The band have been conquering crowds across the UK, playing festivals such as Glastonbury, Camp Bestival and Bestival, not to mention (illegitimately playing in the car parks at) Reading 2007, Fruitstock and LoveBox, as well as springing spontaneous guerilla gigs on unsuspecting but hugely appreciative crowds in shopping centres, parks and on beaches around the UK. They then headlined their own live dates around the UK in October, followed by supporting Less Than Jake on their UK tour last November. Previous support appearances have included Roots Manuva, Gym Class Heroes, Ugly Duckling, the legendary Sugar Hill Gang, Sway, and Skinnyman.
Playing their own particular take of rock steady, party hip hop and mosh-pit inducing punk, complete with live brass, decks and keys, their music is a killer combination of neat beats, great tunes and irresistibly catchy hooks. The band’s sense of unity comes from years of friendship and hanging out together. They are based at their own rehearsal/recording studio in North London and their familiarity is never more evident than in their stellar live shows.
The band have unleashed their debut album, The Art of Saying Nothing to the world in 2009. The album was recorded in Eastcote Studios with producer Junk Scientist (Larrikin Love, The Rakes) and contains more punch than a Ricky Hatton left hook. It features twelve tracks that manage to encapsulate all things British from ska and punk roots, to tales of modern day drinking and debauchery. It’s the consummate companion to a lazy day spent in a beer garden, and as refreshing as that first taste of a chilled pint of lager. Stand out tracks include the Radio One favourite Great British Summertime, and the anthem for the everyman, Man On The Street. Other highlights on the album include the infectious In A Letter (supported by Radio One, 6 Music and XFM), and the extra horny live favourite, The Landlord’s Daughter.
Imperial Leisure, now back from European tour with Youngblood Brass Band, are writing new material that will be available in 2010.
“Imperial Leisure stew up hip-hop, ska and punk into invigorating party music…purpose-built to send festivals into a deranged dancing sweat.” Q
“It’s impossible not to get caught up in it all, the sense of fun seeping into everyone involved like a shot of serotonin.”
KKKKK –Kerrang!
“Absolutely outstanding.” Nihal, BBC Radio One
“…Like the Beasties and De La Soul, playing Less Than Jake at a cult-rock party. An amazing live band.”
Drowned In Sound
"Imperial Leisure’s sound is practically a sonic mirror held up to the face of London: a melting pot of cultures, genres and personalities blended together with grit and spice" Big Cheese
www.imperial-leisure.co.uk
King Of Kings
Imperial Leisure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm drinking to forget the feelings that a hangover brings.
All the ladies love the brown man in the hottest of things.
So come on.
In a place called London, a brain dysfunctions,
The chalk of a life of missed line punch lines.
At half nine, I was feeling fine,
I asked myself, 'What will it be?'
Another three or five pints before I reach insanity.
Already lost ability to see clearly.
I saw my nuts out flying freely.
Beers got a hold of me like I'm in the north sea,
On nothing but a dinghy that's sinking.
I'm thinking this gin I'm drinking,
Will cause amnesia in the morning.
This means it's OK to slap arse,
Humiliate people, walk with rats arse.
A packet of cigs now,
Will always pass,
?????
Cos I left my friends in the middle of a night club at a quarter past three,
I walked for seven miles just trying to find an empty taxi,
D'ya know, I was robbed of all my money and my identity, so come on.
Been on the bed here for days,
The world is a haze,
Imagining your girl take it ten different ways,
Slide on my face if the toilet floor's wet,
Sleeping on the mat of my mammas door step.
Lately, all my friends hate me,
I'm aching like my bones are breaking,
If you see me girls, I'll always be smiling,
Cos in my mind you're slowly undressing.
I'm disputing, jacking and bruising,
Never hesitating to get the brews in,
Like an alcoholic, I'm down from tits,
So paralytic I chat up dustbins,
Where's the bull, Its through the gate,
I don't want to have to masturbate,
Way off in space, I lost all taste,
Getting chased by females that don't have a face.
When I got home I found my best friend and my girlfriend alone,
They'd shagged for hours and hours whilst I was left for dead on the floor.
I had to punch myself to wake me from this horrible dream, so come on.
I am a Buddha, a bruiser, the King of all Kings.
And I'm drinking to forget the feelings that a hangover brings.
All the ladies love the brown man in the hottest of things.
So come on.
Come on.
Come on.
The lyrics to Imperial Leisure's song "King of Kings" portray a man who is struggling with alcoholism and the consequences that come with it. The singer speaks of his identity as both "a Buddha" and "a bruiser," suggesting that he embodies both a sense of enlightenment and inner peace, as well as a destructive and potentially violent behavior. He acknowledges his heavy drinking and the physical and emotional pain that it brings, but also seems to revel in the attention he receives from women as a result of his "hottest of things" clothing.
The setting for the song is London, specifically a city that has caused the singer's brain to "dysfunction." He speaks of feeling fine at half-nine, but as the night goes on, he loses control and seemingly loses his sense of self. He engages in reckless behaviors like public nudity, humiliating others, and flirting with inanimate objects. The consequences of his actions are shown through his lost money and identity, as well as his friend and girlfriend's infidelity with each other.
Overall, "King of Kings" is a reflection on the dark sides of drinking and partying, a warning of how it can lead to the loss of control, dignity, and important relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a Buddha, a bruiser, the King of all Kings.
I see myself as a spiritual leader, a fighter, the most dominant and powerful person.
And I'm drinking to forget the feelings that a hangover brings.
I'm drinking alcohol so I don't have to deal with the unpleasant physical effects that come with overindulgence.
All the ladies love the brown man in the hottest of things.
Women are attracted to me because I am exotic and fashionable.
In a place called London, a brain dysfunctions,
In the city of London, people's minds are often overwhelmed and confused.
The chalk of a life of missed line punch lines.
People often make mistakes and fail to deliver witty remarks in their everyday lives.
At half nine, I was feeling fine,
Earlier in the evening, I was feeling good and in control of myself.
But now it's past time I'm like the scene of a crime.
Now that it's later, I am in a state of disarray and chaos like a crime scene.
I asked myself, 'What will it be?'
I questioned myself about how much more I should continue drinking.
Another three or five pints before I reach insanity.
I am considering drinking several more alcoholic pints before I become completely crazy.
Already lost ability to see clearly.
I have already lost my clarity of vision due to my drinking.
I saw my nuts out flying freely.
I accidentally exposed myself and my private parts are free from my clothing.
Beers got a hold of me like I'm in the north sea,
Alcohol has a strong grip on me, as though I am helplessly adrift on the rough North Sea.
On nothing but a dinghy that's sinking.
I'm alone and aimless, like someone stranded on a small boat that's taking in water and going down.
I'm thinking this gin I'm drinking,
I am considering the gin I am drinking and its effects on me.
Will cause amnesia in the morning.
I am worried that I may forget what has happened due to the gin's effects the next day.
This means it's OK to slap arse,
I feel like it's acceptable to slap someone's buttocks without their consent.
Humiliate people, walk with rats arse.
I feel empowered and comfortable making others feel embarrassed or inferior.
A packet of cigs now,
I am contemplating the idea of smoking a pack of cigarettes now.
Will always pass,
I believe that time will always continue moving forward, no matter what I do.
?????
The meaning of this line is unknown, as it is illegible in the lyrics.
Cos I left my friends in the middle of a night club at a quarter past three,
I deserted my companions in a night club at 3:15am.
I walked for seven miles just trying to find an empty taxi,
I had to walk seven miles in search of a taxi with available seats.
D'ya know, I was robbed of all my money and my identity, so come on.
You know, I was victimized and lost all my valuables, as well as my sense of self, so let's go.
Been on the bed here for days,
I've been lying in bed for an extended period of time.
The world is a haze,
The world feels unclear and distorted.
Imagining your girl take it ten different ways,
I am visualizing your girlfriend engaging in various sexual acts with multiple partners.
Slide on my face if the toilet floor's wet,
I would be willing to slide around on a toilet floor, even if it's wet and dirty.
Sleeping on the mat of my mammas door step.
I'm using my mother's doorstep as a place to sleep.
Lately, all my friends hate me,
Recently, all of my friends have developed strong feelings of dislike towards me.
I'm aching like my bones are breaking,
I feel constant physical pain that is akin to my bones actually breaking.
If you see me girls, I'll always be smiling,
Even if you see me in social settings, I will always be grinning and putting on a happy face.
Cos in my mind you're slowly undressing.
In my thoughts, I envision women taking off their clothing in a seductive manner.
I'm disputing, jacking and bruising,
I'm arguing, masturbating and injuring myself.
Never hesitating to get the brews in,
I am always quick to order more drinks.
Like an alcoholic, I'm down from tits,
I am so inebriated that I am practically falling over.
So paralytic I chat up dustbins,
I'm so drunk that I am attempting to flirt with inanimate objects like trash cans.
Where's the bull, Its through the gate,
Where is the excitement? It has escaped and cannot be found.
I don't want to have to masturbate,
I do not desire to resort to self-pleasure.
Way off in space, I lost all taste,
I feel detached and disconnected, as if I am floating in outer space, and my sense of taste is completely gone.
Getting chased by females that don't have a face.
I am being pursued by women, but they are lacking facial features.
When I got home I found my best friend and my girlfriend alone,
When I arrived home, I discovered that my closest friend and my romantic partner were left alone.
They'd shagged for hours and hours whilst I was left for dead on the floor.
They had sex for an extended period of time while I had been left incapacitated on the ground.
I had to punch myself to wake me from this horrible dream, so come on.
I had to inflict physical harm on myself to bring myself out of this terrible nightmare, so let's go.
Come on.
This phrase is used as an urging call to action or incitement to join in on the fun.
Come on.
This phrase is used as an urging call to action or incitement to join in on the fun.
Come on.
This phrase is used as an urging call to action or incitement to join in on the fun.
Contributed by Christian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.