July 21, 2009 17:44

Kasabian: 'I don't know if it's good or bad to be Mercury favourites'

Serge Pizzorno says the band's nomination came as a shock to him

Photo Gallery: Kasabian
Photo: Andy Whitton

Kasabian's Sergio Pizzorno has said he can't decide if it's good or bad to have been named the current favourite, along with Florence And The Machine, to win the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2009.

Reacting to news that the band have been given odds of 5/1 to pick up the prize this September, Pizzorno told NME.COM he hadn’t even contemplated being nominated before this morning (July 21).

"I've never really thought about it before, and then someone rang us up and goes "You're nominated," and it's like "Yeah?! Nice one!"," he said.

"I think we're joint favourites aren’t we? I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing though… To be honest, if we can play there, at the ceremony, that would be nice."

Pizzorno also paid tribute to fellow nominees The Horrors, as well as other "NME-type" bands.

"That Horrors album's really good isn’t it?" he exclaimed. "I like the single they released, it's great. I'm glad they're in it [the nominations list]. The NME-type bands are sort of saving it a bit, do you know what I mean?!"

To listen to full interviews with acts nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2009, tune into Chris Martin's show on NME Radio this evening, from 7pm to 11pm (BST).

Last year's Barclaycard Mercury Prize was won by Elbow.

Who do you think has missed out on this year's Barclaycard Mercury Prize? Have your say at the NME office blog now.

Plus read the NME's predictions for who will win the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize now.