Nick Hodgson: Last News

Kaiser Chiefs drummer and songwriter Nick Hodgson has spoken to NME about his new band Everyone Says Hi, his songwriting work with the likes of Dua Lipa and how he discovered the lost chord.Hodgson’s new band, which shares its name with a 2002 David Bowie song, consists of an array of indie rock luminaries including Pete Denton formerly The Kooks, Ben Gordon from The Dead 60s and Glenn Moule of Howling Bells, alongside Leeds guitarist Tom Dawson.Having signed to Chrysalis, their debut single ‘Brain Freeze’ – a psychedelic lounge rock hinting at recent Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala influences and featuring a sax solo from The Zutons’ Abi Harding – is out now.Speaking to NME, Hodgson explained how the lyrics – co-written with Justin Parker (who also co-wrote ‘Video Games’ by Lana Del Rey and ‘Stay’ by Rihanna) – are about going on a recovery mission to Ibiza after “not a relationship so much, just arguments, division, conflict – disagreements that occupy your life sometimes”.“I love Ibiza as well, so it sounds like I’m dreaming of going to Ibiza and living there,” said said. “I’ve always dreamt of escaping in a camper van and I did go away on my own in a camper van.

Kaiser Chiefs have doubled down on their claim that they once turned down lyrics suggested to them by David Bowie.The Leeds band first spoke about their interaction with the rock icon in an interview with News of the World back in 2011, when drummer Nick Hodgson noted that they were able to contact Bowie through a mutual colleague, the legendary producer Tony Visconti.Visconti had co-produced their album ‘The Future is Medieval’, released in the same year, and was on close terms with Bowie, having collaborated on over ten of his albums, including classics such as ‘Low’, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’.“Tony texted David asking for his suggestions to finish off a verse [on ‘Man On Mars’] and he came up with a couple of lines,” Hodgson recalled. “I’m such a big Bowie fan I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they just weren’t right, so I’ve missed out on a Hodgson/Bowie writing credit.

Kaiser Chiefs drummer and songwriter Nick Hodgson has revealed the original inspiration behind the band’s hit song ‘Ruby’.The Leeds group released ‘Ruby’, the lead single from their second album ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’, in 2007 which went on to become their first UK Number One.In a new video feature posted by The Other Songs where Hodgson retold the story for a live audience, he recalled playing a verse on the keyboard when someone called Ruby walked in, prompting him to sing the tracks famous hook, “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby…“.“At the time we didn’t say who Ruby was,” he shared. “But I can tell you now that Ruby was a dog.”Hodgson also elaborated on the meaning behind ‘Ruby’ in a TikTok last year in which he sang a stripped back version of ‘Ruby’ and played the piano.A text box flashed onto the screen, which read, “Ruby was our family dog”, alongside a picture of a black labrador, adding: “When I was writing it Ruby (the dog) walked in and I sang…”He then played the chorus and concluded with the text: “I’m very glad she did.”The song naturally sounds like it is about a woman, opening with vocalist Ricky Wilson singing, “Let it never be said that romance is dead/ ‘Cause there’s so little else occupying my head,” before he asks Ruby in the chorus: “Do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)/ Know what you’re doing, doing to me?”This is the piano that i started writing Ruby on.

Coldplay and The Cure are taking part in this week’s DrumathonLIVE 2022 to raise funds and awareness for a host of charities.The livestream fundraiser, which kicked off on Saturday (May 14) and will run until next weekend (May 21), is set to clock up 250 hours and feature thousands of professional and semi-pro drummers.The event, which was founded by drummer Errol Kennedy and fellow musician Bev Sage in 2020, is raising money and awareness for four charities this year: UK Trauma Council, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Child Bereavement UK and Variety.The likes of Coldplay’s Will Champion, The Cure’s Jason Cooper and former Elbow drummer Richard Jupp are all taking part in DrumathonLIVE 2022.A post shared by DrumathonLIVE (@drumathonlive)Cherisse Osei (Simple Minds), Charlie Morgan (Elton John‘s Live Aid drummer), Matty Brown (Stormzy), Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) Nick Hodgson (formerly of Kaiser Chiefs) and Paul Stewart (The Feeling) are among the other drummers who have signed up to this year’s DrumathonLIVE.The Cure drummer Cooper said in a statement: “Join me and an amazing group of drummers from around the world for DrumathonLIVE as we raise money for children’s mental health.”You can tune into DrumathonLIVE 2022 and donate here.