At the Reading Festival on August 22, 2025, attendees were treated to an unexpected collaboration between British indie rock band The Kooks and Australian actress Rebel Wilson. Midway through their set, The Kooks' frontman, Luke Pritchard, introduced Wilson to the stage, referring to her as "the incredible, the unbelievable, the hugely successful, famous, beautiful pop star, Tazzie Young… otherwise known as Rebel Wilson." (nme.com)
Wilson, dressed casually in black parachute pants and a distressed white tee, greeted the crowd with enthusiasm. She humorously suggested performing a "classic Kooks song," then proposed Coolio's 1995 hit "Gangsta's Paradise." The band, feigning surprise, launched into the track, with Wilson delivering the rap verses and Pritchard joining in for the choruses. The audience responded with fervor, clapping and singing along. (celebrity.nine.com.au)
The collaboration was orchestrated just 12 hours prior to the performance. Wilson, a longtime fan of The Kooks, reached out expressing her desire to join them on stage. Given the limited preparation time, she opted for "Gangsta's Paradise," a song she knew well, to avoid "butchering" one of the band's originals. Pritchard recounted, "We asked her which song she wanted to sing, expecting her to pick one of ours. She said the only song she knows all the words to is 'Gangsta's Paradise'… so 'Gangsta's Paradise' it was!" (standard.co.uk)
The performance concluded with Wilson playfully spraying a bottle of champagne over the crowd before exiting the stage. This surprise act added a memorable highlight to The Kooks' set, which also featured fan favorites like "Ooh La" and "She Moves In Her Own Way." (nme.com)
The Kooks, known for their 2006 debut album "Inside In/Inside Out," have experienced a resurgence in popularity, attracting a new generation of fans. Their recent album, "Never/Know," released in May 2025, reached the UK chart's top five, marking their highest charting record since 2008. (musicrepublicmagazine.com)
Wilson's surprise appearance at the festival has since gone viral, with fans sharing footage and expressing their excitement over the unexpected collaboration. (nme.com)