'THE third record is the one you're judged on," begins Kasabian guitarist/ lynchpin Serge Pizzorno, referring to the band's brilliant new album, The West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum. "It's where you've established yourself and people find out who you really are.
"In terms of success we've breached the walls," he adds with enthusiasm. "Now it's time to destroy the system from within."
Pizzorno goes on to say that people are wrong to pigeonhole the band, despite their close association with friends and regu
lar touring partners Oasis, for whom they warm the stage at Murrayfield on Wednesday.
Asked if the Leicester lads' latest album is a conscious attempt to shrug off the 'lad-rock band' label, he snaps, "We never were one. If you put our records on and press the play button, there's no pub rock in that, man. It's really British rock 'n' roll. It is what it is.
"It kind of makes me laugh when people say that to us – you ain't got no idea," he adds.
However the critics want to pigeonhole Kasabian's music, it sells by the truckload.
Leicester's biggest musical export since Engelbert Humperdinck, the band sold an impressive 700,000 copies of their first album in the UK alone, and went on to become the undisputed victors of the festival circuit, putting on sizzling performances at T in the Park, Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds.
But if their 2004 debut announced their arrival, then it was the follow-up effort, 2006's Empire, which propelled the band into the big league, storming the charts at Number 4, and going on to win a wedge of industry awards.
The third from Kasabian, The West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum pays homage to the psychedelic albums of the 60s – albums with ludicrous titles and preposterous contents.
"That's it, brother," asserts lead singer Tom Meighan "All those mad records, like The Rolling Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request, or Ogden's Nut Gone Flake by The Small Faces. None of the titles really make sense and that's what we wanted, in a way, but to make it modern and for the 21st-century."
West Ryder's sleeve continues that tip of the hat too, with the Kasabian boys getting out the dressing up box. Meighan looks particularly dapper in a Nelson-esque military costume.
"It's like an English-heritage psychedelia cover, but it's evil-looking too. That's what we wanted, that was our concept," he says, pausing. "That, and to make it really, really good.
"I think (the album] shows how beautiful we are as a band. How beautiful we've become. It was an ugly duckling, but it's flowered, it's blossomed. We've matured in every way."
Despite having sold nearly two million records, the band (the others members are Chris Edwards and Ian Matthews) have only just realised they're absolutely massive.
"It's really weird, man," smiles Meighan. "We were doing Jools Holland the other week there and we were the biggest band on it.
"Before, we've been on with big names, Smokey Robinson, Jarvis Cocker and people. We were looking at the list for this one, and those names aren't there – we're the biggest band. It's funny," he adds. "About time."
A swaggering frontman in the Liam Gallagher and Ian Brown mould, Meighan has never been short of confidence, even when, as he admits, the band weren't all that great.
Now, armed with their best, most ambitious album, he's brimming with self-confidence.
"I'm so excited," he beams. "As well as confused, on edge, you know, all these emotions are coming up before the album comes out (West Ryder was released on Monday]. I'm not sleeping properly, and neither is Serge.
"I don't know if other bands get that pattern, but I just can't switch off, it's bizarre. I go to bed for about two hours, but I can't sleep. I'm just waiting for things to happen. It's what we're like when we're on tour as well," he adds.
The band, who headlined Edinburgh's hogmanay concert two years ago, have been away from the public eye for 12 months – although nine of those was spent in the recording studio.
After getting "about 70 per cent done", Kasabian headed across the pond to San Francisco to seek out the services of acclaimed producer Dan 'The Automator' Nakamura, who previously worked his magic on albums by Beck, Gorillaz, DJ Shadow and Busta Rhymes.
"He's not a natural choice, I guess," admits Meighan, "but Serge has wanted to work with him for a while. It was amazing to get him, and to have another pair of ears on the album, to guide us through it. He's brought out the big beats and the album sounds amazing."
Being out on America's West Coast clearly suited Meighan down to the ground. Having only been there while touring before, he says that it was good to be in one place for a length of time, and feels the city energised him.
"You don't get more psychedelic than Haight-Ashbury," he says, referring to the district of San Francisco synonymous with 1967's so-called Summer Of Love and fledgling hippy scene.
"I think being there improved my singing 100 per cent, gave me more of an edge. Dan's studio is underneath his house, which was lovely. I escaped for four weeks.
"I didn't do much sightseeing. Although last time we toured I went to that horrible little island, Alcatraz. Walking around there was horrible. They should leave the contestants from Britain's Got Talent there. Get them on a boat and send them," he adds, laughing.
Back in Blighty, there's now the small matter of a support slot with their musical heroes.
When the name Oasis comes up, Meighan has nothing but praise for the band seen as their spiritual predecessors. He's quick to scotch musical comparisons, however, saying any similarities are more down to shared values and beliefs than influences or sound.
"We believe in realism, like they do, but we're from the other side of the rainbow to them, musically, and Noel (Gallagher] would be the first person to say that," he says.
Like the Gallagher brothers' relationship being central to Oasis' story, the brotherly bond between Meighan and Pizzorno, who met in Leicester, aged 11, is equally important to Kasabian's success, if less fractious.
"We met years ago and were in the same class in school, but I properly got to know him when we were 17," explains Meighan. "We're pretty close, and we fall out now and again, a few scrapes here and there, but it's all good.
"I think I annoy him more than he annoys me," he laughs. "Us lead singers are a rare bunch, but that's how it is, and I love it."
• Kasabian (supporting Oasis), Murrayfield Stadium, Roseburn Terrace, Wednesday, stages times tba, £45, 0131-346 5000
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY• Kasabian are named after Linda Kasabian, who was a member of Charles Manson's murderous 60s cult The Family, and later gave evidence to prosecute Manson in the infamous Tate-LaBianca trial.
• Before changing their name to Kasabian, the band were known as Saracuse.
• While recording their self-titled debut album, released in 2004, the band lived in a farm-house near Rutland Water reservoir, Rutland, for around 18 months, so as not to be disturbed.
• Guitarist and founding member Chris Karloff left the band while they were recording second album Empire due to the classic 'creative differences'.
• Kasabian will play this year's Glastonbury festival on the Saturday night as special guests of headliner Bruce Springsteen.
The full article contains 1265 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
