IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE CUTE

Ricky Wilson has belatedly noticed that, while Pete Doherty is praised for being the laureate poet of the darkplaces, he's lumbered with being seen as the indie-rock Barney the Dinosaur. Always smiling and bouncing about, having fun. Now, though, like Rosie Webster, he's desperate to be thought of as deep:

"There's a lot more of a dark side that fuels our song-writing. It's full of bitterness. 'Modern Way' sounds uplifting and triumphant, but it's about the bitterness always underlying. And 'Everyday I Love You Less And Less' - that sounds really pissed off."

The trouble is, when I hear a popstar moaning that nobody understands how serious their songs are, I just want to ruffle their hair and tweak their downcast cheeks.

music kaiser chiefs ricky wilson