Kid British burst onto the British music scene last year with their song ‘Our House is Dadless’ featuring an instantly recognisable sound sampled from one of Madness’ most famous tracks. Since then they’ve been regulars on the Radio One playlist, played an impromptu gig on a train for London Mayor Boris Johnson and even supported ska legends The Specials.
Sport.co.uk caught up with vocalist Simeon McLean to talk about the Manchester United/Manchester City split in the band, England’s chances in South Africa, World Cup anthems and the latest step in the plan for world domination.
Afternoon Simeon, you’re currently involved in the opening of a new Kitbag World Cup store in Manchester- how’s it going up there?
It’s the launch of the store today, it’s really nice, it’s mad how it has changed so much it used to be an HMV. It’s got every nation’s kit in here.
Is this the first time you’ve teamed up with Kitbag and how did it come about?
It’s the first time we have teamed up with Kitbag, but we have been involved with Umbro before and so that’s why we are involved with this.
I was under the impression that you were all Man City fans, but reading your Twitter page the other night there was loads of anti-City tweets after the defeat to Spurs, care to explain?
I’m a Manchester United fan and Adio [Marchant] is Manchester City, there’s seven of us in the band and 3 of us are Man City and 4 of us are Man United. I was Pro-Tottenham the other night!
Did you cheer when Crouchy scored?
Yeah I cheered- I was over the blue moon (at the time I didn’t respond, but looking back; fair play)
So seven of you in the band how about the two derby games this season, with two last minute winners for United?
There’s always loads of banter between us, but we have a close friend in Nedum Onuoha who plays for Man Cityand Adio’s little brother plays for Man City. So I like it when City do well and I like the banter. It’s good that it’s like this now because for too long it was too easy, United would always beat City, but the noisy neighbours have got a bit louder, so it’s good.
Ronaldo has been in fine form for Real have you missed him?
I thought we would have missed him a lot more than we have, but obviously if we had him, it would have been a plus and the season would have probably been wrapped up by now. But you never know because it has brought people like Wayne Rooney and Nani into our game and you have never seen them play like they have this season. When he left we didn’t seem to buy anyone but Valencia has played out of his skin. I do wish Ronaldo the best because he is a great player and you never know one day he might come back.
You mentioned Rooney, Valencia and Nani as outstanding performers, but what about Berbatov, has he been a disappointment?
I think it’s time for him to go, I feel sorry for him, but it’s like Forlan; he’ll probably go somewhere else and play great but he’s just not a United player. I feel like he’s lost his confidence and he can’t even do the simple things he used to be able to do. There’s no doubting he has the ability and he is a great player but unfortunately he’s just not a United player.
Who would you try and sign in place of Berbatov?
I think we should go for David Villa or even... have a cheeky bid for Torres
That would be some signing if you got him...
(Laughs) Yeah, Yeah it would...
So what are you views on the Glazers?
They will be the death of the club, we need them out.
So would you take anyone to get them out or do you have someone in mind?
We are not prepared to take anyone, it’s got to be someone who will love the club. Obviously it’s all about profit, everyone wants to make money, but we need someone who will love the club. Somebody has got to wipe out that £800 million debt before they can actually make any profit, so it’s going to be hard.
Your album is called ‘It Was This or Football’- why that title?
Well we are from an urban area of Manchester and all you dream of whether you are a boy or girl is doing something other than a 9-5 job. So it was this or football means either music or football. It’s about dreaming and not just doing a normal job
Were any of you close to making it as a pro footballer?
Adio was close to making it and he played in the Sports Relief game recently and even scored the winning penalty.
You have become known for doing the end of season rap on Sky's Soccer AM - my favourite line from the 07-08 one was “Paul Jewell do you know how to manage, obviously not because you bought…”
(We both simultaneously shout Robbie Savage and then out giggle each other until I compose myself and ask a burning question)
However you said in last season’s rap that you can never win a league with Kalou and Malouda- you still sticking by that?
(Big Laugh) That wasn’t my line it was Adio’s line. But Malouda has played out of his skin this season, he must have heard that line and it affected him so we can take the credit for that.
Any plans for any more?
We got a World Cup one and we might even do that on Soccer AM this year.
How about a World Cup song we haven’t had a decent one since New Order's 'World in Motion' and the reason that was good was because of the John Barnes rap- you boys like rapping do you fancy having a go at it?
You know what- we could do it easy, like I said Adio wrote a World Cup rap but it’s an England one, It’s about who he thinks is going to go South Africa and we think could be a World Cup song, but we have also made another song called ‘Winner’ and that’s on the new FIFA World Cup game and you never know if our fans get behind the game then you just don’t know what might happen. We are not pushing it to be the official song but let’s be honest you can’t get a better title than ‘Winner.’
What would you rather have England winning the World Cup or Kid British at number one?
I’d rather have my song go to number one, the players have got enough money, and I need some more!
You think England can actually put the hype behind them and win it for the first time since 1966?
Yeah of course we can, we have the players as long as we choose the right defenders and the right strike force. There’s a debate between Defoe and Bent and I don’t know myself who’ll go. Defenders? There’s a chance Ledley King might go and I think he’s been as good as anyone this season. But the team is definitely strong enough and we can do it.
On describing your style you said: ‘KID BRITISH create their own noise by mixing a bit of this with a bit of that and ending up with one big fat MANKY sandwich!’ Can you explain that please?
It means it’s just our own ingredients. We are massive fans of nostalgic music but I don’t think people have got the full picture of us yet, there has been certain songs that perhaps we should not have released but you have to go with the climate at the time when your picking songs. But the song ‘Winner’ is a real up-beat northern soul sort of song. The album has a motown, reggae and ska sort of feel to it, the rap we do is more for a bit of witty social commentary.
You have been compared to The Specials- would you say they are your main influence?
Yes, them and UB40 - we also grew up with a lot of Manchester bands, but the Specials are big to us and like them you should come and see us live. I know a lot of bands say come and see us live, but our album was a bit rushed and so it did not sound exactly how we wanted it, so when people come and see us live we they are a bit blown away because they don’t expect us to sound like that.
And Finally...Where can readers of sport.co.uk check you out and what new tracks should we be listening out for?
Well as previously mentioned the next track is ‘Winner’ and then after that is a track called ‘Friday’ and just keep an eye out online because we have some gigs coming up too.
