Kasabian's Sergio Pizzorno has revealed the band nearly split last year in the wake of former frontman Tom Meighan 's sacking after he was convicted of assaulting his wife.
Meighan was given an 18-month community order and told to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work for hitting then-girlfriend Vikki Ager in 2020 during a drunken rage.
The band was rumoured to be ready to replace Meighan with former The Music lead singer Rob Harvey but when the move failed to materialise, Pizzorno, 41, took over vocal duties himself.
Now the fourpiece is preparing to release its seventh studio album 'The Alchemist’s Euphoria' on August 5 - it's first since Meighan's departure.
'Serge', drummer Ian Matthews, bassist Chris Edwards and guitarist Tim Carter unveiled details about their new record at an exclusive event in a secret London location.
After revealing his initial reluctance to become the group's frontman, he told The Sun : "I was really happy — I was pipe and slippers. I didn't need the frontman job. I was very happy at the side.
"It keeps me awake at night, thinking about that. But needs must. I love these boys, we’re a band of brothers. I needed to step up or it stops. So it doesn't matter if I wanted to or not, you have to.
"I have been watching videos of all the greats and taking notes. I started notes with Elvis, watched him for a bit, watched a bit of Freddie Mercury. Nicked a bit of this, a bit of that, nicked a bit of Iggy Pop. I take a little bit from everyone."
Next up for the band is a supporting role at former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher's two sold out Knebworth shows next week.
And Pizzorno said that a party is well and truly needed after Covid and because of the 'madness' that is currently gripping the world, with Knebworth being the 'biggest, best party that we're happy to be part of'.
Meighan, meanwhile, made a return to the stage himself last month amid his The Moving On Tour at the O2 Academy in Leeds.
The 41-year old then went on to play a further date in his hometown of Leicester, before taking in Liverpool, Bristol, London, Manchester and Birmingham.
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