Several members of the band are ardent fans of the English football team Leeds United (as the band originates from Leeds). The band are named after the South African Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, the former team of long-serving former Leeds captain Lucas Radebe.
The band's main musical influences include The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Blur, Eric Burdon, The Jam, and other new wave bands. Andrew White (b. England; guitar), Ricky Wilson (b. Charles Richard Wilson, 17 January 1975, Keighley, West Yorkshire, England; vocals), Nick Baines (keyboards), Nick Hodgson (b. Nicholas Hodgson, 20 October 1977, England; drums) and Simon Rix (b. James Simon Rix, 18 October 1977, England; bass) formed the band in early 2003, having originally played garage rock under the Parva moniker. Their energetic brand of post-millennial guitar rock, which would have been branded "indie" in previous decades, quickly found favour on the local gig circuit. The quintet issued their debut, the XTC-soundalike Oh My God, before they had even signed a proper recording contract, teaming up with the Drowned In Sound website in May 2004 for a limited edition release. A contract with the B-Unique label followed and the band began to attract wider interest at the end of 2004 with the release of their storming I Predict A Riot. The topical lyrics, concerning alcohol-fuelled violence in small English towns, attracted as much attention as the band's anarchic update on late 70s new wave.
The band's explosion onto the global music scene in early 2005 was epitomised when they had their first single I Predict A Riot off their debut album Employment played on the radio around the world and opened Live8 in Philadelphia. Several years prior to 2003 the members of the band had been a garage rock group called Parva (before that they had been known as Runston Parva). However, after their label Mantra Records went bust in late 2002, the band went back to their roots and adopted a more britpop sound, helping the band reach their current popularity within the UK and beyond as a consequence.
The band re-released the single Oh My God on 21 February, which charted at #6. The debut album Employment was released on 7 March 2005 and entered the charts at #3 that week. Despite becoming favourite after being shortlisted, the album failed to win the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. They covered the Marvin Gaye classic, Heard it Through the Grapevine for the War Child album Help! A Day in the Life, giving a whole new slant on the song.
A DVD, entitled Enjoyment, was released in November 2005. The basis of the DVD is a (semi-false) documentary about the band narrated by Bill Nighy. It also includes all the promo videos, live performances and more.
An internet-only (so far) music video for their song Sink that Ship has been released in September 2005. The video appears on Electronic Arts' website as a promotional tool for their game Burnout Revenge but is completely unbranded.
Wilson auctioned off his red tambourine to radio show Xfm in late 2005 to raise money for the homeless charity Shelter. The winning bid was £375.00.
On February 5th, The Kaiser Chiefs Released their next single, Ruby, which was a major success reaching #1 in the singles charts.
The Kaiser Chiefs released their new album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob on February 23, 2007 in The Netherlands and Belgium, February 26, 2007 in the United Kingdom and on March 27, 2007 in North America. A double disc edition is also available, the second disc being a DVD.
It is known that three of the band members went to a school near Highroyd, Leeds. Also, Nick (drummer) announced during a gig in Newcastle Upon Tyne that his dad went to a school called St. Cuthberts in Newcastle. Other famous people from that school include Ant & Dec and Sting.
The band released their third album, Off With Their Heads, on October 20, 2008. It contains the hit single Never Miss a Beat.
Songfacts states that the band's fourth album, The Future Is Medieval was released through the band's website on June 3, 2011. In effect the world's first bespoke album, fans are able to create their own version of the record by choosing their favorite 10 tracks from the selection of 20 on offer. One-minute excerpts allow them to make their selections and each song is represented by an object.
After creating their own album, people can then share their version of the record with other fans, and earn £1 each time it is purchased by someone else.
5th album "Education, Education, Education and War!" was released on 31st March 2014 on Fiction Records, featuring the UK Top 40 single, 'Coming Home', and was their first UK number one album since 2007's 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob'.
Also on the Fiction label, their 6th album, Stay Together, was released on the 7th October 2016, with a notable shift towards dance-pop, hitting #4 on the UK Albums Chart.
In 2019, they moved to Polydor, and released 'Duck' on 26th July, featuring the singles 'Record Collection' and 'People Know How To Love One Another'. It peaked at #3 on the UK Albums Chart.
Performances
Kaiser Chiefs' first big festival show was at the dual-site Reading and Leeds Festival on 27 August 2004 and in the following year, on 16 May 2005, they appeared at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, The Netherlands. After that, things went fast. They were the opening act at the Philadelphia Live 8 concert on July 2nd 2005, one of only two British acts in the lineup (Def Leppard being the other). They performed I Predict a Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less and Oh My God. They played Reading and Leeds in 2006 before Franz Ferdinand and were extremely popular.
June 2005 saw them headline at the May Ball at Queens' College, Cambridge, supported by Anada, before an acclaimed appearance at a rain-soaked Glastonbury festival during the same month, whilst August's appearance at the V Festival featured a very enthusiastic set despite Ricky Wilson having his leg in plaster. Also more recently they embarked on their own headline UK Tour, supported by Maximo Park and The Cribs. Their first US tour (with The Cribs) ran through the summer of 2005, and they followed it by playing a few shows on the Foozer tour. This was followed up by opening for Foo Fighters during their Australian tour in December 2005. They also played to Jools Holland and his audience on December 31, 2005.
Their song Ruby, from the album Yours Truly, Angry Mob was featured as a bonus song in Guitar Hero III, and I Predict a Riot from Employment was eventually released as downloadable content for the game.
Kaiser Chiefs are set to return to the European festival scene this summer, having been booked for Switzerland's Gurten Festival.
Cannons
Kaiser Chiefs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's the band: treat us like we're extras, we're not epic
Treat us like we're not on our boots
You leave us on the stretches where the credits roll
The king will simply build institutes
We are a part team military muscles
Tell ourselves we're the part of a soul
Education, education and war
We're gonna need a lot more cannons
If we gonna be out by Christmas
We're gonna need a lot more cannons
If we gonna be out by Christmas
I know, I know, if you wanna know,
If you wanna see your face again
I know we feel the same way
And making all the difficult decisions, to follow
Petitions on children first
How about a person of position, you say
You will be happy if you expect the worst
Armor, paper strolls and a Bible,
So going out across apartment stores
You will be issued with a rifle on arrival, champs
Education, education and war
We're gonna need a lot more cannons
If we gonna be out by Christmas
We're gonna need a lot more cannons
If we gonna be out by Christmas
I know, I know, if you wanna know,
If you wanna see your face again
I know we feel the same way
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Show us the way to go
And let heaven help us
Show us the way to go
Save our souls
Show us the way back home
Save our souls
Show us the way to go
The lyrics to Kaiser Chiefs's song "Cannons" depict the struggle that individuals face in feeling undervalued or underappreciated. The opening lines "Look alive, break aside, draw a line in the sand / Here's the band: treat us like we're extras, we're not epic" convey a sense of disdain and dissatisfaction with the way they are being treated - as if they are just background performers. The lines "You leave us on the stretches where the credits roll" could be interpreted as being forgotten or left behind when it comes to recognition or reward.
The song also touches on themes of war and the power dynamics that come with it. The line "The king will simply build institutes" could refer to how those in positions of power often prioritize constructing institutions that maintain their power and control over others. The lyrics "We're gonna need a lot more cannons / If we gonna be out by Christmas" could be interpreted as a call to arms, with the need for more weapons to ensure victory over an enemy. The repetition of "Education, education and war" throughout the song hints at the idea that conflict and fighting can be perpetuated by ignorance and lack of understanding, and that through education and knowledge we can work towards peace.
Overall, the song "Cannons" uses vivid imagery and powerful rhetoric to convey a sense of frustration, anger, and urgency towards systemic issues of power and recognition. It asks the listener to consider their own position in society and how they can work towards greater equality and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Look alive, break aside, draw a line in the sand
Pay attention and prepare for the battle ahead by establishing a clear boundary.
Here's the band: treat us like we're extras, we're not epic
The band does not want to be perceived as insignificant, but they are not necessarily exceptional either.
Treat us like we're not on our boots
Do not underestimate us or assume we are inexperienced.
You leave us on the stretches where the credits roll
After the hard work is done, we are often forgotten and ignored.
The king will simply build institutes
The ruler will establish facilities and organizations.
We are a part team military muscles
We are a group working together and using our strength.
Tell ourselves we're the part of a soul
We believe we have a spiritual connection and purpose.
Smashing regimes between (???) challenging
We are fighting against oppressive political systems and institutions.
Education, education and war
Learning and fighting are both necessary for progress and success.
We're gonna need a lot more cannons
We require additional resources to achieve our goals and win this battle.
If we gonna be out by Christmas
If we hope to be successful, we need to act quickly and decisively.
I know, I know, if you wanna know, If you wanna see your face again I know we feel the same way
We understand the urgency of the situation and the importance of success.
And making all the difficult decisions, to follow Petitions on children first
We must make tough choices and prioritize those who are most vulnerable.
How about a person of position, you say
Perhaps a leader with authority could help us.
You will be happy if you expect the worst
Lowering our expectations can lead to greater satisfaction when we succeed.
Armor, paper strolls and a Bible, So going out across apartment stores
We gather the necessary supplies and equipment by any means possible, even if it means looting.
You will be issued with a rifle on arrival, champs
We are prepared to fight with weapons as soon as we arrive.
Education, education and war
We restate the importance of learning and fighting.
Show us the way to go And let heaven help us
We ask for divine guidance and assistance.
Save our souls, Show us the way back home
We plead to be protected and returned to safety.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nicholas Baines, James Rix, Andrew Robert White, Charles Richard Wilson, Fraser Lance Thornycroft Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SoullessUnit
The occupation of damnation eternal,
Decreed by commander-in-chief,
Won by the infantry, led by the Colonel,
Came at costs that would beggar belief.
As they marched upon the inferno
And the infidels dropped to their knees
Millions of civilians crammed in pavilions
Came to watch it on big-screen TVs.
The population of damnation eternal
Went from millions to thousands to one
The survivor wrote in his journal
“Why on earth did it take them so long?”
“Within weeks we constructed a pipeline,
Within years we’ll have run the place dry.
It’ll just about last us our lifetime
So its hip-hip-hoorays and high-fives”
On the factory floor there’s a whisper
“We built cannons before it began.”
With the engine still pumping its piston
And the turbine still whirring its fan.
The assembly line spits out surplus
In to purpose built lead-lined white vans
Rockets stockpile as ministry workers
Fill their pockets with all that they can.
Secret meetings are held in the senate
“What to do with this excess supply?
There’s a plan to abandon the planet
One V.I.P. at a time.”
So we get up each day and have breakfast
Read the news and the weather forecast
As we sit and we open our letters
And we pray
That it won’t be our last.
@SoullessUnit
The occupation of damnation eternal,
Decreed by commander-in-chief,
Won by the infantry, led by the Colonel,
Came at costs that would beggar belief.
As they marched upon the inferno
And the infidels dropped to their knees
Millions of civilians crammed in pavilions
Came to watch it on big-screen TVs.
The population of damnation eternal
Went from millions to thousands to one
The survivor wrote in his journal
“Why on earth did it take them so long?”
“Within weeks we constructed a pipeline,
Within years we’ll have run the place dry.
It’ll just about last us our lifetime
So its hip-hip-hoorays and high-fives”
On the factory floor there’s a whisper
“We built cannons before it began.”
With the engine still pumping its piston
And the turbine still whirring its fan.
The assembly line spits out surplus
In to purpose built lead-lined white vans
Rockets stockpile as ministry workers
Fill their pockets with all that they can.
Secret meetings are held in the senate
“What to do with this excess supply?
There’s a plan to abandon the planet
One V.I.P. at a time.”
So we get up each day and have breakfast
Read the news and the weather forecast
As we sit and we open our letters
And we pray
That it won’t be our last.
@marinecesari1532
Mathew Hine Thank you so much to write the poem here !!
@islipperysnek_4609
𝚈𝚊𝚢
@eluneyluna5100
That last paragraph hits me like a truck.
@josuegomez6478
Wow I remember falling asleep with this album, then I woke up to the last segment of this song, A very unique experience
@erikerik3823
Lol i used to do the same thing oh 2014...
@Storanzo98
Saw them open for the Foo Fighters in Argentina, they were awesome! Very energetic.
@Mediamonsta95
One of the very best anti war songs.
@jackherridge6474
Saw this live in Plymouth ☺ it was amazing
@sophieclarke7540
amazing !!!!!!!