Kasabian launched England's 2010 World Cup away shirt at their show in Paris last night (February 8).

The first public glimpse of the new second strip, which will be used at the tournament in South Africa this summer, came during the encore at the Olympia theatre as frontman Tom Meighan took to the stage in the new Umbro design to perform 'Fire'.

The launch marks the first time England's footballers have not being called on to premiere a new strip, with the label calling on a band 'away' from home to introduce the shirt.

"I'm the first person to wear it which
is crazy," Meighan told nme.com. "They said they wanted to take it away from the footballers for once and do something up to date. They wanted to combine with rock n roll. They're two powerful things... I'm honoured to wear it."

Explaining the break with tradition, Umbro spokesperson Trevor Cairns said the label had "turned to other Englishmen, who like England, represented the nation abroad", so recruited a band on tour.

The shirt will be first worn by England in their friendly at London's Wembley Stadium against Egypt on March 3, and will go on sale on the same day.

Praising the design - based on the World Cup-winning 1966 away England design but featuring white cuffs - Meighan suggest the team and its management would enjoy playing in the new strip.

"This is how football shirts should be made: tailored," he declared. "It's really unique, I think Fabio Capello had a say in it... personally it's very strange to wear it before Wayne Rooney or Stevie Gerrard!"

Kasabian played a full gig as they kicked their European tour off in the French capital.