April 28, 2009 11:07

Kasabian reveal Rolling Stones inspiration behind new album sleeve

Story behind 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum' explained

Photo Gallery: Kasabian

Kasabian have explained the meaning behind the sleeve for their third album, in an exclusive NME video interview which can be watched at the bottom of this page.

As revealed last week, the band have dressed up as Napoleon and a priest, among other costumes, for the cover of 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'.

"Well, it’s the fancy dress in the asylum, we’re sort of getting ready to go to the end-of-year ball or the work do at the asylum," guitarist Sergio Pizzorno told NME.COM.

"Ideas of grandeur, y’know, when kings go mad, power gets to them and they see themselves as other things…Tom [Meighan, singer]’s Napoleon and I'm a sort of Butcher Priest. Ian [Matthews, drums] is a sort of mad pagan monster of sorts and Chris [Edwards, bass] is a little pauper sort of losing his mind eating light bulbs, reading mad literature. It’s great, you can’t take your eyes off it and it’ll fuck people off."

Frontman Tom Meighan added that the sleeve had been inspired by The Rolling Stones' album 'Their Satanic Majesties Request'.

"We wanted to do, like you know the Stones dressed up as wizards, and all that kind of shit," he explained. "You see these psychedelic bands dressed up as kings and stuff, so that was the take on it."

Watch the full video interview now: