Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno has said his band are victims of a “conspiracy” after not receiving a Brit awards nomination this year.

The Leicester rock quartet will open the Baftas at the Royal Opera House next month, although Sergio admitted he would find it “strange” to play for the well-dressed leading lights of Britain’s film industry instead of their usual crowd.

Kasabian
Kasabian (Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

The band, who won the Brit award for Best British Group in 2010, had a busy year in 2014 with the release of their album 48:13.

Speaking to the Independent he said: “It’s a conspiracy. They’re trying to shut rock ‘n’ roll out of (the Brits). What sort of message does that send to working class rock ‘n’ roll bands which the industry is in dire need of?

“Kasabian couldn’t have done any more last year. It’s bulls*** really. It’s way more exciting to be playing the Baftas than the Brits.”

Serge Pizzorno of Kasabian
Serge Pizzorno of Kasabian (Katja Ogrin/EMPICS Entertainment)

He added: “It’s a huge honour to open the Baftas because we’re all such great film fans. It’ll be a strange old show playing in front of a load of penguins, but it’s going to be great.

“We’re going to start the night off with a huge explosion. We’re going to play everything twice as loud. Half the people there won’t have a clue what is going on.”