Keane moving to US for image change

The 'Spiralling' trio say they are quitting Britain because they are tired of people focusing on their upper class roots and think a move to the US - where they have a host of celebrity fans, including Gwen Stefani and Kanye West - will force their music to be taken seriously.

Singer Tom Chaplin said: "It's amazing how far and wide our music has reached with other artists, especially in America.

"There's less stigma attached to us, like all of the things we have been lumbered with in Britain. Being posh etc etc - annoying things that have nothing to do with how we sound.

"Over there they make judgements solely on the music so we have these cool people and we should have some exciting collaborations coming soon."

The group - also comprising Tim Rice-Oxley and Richard Hughes - hope their move Stateside will help shape a new direction for their sound.

Richard said: "Some bands find their style and stick to it. Then there are others that progress, bands like Radiohead who always do something different and surprise you."

Tom added to Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "We are soaking up everything around us at the moment."