English rockers Kasabian have made history by becoming the first ever band to launch an England football shirt. The band revealed the new away shirt, tailored by Umbro, late last night in front of thousands of unsuspecting French fans during their encore at the iconic Paris Olympia theatre.
Frontman Tom Meighan wore the striking red shirt, which the England team will wear in South Africa this summer, during the encore as the band belted out their anthemic song 'Fire'. Tom commented: “It’s brilliant to be the first band ever to launch an England shirt and where better to launch this particular kit than away from home? When Umbro approached us to represent England away we jumped at the chance as we are all football fans and loved the idea of revealing the England away shirt when playing in the country of one of our great footballing rivals.”
Traditionally, the first image released of a new England shirt is on players from the current England squad. Explaining the change in approach, Trevor Cairns, Umbro Chief Marketing Officer, said: “For the launch of the latest England away shirt Umbro decided to turn to other Englishmen who, like the England team, represent the nation abroad. We came up with the idea of approaching an English band on tour. Like a football team, they are ‘away’ when performing in other countries. Kasabian are as passionate about their football as their music so it’s brilliant that they agreed to wear the shirt in Paris.”
With the red shirt, the song ‘Fire’ and 2,5000 fans going mad for Kasabian’s encore, it was a memorable moment that will live long in the memory of everyone in attendance. Iconic images of the gig will be turned into a global advertising campaign for the brand, including a giant poster in Kasabian’s hometown of Leicester.
