Ricky Wilson’s Rock-Star Reality Check: Pringles, Tubridy, and the Underdog Spirit
So, here’s a brilliant little story that sums up Ricky Wilson from the Kaiser Chiefs in the most unexpectedly perfect way. Picture this: you’re sitting at a table with Bono , Stella McCartney , and Ali Hewson . Glamorous, right? Rock star territory. But what does Ricky do in this moment of potential coolness? He panics. There’s a lull in the conversation and, trying to contribute something – anything – he blurts out, “Has anyone ever set fire to a Pringle?” Apparently they burn blue or green. The table falls silent. “No,” says everyone. Ricky gets up and walks out. Just like that.
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That story, believe it or not, says a lot about how Ricky views himself and his band. Despite having sold millions of records, won Brit Awards, and toured with U2, the Kaiser Chiefs have always felt like the odd ones out — the underdogs, the ones peering through the curtains at the cool kids instead of joining them. Ricky, a self-proclaimed introvert, finds small talk exhausting. Performing on stage? That’s his domain. But schmoozing with celebrities at afterparties? No, thank you.
Now, 20 years on from their explosive debut Employment , the band is celebrating the milestone with a show in Dublin. Two decades on, songs like I Predict a Riot and Oh My God still bring massive crowds — like at Glastonbury, where they played to a huge audience. But, in classic Kaiser Chiefs fashion, the BBC didn’t even film it. Ricky jokes that maybe they should’ve pulled a stunt like shouting political slogans — but even then, he says, no one would’ve seen it.
Their journey’s been full of ups and downs. Oasis took cheap shots. Music press tore into their looks. Albums didn’t always hit the mark. Ricky admits mistakes were made — and weirdly, he’s glad for them. He says it's what kept them grounded and gave their career longevity. Perfection, he argues, would’ve been boring.
And then there’s his current side hustle as a radio host, where he works alongside none other than Ryan Tubridy. Ricky lights up when he talks about him. He loves Tubridy’s style, his charm, and how he always looks like he just stepped out of a shop — except for that battered leather bag he carries everywhere.
Through all the criticism, awkward celebrity encounters, and personal struggles, Ricky Wilson is still standing, still performing, and still laughing at himself. Because maybe being the underdog isn’t such a bad gig after all.
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