Every day I love You Less And Less’ about. Not long ago I was the subject of a similarly bitter song. I had a liaison with someone and she wrote this song that is so obviously about me, I can’t believe no-one has figured it out yet. It felt weird. I felt violated.
Off With Their Heads is available from www.7digital.com
