The Kaisers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh , Scotland |
| Products | Albums, singles, live performances |
The Kaisers originated as a Scottish rock ensemble formed in Edinburgh in 1992. Drawing inspiration from the rock and roll and R&B sounds of the 1950s and 1960s, they issued multiple albums and singles through labels such as No-Hit Records, Bedrock Records, Wild Wild Records, and Get Hip Records. The lineup has included musicians affiliated with groups like The Wildebeests, The Masonics, Holly Golightly and The Bristols, as well as Janey And The Ravemen.
Origins and early releases (1992–1995)
The band initially went by the name Hitsville Greaseguns before evolving following the replacement of original drummer Paul with Johnny Maben, formerly of the psychobilly outfit Radium Kats. Settling their sound in Edinburgh, they debuted on No Hit Records and collaborated with producer Liam Watson at London's Toe Rag Studios, culminating in their first album, Squarehead Stomp!, released in 1993.
After their initial album, The Kaisers appeared on television several times, including spots on NB Television Scotland. In 1994, they followed up with In Step With The Kaisers alongside the EP Alligator Twist, which contained tracks not featured on previous releases. To support these records, they participated in a BBC Radio Scotland special discussing the Beatles biopic Backbeat. On the radio program Usual Suspects, Miller underscored their unique identity: "We're not The Beatles; we're not Gerry & The Pacemakers, we're The Kaisers." During this period, they also recorded "Soldier Of Love" and "Money (That's What I Want)" at BBC Scotland studios.
Internal challenges arise
By this stage, tensions emerged within the group as bassist John Gibbs departed to establish the Wildebeests; he later collaborated with Holly Golightly and joined the Masonics. Matt Curtis stepped in as bassist just before their feature on Wire TV for an Edinburgh Festival special. Shortly thereafter, The Kaisers reunited with Watson in the studio to produce Beat It Up!, widely regarded as their finest work and considered by many to represent the band at their creative peak. This album generated significant buzz in underground circles and paved the way for their inaugural US tour—marking a major milestone—including a performance at the iconic punk venue CBGB.
Following additional UK television appearances on the Good Morning Breakfast Show and numerous concerts nationwide, Matt Armstrong took a sabbatical and was succeeded by Keith Warwick prior to a 1995 visit to Alkmaar. They also completed a brief tour of Japan alongside the Death Dealers (who would soon be known as the Neatbeats). Soon after, Matt Curtis exited in 1995 and was replaced by Mark Ferrie.
Follow-up US tour
After further alterations to the lineup left only founding members George Miller and Johnny Maben intact, The Kaisers continued despite waning creative output. They released another album titled Wishing Street and embarked on a second tour across the United States. However, progress slowed as members engaged in side projects and Maben’s relocation to London created logistical difficulties for rehearsals and recording sessions. In 1996, The Kaisers performed five live tracks for The Mark Radcliffe Studio broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and also appeared that year on the John Peel show.
During their early tenure, The Kaisers recorded three albums, two EPs, and two singles within a three-year span. After 1996, their productivity diminished significantly, producing only two studio albums and a Christmas single over six years—these later recordings took place at Chamber Studios in Edinburgh rather than Toe Rag Studios with Liam Watson. By the time Shake Me! was released in 2002, the band had become inactive. Although no formal disbandment was declared, members did not collaborate again for fifteen years.
Festival engagements
In 2015, The Kaisers took the main stage at the Surforama Festival held in Valencia and have continued to perform at a variety of festivals across Europe since then.
Recent single launches
Two new 45 rpm singles by The Kaisers were issued by the Spanish label Sleazy Records: Monkey Train/Sugaree and Shakin' & Stompin'/Guillotine Twist.
Upcoming album
The Kaisers have just finished recording More From The Kaisers, their first full-length album comprised exclusively of original compositions, which is planned for release in late 2024.
Line-ups
1992-1994
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Matt Armstrong – Guitar
John Gibbs – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
1994-1995
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Matt Armstrong – Guitar
Matt Curtis – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
1995
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Keith Warwick – Guitar
Matt Curtis – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
1995-1999
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Angus McIntyre – Guitar
Mark Ferrie – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
1999
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Matt Armstrong – Guitar
Mark Ferrie – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
1999
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Dean Micetich – Guitar
Mark Ferrie – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
1999-2002
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Matt Armstrong – Guitar
Angus McIntyre – Guitar
Mark Ferrie – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
2015-Present
George Miller – Lead Guitar
Angus McIntyre – Guitar
Mark Ferrie – Bass
Johnny Maben – Drums
<timeline> ImageSize = width:1400 height:400 PlotArea = left:140 bottom:80 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1992 till:31/12/2002 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors =
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.9)
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 BackgroundColors = bars:bars ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1992 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1992
BarData =
bar:George text:George Miller bar:Matt text:Matt Armstrong bar:Keith text:Keith Warwick bar:Angus text:Angus McIntyre bar:Dean text:Dean Micetich bar:John text:John Gibbs bar:Matt2 text:Matt Curtis bar:Mark text:Mark Ferrie bar:Johnny text:Johnny Maben
PlotData=
width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:George from:start till:end color:guitar bar:Matt from:start till:01/06/1995 color:guitar bar:Matt from:01/01/1999 till:01/06/1999 color:guitar bar:Matt from:01/12/1999 till:end color:guitar bar:Keith from:01/06/1995 till:01/12/1995 color:guitar bar:Angus from:01/12/1995 till:01/01/1999 color:guitar bar:Angus from:01/12/1999 till:end color:guitar bar:Dean from:01/06/1999 till:01/12/1999 color:guitar bar:John from:start till:01/01/1994 color:bass bar:Matt2 from:01/01/1994 till:01/12/1995 color:bass bar:Mark from:01/12/1995 till:end color:bass bar:Johnny from:start till:end color:drums
width:2.5 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
LineData =
at:01/01/1993 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1994 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1995 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1997 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1999 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/2002 color:lines1 layer:back
</timeline>
Discography
- Squarehead Stomp! (1993)
- In Step with the Kaisers (1994)
- Beat It Up! (1995)
- Wishing Street (1997)
- Twist with the Kaisers (1999)
- Shake Me! (2002)
- Ruff'n'Rare (2018)
- More from The Kaisers (2024)