| Tom Meighan | |
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Tom, in concert with Kasabian, in Terville, France 2010. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thomas Peter Meighan |
| Born | 11 January 1981 |
| Origin | Leicester, England |
| Genres | Indie rock, space rock, neo-psychedelia, electronica |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, tambourine, guitar |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Associated acts | Kasabian |
| Website | www.kasabian.co.uk |
Thomas Peter Meighan (born 11 January 1981, Leicester) is an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist for indie rock band Kasabian.
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Meighan has been the lead vocalist of Kasabian since the band's inception in Leicester in 1999.[1] He sings lead vocals on the majority of the band's recordings and does not play any instruments within the group, apart from tambourine on occasion and guitar on live renditions of 'Night Workers' [2]
Meighan has also contributed lead vocals to the songs "Viva La Revolution" by Superevolver and the Lysergic Suite's "Ghosts on Crusade." He sang backing vocals on the Jersey Budd single, "She Came Back."[3]
In addition to the numerous musical awards he shares with the rest of Kasabian, he was named the nineteenth best frontman of all time by a Q Magazine Readers’ Poll.[4]
In early 2011, Meighan took his first acting role as Terry Graham in the sitcom pilot Walk Like a Panther.[5] Reportedly, he had previously rejected offers to play in Marie Antoinette due to being committed to his band-mates.
Early in Kasabian’s career, Meighan earned a reputation for media provocation, especially concerning other musicians. He became well known for his insults, such as calling Julian Casablancas "a posh fucking skier", Pete Doherty "a fucking tramp", and Justin Timberlake "a midget with whiskers".[6] Regarding the reportedly depressing nature of emo music and its listeners, he has said: "Teenagers are better than that. I want to tell them to be positive about life. You've been brought up well by your parents, so don't sit around in your bedroom cutting your wrists. Grow up."[7]
He also offered more serious critiques of the effects of the internet upon the music industry[8] and was one of a number of celebrities to criticize Simon Cowell's handling of Susan Boyle, stating "It will torture her for the rest of life. She is not ready for it and she is not made for it. She is being manipulated. It's horrible."[9]
As of 2009, Meighan has made an attempt to tone down his controversial image. "When we released the first album, it didn't help in interviews that we slagged everyone off. We were only messing about, we were having fun but everyone took it a little too seriously…We did it for effect but we were portrayed as monsters instead of just a bunch of lads in a band. They got us so wrong. I don't regret anything we said but it was ridiculous.”[10]
Meighan’s outspoken attitude, on-stage antics and hard-partying reputation [11] have tended to overshadow more positive aspects of his public image. He has given his support to numerous charities including Oxfam,[12] UNICEF[13] and the Teenage Cancer Trust. In support of the latter, he assumed the role of Ace Face in the Who’s benefit performance of Quadrophenia.[14]
His status as both a fashion icon and well-known football fan led him to be chosen to unveil Umbro’s England away football jersey in 2010, the first singer ever to do so.[15] He has also modeled for award-winning fashion label Pretty Green,[16] Gio-Goi,[17] and Deadly Sins.[18]
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