Kaiser Chiefs are releasing a 20th anniversary edition of their seminal debut album ‘Employment’.
As 20 years is typically celebrated with china, Ricky Wilson and co have announced the ‘China Anniversary’ formats. The 1LP edition is pressed on white vinyl, and includes ‘bonus’ track ‘Take My Temperature’; the 2LP set features 15 additional tracks, including a selection of B-Sides and CD single bonus tracks, plus two previously unreleased songs, exclusive to this format.
On the 3CD set, alongside the original album, the band have added 40 tracks, including previously unreleased demo recordings, remixes, radio sessions, and a selection of live tracks that chart their rapid rise from small club dates in Leeds, to festival headline act.
The album – which spawned the hits ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Oh My God’, and ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’ – was remastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
The group commented: “20 years ago, a brand-new song by a brand-new band was released. ‘I Predict A Riot’ was the start of something really special for some musicians from Leeds.
“And the album that followed, ‘Employment’, changed our lives and has soundtracked the lives of millions of others since 2005. In 2025 we are saluting 20 years of that album and everyone is invited. Come celebrate the 2000’s, loving everything less and less and stripey blazers taking over the world..”
Kaiser Chiefs are also celebrating the milestone with a series of shows, including Port Talbot on May 23, and huge outdoor concerts in Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Brighton, Cumbria, and Newquay.
On the 18th anniversary of ‘Employment’, Ricky, 47, quipped on Virgin Radio: “I mean, I don’t think I’ve changed too much. I do get a Hello Fresh box, and I brush my teeth at least twice a day, but apart from that, I haven’t changed at all. I promise you that!”
‘Employment’ peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. It spent over 17 months in the Official Top 40 and was eventually certified 7× Platinum.
Kaiser Chiefs 2025 shows:
May
Thur 22nd Live at Argyle Home Park Stadium,Plymouth, UK
Fri 23rd In It Together Festival, Port Talbot, UK
Sat 31st Temple Newsam, Leeds, UK
June
Sun 22nd Pinkpop Festival, Amsterdam, NL
Thur 26th Bristol Sounds, Bristol, UK
Sat 28th Glastonbury Festival, Somerset, UK
July
Fri 4th Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, UK
Thu 10th Weekend Beach Festival, Malaga, ESP
Fri 11th Mad Cool Festival, Madrid, ESP
Sat 12th Cruilla Barcelona, Barcelona, ESP
Sat 19th Alexandra Palace Park, London, UK
Sun 20th Splendour Festival, Nottingham, UK
Mon 21st Tall Ship Races, Aberdeen, UK
Sat 26th Latitude, Suffolk, UK
Sun 27th Brighton Beach, Brighton, UK
Thu 31st Kendal Calling, Cumbria, UK
August
Sat 2nd Suikkerock Festival, Tienan, BE
Sun 3rd Ronquieres Festival, Braine-la-Comte, BE
Fri 8th Boardmasters, Newquay, UK
Sun 10th The Weekender, Belfast, UK
Sat 23rd The National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, ROI
Sun 24th Live at the Docklands, Limerick, ROI