Menston boys the Kaiser Chiefs will go head-to-head with British rock royalty at tonight's Brit Awards.

The five-piece band are nominated in several categories at the prestigious music awards, including Best Live Act, Best Album, Best RockAct and Best British Breakthrough Act.

The band's huge status has already been underlined by organisers, who have chosen the group to open the show at London's Earl's Court venue. Other nominees include Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand and Gorillaz.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus inbetween rehearsals for the spectacular awards show, Simon Rix, bass player and former pupil at St Mary's Catholic School in Menston, said: "We are really looking forward to it and we are very hopeful. We are opening the show, which is very nice to say the least.

"We have just been doing rehearsals all day and we have got a huge big stage and loads of lights to back us up so it should be a good opening.

"The award I would most like to win is Best Live Act, as we have been up and down the country and all over the world in the past few months playing live and awful lot.

"We pride ourselves as being a good live band and it would be nice to get some recognition for this."

Simon met fellow band members Peanut (keyboards) and Nick Hodgeson (drums) in the same class at St Mary's in Menston. Along with Ilkley lad Ricky Wilson (vocals) and guitarist Andrew White the band has risen to one of the biggest groups in the UK over the past 12 months.

Their album Employment has sold 1.6 million copes since its release 11 months ago and the band have had three top ten singles with I Predict a Riot, Oh My God and Everyday I Love You Less and Less.

The group opened the Philadelphia leg of Live 8 and have played shows at the Glastonbury and V2005 festivals, clocking up more than 200 shows last year.

"It has been a great year," Simon added.

"We are hopeful of picking up some awards but I am really just looking forward to playing and then getting drunk afterwards and watching the show."

The band are currently preparing material for their second album, due out later this year.