Ahead of Leeds United returning to Premier League action we caught up with a superfan from Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs about what to expect from the new season and relieving the nerves of the previous campaign’s last day survival.
The Whites travel away to Southampton for their 2022/23 Premier League campaign opener on Saturday and our LeedsLive team will be with you all season through the twists and turns. Of course, fans will remember the dramatic last day of the season when Leeds United survived their relegation battle with a marvellous win at Brentford - this saw Burnley drop from the top flight.
A few months on, Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix has bravely recounted the emotions of that all-involving last day of the 2021/22 season. The music star, one of countless famous Leeds United supporters, debated whether to ignore the match and wait for the result, such was the emotion attached, but instead watched the Brentford game out with a friend.
See 14 brilliant photos from Kaiser Chiefs huge Yorkshire homecoming show
Taking a deep breath, Simon explained: “It was awful and then it was good. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I went to the last game at Elland Road (against Brighton) which was good. The players all gave their all to the cause with it down to a last day shoutout.
“All season, every Leeds fan was thinking ‘as long as it is sorted before Brentford away’, even if we were down, so they can’t send us down (due to the recent animosity between the two clubs). They’d get so much glee from sending us down at their place.”
Thankfully, an impressive 2-1 win at the Brentford Community Stadium, capped by a last-minute limbs-inducing winner from Jack Harrison, saw Leeds United preserve their Premier League status. This season, boss Jesse Marsch will be hoping his side can avoid a dogfight at the bottom of the table.
Obviously, some of the Elland Road faithful still haven’t completely seen their wounds heal from the ousting of icon Marcelo Bielsa - who ended their 16-year Premier League exile. The popular Argentine was relieved of his duties in February.
“Bielsa taught Leeds fans that winning isn’t everything,” Simon stressed, who also hailed the attitude change Bielsa brought. “The Bielsa impact and promotion has left this feeling of general positivity. When you go, it is stressful, but everyone is behind the team and the fans are positive.
"Nobody really turns on the board or the team which has happened in other eras. There’s a togetherness which is great and I think we are a very happy fanbase, not everybody, but in general we are content. I think it (football) is meant to be enjoyable.”
There’s been a fair few comings-and-goings at Elland Road this summer. Notably, the club has said goodbye to talismanic figures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha with new additions welcomed to the squad.
Simon said: “It is a difficult one. It is the Premier League, there’s a certain feeling that everyone from the bottom up to around fifth has to have a certain amount of pragmatism about awful football against results. I think under Bielsa we hit the sweet spot of good football with enough results.
“We were doing well until last season. I think with Marsch, Leeds have opted for a little less excitement and more solidity. I think it will be worse to watch but hopefully we stay in the Premier League. It is a difficult one for football fans, it is nice to be in the top league, playing the best teams and, while it doesn’t really affect me, to have the money is good.
“You end up in that finishing 14th, 10th, 17th objective and that’s not that glamorous.”
Although, the Kaiser Chiefs star added: “The owner thinks we are going to get in Europe soon so I’d be very happy with that.”
The summer will end with Simon and his Kaisers bandmates playing a homecoming show at Temple Newsam as part of the Radio 2 Live in Leeds festival. The two-day event will be happening on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18.
The Leeds favourites will be playing the opening day with others on the bill including Robbie Williams, Nile Rodgers & Chic, George Ezra and Olly Murs.
Fans will likely be treated to a little bit of new music during the Temple Newsam performance and their arena tour later this year which includes at Leeds First Direct Arena on Saturday, November 12.
Simon said: “We have got some new music which we’ve recorded and we are playing with. I’d say, it is at the beginning stages and there’s still a way to go. I’m assuming, I’m hoping, thinking and predicting there will be new music for that (the band’s forthcoming arena tour).”
He did suggest there might be a bit of new material for the September show also - so we’ll wait and see. This will be then followed by an album in due course.
Simon concluded: “I say this in a nice way, when you are early on in your career, working towards your first album, that’s huge for the band and the label. Then the second album is super important with timing.
“Then, when you are on your eighth, arguably ninth album, but let’s call it eight, with the Kaisers the most important thing is that it is good and right - that we are happy with it. When it comes out people enjoy it. I don’t think if it comes out in November 2022 or March 2023, it really matters, it has to be good. That’s the focus.”
Tickets
If you'd love to see Kaiser Chiefs during the UK arena tour then tickets are on sale now. You can find the full list of dates and buy tickets from Ticketmaster.
If you'd like to go to the Radio 2 event at Temple Newsam you can find ticket details here.
To find out the latest big gig and event news in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds.
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The story of Leeds United icon Gordon Strachan's unlikely friendship with James frontman Tim Booth
Kaiser Chiefs review from their big outdoor show at Doncaster Racecourse
Kaiser Chiefs sum up how every Leeds United fan felt about Marcelo Bielsa's exit
