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British band Keane have always had more than their fair share of critics and doubters. But if there were ever any questions about their popularity, their critically acclaimed new album and a triumphant return to the stage has laid them to rest.
The London-based band ended a year-long,
self-imposed break with a sold-out, one-off gig at the Forum in North London late last month. The excitement and passion from the crowd was overwhelming as frontman Tom Chaplin and the band stepped on stage - accompanied by the blasting Top Gun theme tune.
The new-look Keane features a confident, slimmed-down Chaplin, whose stint in rehab and newly acquired electric guitar have boosted his rock-star cred no end. There's also an extra member, bassist Jesse Quin.
The set is a mix of old favourites and tracks from their new album Perfect Symmetry, in stores tomorrow. The addition of guitars and synthesisers has given Keane a much bigger and contemporary sound. It's undoubtedly a new direction for them, and one the fans and critics are embracing.
Take the Guardian, one of Britain's most-respected newspapers. It has never liked Keane; in fact, "they hated us" says Chaplin. So Chaplin's hopes weren't high as he prepared for the inevitable critical savaging of their new album. "Lot of critics were sharpening their knives and thinking this is it, this is the time to really stick the knife into Keane," says Chaplin.
But the reviews that came through were "shockingly positive". The Guardian described them as a band who had "turned their frowns upside down". For Chaplin, it is the ultimate achievement. "To suddenly change opinion is really exciting, it's satisfying," he says.
It is all the more impressive given it's less than two years since the music star walked out on the band while on tour in Japan and checked into rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. Chaplin, 29, says the band had become victims of classic band cliches. "We weren't prepared for all of the things we thought would make us happy - success and validation from fans and money and fame. None of it made us happy, it made me really miserable." Chaplin says that dark period in his own and the band's history is now a "closed book". Today, Chaplin oozes good health and clean living. He is almost unrecognisable physically and, he says, mentally. "I got very serious and earnest about a lot of things, really lost my sense of humour. But making this album and listening to this album makes me feel less concerned with all those things. I'm more relaxed and philosophical."
Formed in 1995 by schoolmates Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley (the guy who turned down Coldplay) and Richard Hughes, Keane burst onto the charts in 2004 with the album Hopes and Fears. A string of hits, including Somewhere Only We Know and Everyone's Changing, made it the biggest-selling album of the year in the UK and won them two Brit awards. Their follow-up album, Under the Iron Sea, also went to number one on the UK charts. Just two months after it was released, in 2006, Chaplin checked into rehab for treatment.
"I feel very proud of first two albums, they came from very different places. The first was about trying to seek out a new world and trying to make something of our dream and the next one about how it had gone so horribly wrong."
Perfect Symmetry looks and sounds completely different to anything the band has done before. "This is as good as our songs are ever going to get," says Chaplin. Moving away from their big rock anthems and piano-based sound, the album is much more electronic, almost disco, with heavy use of synthesisers and vocal harmonies. "We have always felt a bit confined to our own way of doing things, having a comfort zone we must come out of, what is expected of a white indie band from England."
But Chaplin says with this album they threw out the rule book. "We just thought, sod it, we'll do what comes instinctively to us, so that was literally any idea we had. We had no shame about trying it out."
Moving far away from a winning formula is a risky move, but one Chaplin thinks will pay off. "I think the fans are game for it. I hope they are, or else we are screwed," he laughs.
The Keane reinvention is something they have wanted to do for a long time. "I don't really get on with bands that don't reinvent themselves, that's why I loved Oasis' first two albums but have became more apathetic about them, because there is no change."
And although it may be sonically upbeat, the album does deal with more serious issues, including politics, capitalism, war and celebrity culture. "If John Lennon was still around he would still be saying, 'Come on guys, let's get on with each other' and I think in our small way we can fly the flag for that way of thinking and I think this album definitely does that."
Chaplin admits that echoing such "hippyish" sentiment may be a difficult pill to swallow, but ultimately, he hopes, one which will offer listeners a more positive, enlightening experience. "I hope people have a smile when they listen to this record. Sonically it's very upbeat and fun." Chaplin says his public fall and subsequent recovery have changed him forever. "I definitely think I've become a bit softer, more sympathetic, more understanding."
Right now, Chaplin is itching to get back up on stage, something he says is the "ultimate". A natural performer, he gives everything to his fans and now, more than ever, needs what they give back.
Keane will begin an arena tour of the UK and Europe early next year and Chaplin is promising to make it to New Zealand, somewhere they have never played but where he has a number of friends.
"I think it's a bit shoddy of us that we haven't been there yet," he says.
Chaplin talks enthusiastically about the future and the album. You get the sense that Keane is here to stay. "I was living out this incredible dream but I never took time to enjoy it," the frontman explains. "But this time around, because we have had this pretty miserable time and come out of it, I've got a sense of rebirth, like we are starting again and I do genuinely feel this is brilliant."
Perfect Symmetry is in stores tomorrow.
