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Brit indie band Kaiser Chiefs and Lucas Radebe share the stage at the My Coke Fest press conference
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March 20, 2008, 17:45
By Tanja Bencun
If media attention is anything to go by, then this year's My Coke Fest will attract its largest crowd ever, proving bigger is better. With one of its best line-ups since its inception three years ago, journalists, photographers, a handful of selected fans and some of the music industry's hot shots got a taste at the press conference today in Johannesburg as to why My Coke Fest is one of South Africa's best music festivals.
With 5FM's Gareth Cliff introducing most of the bands (30 Seconds to Mars, Good Charlotte and Muse) it was Lucas Radebe, former Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds soccer player, who presented to the media British band Kaiser Chiefs. "One morning at the club in Leeds I was told that four guys wanted to meet with me ... when I got to the gate I saw these scruffy boys and they asked me if they could name their band after my club in South Africa ... I said yes of course.
"It just shows how football and music are connected...it’s a great thing." And the rest as they say is history.
The band got the chance to play with the real 'Chiefs' this morning, right after landing at OR Tambo International ... playing a friendly match which Chiefs, the soccer team, won 4-2.
On a more musical note Thomas, who was chosen as the Kaiser Chiefs super-fan, asked whether they compete with other bands, especially Muse, who was recently voted by music magazine NME as best live act, the lead singer said: "Yes we always try to out-perform other bands, I mean who wants to say we came in a second, we want to be the best (ha, ha, ha)...we don't want to be part of the pack we want to lead the pack."
Humble rockers
30 Seconds to Mars said they were really excited to be in South Africa on such a diverse and talented bill and look forward to playing their song Beautiful Lie, which they wrote in South Africa a few years ago to a South African audience.
Good Charlotte, who are one of the few rock bands that can cross over from pop to rock with ease, said it is cool for them to be able to play with Justin Timberlake and in the same breath find themselves at a festival where they are playing alongside heavy rockers Korn. Vocalist Joel Madden said: "The best thing about playing the show, flying is the worst... for us it's all about the music, doesn't matter why you like us, what matters is that you hear our music."
Besides winning Best British Live Act in 2006 and 2007, Muse took the NME Award for Best Live act. Mathew Bellamy, the drummer for Muse, said: "Every show you do is unique and fresh and that's how we view being on stage; we try to keep it new ... over the years your perception of your music changes which keeps us innovative."
The 12-hour rock concert, which is sponsored by Coca-Cola South Africa and 5FM, takes place tomorrow in Johannesburg, at the Newmarket Racecourse, and on March 24 in Cape Town at Kenilworth Racecourse.
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