The Kooks Prove Success Doesn’t Have To Be Based On Audience Viewing Figures

The term ‘rapid rise to fame’ is usually reserved these days for the winners of reality TV programmes, to find the next big thing in music. But there is one band that has proved rock and roll fame can still be achieved without the need for an audience voting system.

The Kooks got together four years ago, and in that time had their debut album spend the best part of a year in the U.K. Top 20 album chart, gained quadruple platinum status for the same album, and were nominated for several top awards including Best New Act, Best UK and Ireland Act, and a BRIT Award.

Formed by Luke Pritchard (singer and rhythm guitar) while attending the Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2004, he persuaded three of his fellow students to join him; Max Rafferty (bass), Hugh Harris (lead guitar), and Paul Garred (drums). A mutual appreciation for David Bowie led the four assembled musicians to a song from Bowie’s 1971 album, Hunky Dory, and thus The Kooks were born.

The Kooks were quick to get going; writing and recording music on a small scale, and playing locally around the Brighton area. They released an EP and were invited to play at a local music festival, where a Virgin scout picked up on their unique talent, and signed them without hesitation.

Within a few months they had recorded their debut album Inside In/Inside Out, from which several songs were released, but only one broke into the U.K. Top 20. Naïve was written by Pritchard when he was only sixteen years old, and when the song hit the shelves, The Kooks' journey to success took off. The single became the band’s anthem, gaining huge amounts of radio play, and launching Inside In/Inside Out into the U.K. Top 20 album chart for over 6 months. The album has gone on to sell over one million copies worldwide.

Following the album’s release, The Kooks embarked on a U.S. tour in October 2006. Naïve once again proved to be their main selling point, and the band became one of the youngest to sell out shows in both New York and Los Angeles.

When they returned to the U.K. they were invited to play at the Reading/Leeds festivals, during which time their popularity had soared to such an extent, that their performance in the NME/Radio 1 Tent was threatened with cancellation after a heavy crowd swell threatened safety.

In 2007 the band performed at various other outdoor festivals to critical acclaim, such as three memorable performances in front of huge crowds at Glastonbury, OXEGEN, and the V Festival in August.

Max Rafferty left the band under a cloud early in January 2008, but was quickly replaced by Dan Logan, bass guitarist from Cat the Dog. The Kooks second album, Konk, has since been recorded, and is widely tipped throughout the music industry to be another major success when it is released on 14 April, 2008.

In only four years The Kooks' popularity has soared at a rate that has astounded critics and fans alike, along with perhaps stinging one or two egos along the way. Pritchard revealed in a recent interview that The Kooks “have 80 or 90 great songs written and ready to go.” He continued: “I've got an ego and I want the album to do well. I want our singles to come on the radio and for people to have their heads blown off by them.”

Discography (Studio Albums)

2006 - Inside In/Inside Out - #2 (UK) #164 US 4 x Platinum
2008 - Konk (rel: 14 April, 2008/Virgin)

Forthcoming Dates

6 Mar 2008 - Liverpool Barfly
22 Apr 2008 - Manchester Apollo
23 Apr 2008 - Swindon Oasis, Swindon
24 Apr 2008 - Newport Centre, Wales
25 Apr 2008 - Hull Arena
27 Apr 2008 - Birmingham Academy
28 Apr 2008 - Sheffield Academy
29 Apr 2008 - Edinburgh Corn Exchange
1 May 2008 - London Brixton Academy
2 May 2008 - London Brixton Academy
3 May 2008 - Plymouth Pavillion
5 May 2008 - Dublin Castle, Ireland
15 Jun 2008 - Isle Of Wight
12 Jul 2008 - T in the Park, Kinross, Scotland