Vijay Mistry

Vijay Mistry
Mistry performing with the Kaiser Chiefs at Rock im Park 2014
Mistry performing with the Kaiser Chiefs at Rock im Park 2014
Background information
BornAugust 1979 (age 47)
Leeds, England
GenresIndie rock, alternative rock
OccupationsDrummer, songwriter
InstrumentsDrum
Years active2007–present
LabelsDance to the Radio, Front Wall, All Sorted !?!, ASR, Tri-Tone, B-Unique, Universal, ATO, Polydor, V2
Member ofKaiser Chiefs
Formerly ofClub Smith
Websitekaiserchiefs.com

Vijay Mistry (born August 1979), is an English drummer and songwriter. He has been the drummer of the English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs since 2013 and previously was the drummer of fellow Leeds band Club Smith.

Biography

Mistry was born in Leeds in August 1979 to Indian parents from the Gujarat region. He has revealed in a BBC Asian Network interview that his parents were hesitant of him joining the music industry. Mistry got his first pair of sticks at the age of 12 and got his kit 2 years later. In 2007, Mistry co-wrote the Voltage Union song "All Who You Know" on the Dance to the Radio compilation album Something I Learned Today. In 2008, he joined York/Leeds band The Hair (replacing original percussionist Rich Craig) as their new drummer, rebranding to Club Smith the following year, remaining with the band until his 2013 promotion to the Kaiser Chiefs. He later participated in a one-off reunion with the band in 2016 at their final gig where they reverted to the "Hair" moniker.

In 2013, Mistry joined the more successful Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs (of whom Club Smith toured with the year prior, in turn having also toured with them as The Hair in 2008) replacing original drummer Nick Hodgson. He made his debut on 7 February in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Mistry was replaced at Club Smith by James Kenosha (having previously co-produced the band's lone studio album, Appetite for Chivalry, the year prior). His first Kaiser Chiefs album is Education, Education, Education & War, which was released in 2014. He has stated that one of his favourite live shows was when Kaiser Chiefs headlined the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury.

Discography

Studio albums

With Club Smith

With the Kaiser Chiefs

References

  1. ↑ "Vijay Mistry". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Vijay Mistry". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Nihal - Vijay Mistry from Kaiser Chiefs - BBC Sounds". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Vijay Mistry's IN 3". vicfirth.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Various - Something I Learned Today, 2 April 2007, retrieved 23 June 2026
  6. ↑ "DANCETOTHERADIO: LEEDS". www.dancetotheradio.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Jenkins, Sam. "The Hair - A Band from York and Leeds - About". www.hairmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  8. 1 2 BBC. "Hair today". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Hair - A Band from York and Leeds - Biog About Us". www.hairmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 November 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rich Craig on LinkedIn".
  11. ↑ "Club Smith - Band from York and Leeds". clubsmith.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Join their club..." York Press. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Club Smith — Counterfeit Magazine". Counterfeitmag.co.uk. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Club Smith Facebook announcement". Facebook. 16 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Club Smith disbandment announcement". Facebook. 16 October 2016.
  16. ↑ clubsmith. "Club Smith to support Kaiser Chiefs on UK Tour". Leeds Music Scene. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Vijay Mistry is Kaiser Chiefs' new drummer". drummerzone.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "Vijay Mistry | Vic Firth Drum Set Artist". Vic Firth. Retrieved 7 March 2026.

Further reading