Kaiser Chiefs' seaside rock

A tiny art-deco cinema in the heart of a picturesque Suffolk seaside town is not the likeliest place where you would expect to find one of Britain's biggest rock bands.

But today the sedate streets of Southwold were transformed by camera flashes and film crews as two members of the Kaiser Chiefs came to town.

The band, who have received international acclaim for their debut album Employment, were in town launching their new DVD, Enjoyment, due to be released by Polydor on Monday.

As Southwold townsfolk quietly got on their business, most answered “Who?” when asked if they knew the chart-topping group. But a huddle of young fans waited excitedly outside the town's Electric Picture Palace eager for a glimpse of the band.

Polly Bowman, 23, from Lowestoft, said: “I am just such a big fan - just to see them would be great.”

Mums Deborah Egan, 36 and Claire Smith, 30, also joined the waiting fans.

“We are big fans,” said Ms Smith. “We went all the way to Birmingham to see them so we couldn't believe it when they were going to be on our doorstep.”

At 4pm the fans were more than rewarded as lead singer Ricky Wilson and keyboard player Nick 'Peanut' Baines mingled, singing autographs and telling anecdotes.

“I think Southwold is marvellous,” said Ricky.

“I have spent the day browsing the curiosity shops and we have had a really great time.”

The band decided to launch the film in the town on the advice of the film's director Cally Callomon, who lives in Walpole, near Halesworth.

“The stars of the show are from local theatre group Oracle 67,” said Mr Callomon.

“So instead of inviting them all round my house to see the film I thought I would bring them to the cinema - and the band came, too!

“It's a local film made by local people for local people,” he joked.

But the band who sell themselves on their English country-gent-style, modelling tweed waistcoats and walking canes, slid easily into Southwold.

“It is just a little bit different,” said Peanut.

“We like the things we do to have character. When we were launching the DVD we didn't want to do it in London and we have done loads and loads in Leeds, so it's quite exciting to come somewhere new.”

He added: “The DVD is quite surreal - I'm quite nervous about how people are going to receive it.”

The film follows the Kaiser Chiefs through their first year of stardom, interspersed with spoof interviews of them as children and later in their senior years.

“It's a bit tongue in cheek about how bands end up,” said Peanut.

“The first idea was to have kids playing us because young kids are always quite funny in interview. Then we just extended the idea to think about what we would be like when we grow old.”

Ricky added: “The real reason we made the DVD is all my friends and family already have the album and I needed Christmas presents for them.”

As the cinema curtain rose, the band nearly choked with laughter on the beer they had been provided with by local brewery Adnams as they were serenaded by an organ version of their hit I Predict a Riot.

Organist Victor Scott admitted he had spent all day practising for the prestigious audience.

The 90-minute show the film was a hit with the select audience.

But rather than extending their stay by the seaside with a night in one of the town's hotels, the band dashed off to get ready for a tour of Australia due to start on Friday.

The band plan a major UK tour in April.