The Bloc Party frontman joined Paramore for a cover of BP's Blue Light…
Paramore's Hayley Williams was joined onstage by Bloc Party singer/guitarist Kele Okereke onstage at the O2 last night for a cover of his band's Blue Light.
The show - an extra date in London due to phenomenal demand - was the final night of Paramore's UK arena run with the British icons in support, hand-picked because of Paramore's huge love for the band.
Introducing Kele onstage for the duet, Hayley talked about the impact they have had on her and Paramore since the earliest days.
"Bloc Party were a huge influence on Paramore since we were little kids picking up guitars and writing songs for the first time," she told the audience. "And we've grown up with this band the same way that a lot of you have grown up with us, and probably have grown up with Bloc Party as well. So, it only feels right to sing a song together that I used to cry to all the time in my car, and maybe we can all cry together."
Check out the video of it below…
Speaking on the Everything Is Emo podcast last year, Hayley recalled her early connection with Bloc Party, saying, “We loved [Bloc Party], me and all my friends, we were really into [Silent Alarm, 2005 BP album].
"It always reminds me of getting my driving licence. I paid my mom money that I got from a publishing advance we got from our first album to buy out the remainder of the car notes that she had for this old Mazda 626. I think I paid $3000, I named her Miss Anne, I covered her in stickers. Silent Alarm was always on in the car. It was a favourite, and there’s really not a bad track on it.”
She also added in the interview that the band had been an influence on the writing of Paramore's new album, This Is Why.
“From day one, Bloc Party was the number one reference because there was such an urgency to their sound that was different to the fast punk or the pop punk or the like, loud wall of sound emo bands that were happening in the early 2000s,” she explained.
“They had their own thing and it was so unique and so dynamic, and it really stuck with us. And I’m really really thankful for this band, I’m so thankful that they’re back, they’re playing shows they’re putting out great songs, and it just makes me feel even more excited to get back out into the world, and maybe cross paths with the band that has been a huge part of our story from day one.”
