Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix has previewed the upcoming new campaign which kicks off with Leeds United playing Nottingham Forest
Leeds United have the perfect signing for the new Premier League season, according to a famous fan devoted the club.
We all know Kaiser Chiefs absolutely love Leeds United with the club, and its supporters, holding a similar affection for the Ricky Wilson-fronted band – the group’s I Predict a Riot regularly blaring out at Elland Road. Ahead of the new season, when the Kaisers were appearing at Tramlines Festival in Sheffield, we caught up with Simon Rix from the group.
The Kaiser Chiefs bassist spoke to us at the home of Leeds United’s Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday – which acts as a ‘backstage’ spot for Tramlines. Discussing the ‘homecoming’ element of the band’s South Yorkshire appearance, Simon said: “I think it is funny as ‘homecoming’ gets extended from being Leeds to maybe West Yorkshire to then being the whole of Yorkshire. When we play Hull, I don’t think it is the homecoming, although I do like Hull.
“For us, being Yorkshire, I think we always get that little bit extra – a special reception. I think we always feel a little more pressure. As sometimes, you have friends and family coming, so that’s pressure. Then, also, we want to make people proud. We want to give it a bit extra – to payback that we are from here and we are all the same people in some way.”
Simon is a regular face at Elland Road and is known for his role on podcast Leeds United – Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet. So, he’s well-placed to preview the upcoming Premier League, and domestic cup, campaign for Leeds United.
Ahead of the first match of the season, we discussed new signings, continuing impressive form into the new campaign and how he copes with missing his beloved Whites while on-tour playing as part of Kaiser Chiefs.
Simon, it feels like a really positive time to be a Leeds United supporter, with a sense of stability in-the-air. How are you feeling ahead of the new season?
“I feel good. Because we are in this stadium (Sheffield Wednesday’s), I actually am not too tribal about the teams in Yorkshire. I want them to do well. It was a bad thing, I think there was a point last season, where the Championship relegation was all Yorkshire.
“Preferably, we’d have lots and lots of Yorkshire teams in the Prem. Hull coming up is good and hopefully Leeds do well. With Leeds, I’m impressed with them. I felt, at the end of last season, we’d done really well (from the famous turning point of Manchester City away).
“I knew they’d try to buy people and move it forward but (maybe) the expectations would still be 16th or 17th but, so far, the signings have been good. Harry Wilson has been the perfect signing and then the heavily-rumoured signing of James Trafford, which might be confirmed by the time this goes out (which it has), is a real statement of intent – a future England keeper.
“It has got to be very good money and very good wages. This summer, they seem to be going for it. Rather than bulk the squad, it feels like they are trying to sign players which will bring the ceiling up. I’m actually getting excited about it.”
There has seemed a feeling among many Leeds United fans that the James Trafford signing from Manchester City was something they were unanimous on – is that the impression you’ve had?
“There were a few little gaps (in the squad) but goalkeeper felt like the biggest headache. As we had three of the four goalkeepers out of contract and nobody was particularly confident about the fourth. So, it felt like a real problem area. When we were signing Wilson, you are left thinking that’s an astute signing, that seems positive.
“But, you are going on pre-season and thinking the goalkeepers that we have (before James Trafford signing) aren’t going to play a minute for Leeds United next season. I’ve got a podcast about Leeds and I described it as the biggest problem and it was becoming the most urgent problem as well – we just need him not to get injured. It is big and it is a real statement of intent for the season that we would aim for 10th (position in the Premier League) which for a second year in the Prem would be an amazing achievement.”
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That famous second half away at the Etihad, to Manchester City, felt like a real springboard for what followed?
“They must look at that and think, from November to the end of season, they would have finished ninth. It was the beginning of the season which let them down. I think some of the players, say like (Jaka) Bijol, who hadn’t played in the Prem before, were finding their feet. Again, we have a couple of players who still might be doing that but they are confident. They know they can play at that level.
“Last season, I think we were lucky DCL (striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin) stayed fit for the whole of the season. I think, after Trafford, my next concern is let’s imagine he (DCL) does get injured then who is playing there? Who is going to get those goals? I think (Lukas) Nmecha did really well but I just don’t know if he is good enough, perhaps, to be the number two striker. I know other people could play there but it feels like finding someone else, which is very hard and expensive, would be my next thing which I’d want them to look at.”
Just finally on Leeds United, you’ve toured all across the globe over the last two decades, how do you approach matches when you are away from Elland Road performing?
“I always watch it (ahead of the gig). In the old days, if they were playing people might be like ‘no, you can’t watch it’ whereas now everything is a bit more relaxed. If you go on-stage you usually get someone telling you the score. There have been a few times where we’ve played where it has coincided with big games. But, generally, I will always be across it as I want to know.”
You can see the upcoming Kaiser Chiefs tour dates by visiting Ticketmaster.
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