In 2004, Kasabian burst onto the British indie scene with a series of hits taken from their self-titled debut album. Combining slick grooves with out-and-out rock, Kasabian owe much of their sound to bands like The Stone Roses, Primal Scream and The Charlatans, but add a modern element with synths, samples and effects that put them ahead of the pack.

Named after Linda Kasabian, serial killer Charles Manson’s getaway car drive, frontman Tom Meighan, guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, bassist Chris Edwards and guitarist Chris Karloff formed while at high school in Leicester, in England’s midlands. Singles Club Foot, LSF, Reason is Treason and Processed Beats all made Kasabian one of the most talked-about debut records of 2004, the band quickly making friends in high places – Oasis’ Noel Gallagher talking the band up on countless occasions.

After Karloff left the band in 2006, Kasabian released Empire, their second album, which entered the UK charts at number one. With live drummer Ian Matthews joining the band on a full-time basis, the looped and sampled drums of Kasabian made way for more conventional rock songs, including Shoot the Runner, Stuntman and The Doberman. After the album’s release, Kasabian set off on a worldwide tour that brought them to Australia for the first time, appearing at the Big Day Out as well as headline gigs on the East Coast.