Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band formed in Leeds in 2000. The best-known line-up has included singer Ricky Wilson, bassist Simon Rix, guitarist Andrew “Whitey” White and keyboardist Nick Baines, with drummer Nick Hodgson a key early member. The band are associated with 2000s British indie rock and are notable for their breakthrough debut album Employment and for a series of prominent UK hits.

The group emerged from the Leeds live scene and developed their reputation through touring and early releases before signing to a major independent label. Their breakthrough came with Employment (2005), which achieved major commercial success in the UK and included singles such as “Oh My God” and “I Predict a Riot”. The album’s popularity helped place the band within the wider wave of mid-2000s British indie acts and led to extensive touring and festival appearances.

Kaiser Chiefs consolidated their peak success with albums including Yours Truly, Angry Mob (2007), which produced the UK number-one single “Ruby”, and later records such as Off with Their Heads (2008) and The Future Is Medieval (2011). During their mid-2000s commercial peak, the band received major industry recognition, including multiple Brit Awards, and became regular headline performers at large UK venues and festivals. Their songs were frequently used across British media, reflecting the broader cultural reach of UK guitar music in that period.

In the 2010s the band continued to release new material and to adapt their sound across several line-up changes. Hodgson departed in the early 2010s, and Kaiser Chiefs continued with new drummers and a continued emphasis on touring. Albums such as Education, Education, Education & War (2014) and Stay Together (2016) sustained their UK chart presence, and they remained active on the festival circuit, while later releases included Duck (2019).

While exact worldwide sales totals are not consistently published, Kaiser Chiefs’ early albums achieved multi-platinum success in the UK and established a durable catalogue of widely recognised songs. Their work remains closely associated with the mainstream success of British indie rock in the 2000s, and their continued touring has contributed to their lasting popularity with UK audiences.