Kele Okereke Admits He's Not a Team Player

Kele Okereke has admitted that he wrote the songs for his debut solo album while his regular band was on tour last year.

The Bloc Party frontman told the BBC that straight after the group had played the Reading and Leeds festivals -- just before headliners Radiohead -- he was able to start recording 'The Boxer.'

"I'd written all the music by then," he said. "Immediately after Reading I flew to New York to finish the record -- but we didn't let on. Throughout 2009 I was amassing songs and working. By that point I'd almost finished the project -- but we kept it secret. We didn't tell anyone. Well, I didn't tell anyone."

It was only in November of that year, as reported in Spinner, that rumours leaked out Okereke had solo plans, after Bloc Party announced they were taking a break after the end of their Bloctober autumn tour.

Okereke admitted his album's title was an admission that he enjoyed going alone, saying, "I'm not a team player. I don't think I am a team player to be honest. I know what it is I want."

He did, though, promise Bloc Party would return. "When we get back together -- I don't know when we're going to get back together -- I'm sure we'll have a lot to tell each other when we do," he said.