Kings of Leon’s Biography — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm Biography This page has been locked by a moderator. Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, United States in 1999, consisting of brothers Anthony "Caleb" Followill (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ivan "Nathan" Followill (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Michael "Jared" Followill (bass guitar, backing vocals), with their cousin Cameron "Matthew" Followill (lead guitar, backing vocals). Each member of the family group is known by their middle name (second given name) as opposed to their first given name. The band's early music was an upbeat blend of southern rock and blues influences but the band has gradually expanded their sound to include a variety of genres, including alternative rock . Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band's albums at the time peaking in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Their third album Because of the Times also reached the number one spot.

After the release of Only by the Night in 2008 they finally achieved chart success in their native United States. The singles Sex on Fire , Use Somebody and Notion peaked at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks, while the album itself was their first ever platinum-selling album in the US. Early years (1999–2002) The three Followill brothers spent much of their youth traveling around the Southern United States with their father, Ivan "Leon" Followill, a traveling Pentecostal Church preacher and their mother, Betty-Ann, who taught them when they were not in school. Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to Rolling Stone magazine, "While Leon preached at churches and tent revivals throughout the Deep South, the boys attended services and were occasionally enlisted to bang on some drums. They were either home-schooled or enrolled in small parochial schools at this time.

Except for a five-year period when they settled in Jackson, Tennessee, the Followill's childhoods were spent driving through the south in a purple 1988 Oldsmobile, decamping for a week or two wherever Leon was scheduled to preach." When the boys' father resigned from the church and divorced his wife in 1997, the boys relocated to Nashville and embraced the rock music and lifestyle they had previously been denied. While there, they met songwriter Angelo Petraglia, who helped the siblings hone their songwriting skills and introduced them to the musical influences of the Rolling Stones , The Clash , and Thin Lizzy in particular. Six months later, Nathan and Caleb signed with RCA Records, who insisted that the duo recruit more members for the band before launching their career. The band was formed when cousin Matthew and younger brother Jared were asked to join. They named themselves Kings of Leon in honor of Nathan, Caleb, and Jared's father and grandfather, who were both named Leon. In an interview, Caleb admitted to "kidnapping" their cousin Matthew from his hometown in Mississippi in order for him to join the band. They told his mother that he was just staying for a week, but they consequently never allowed him to return home.

Drummer Nathan added, "When we signed the deal with RCA, it was just me and Caleb. The label told us they were going to put a band together, but we said, 'We're going to buy our little brother a bass, he's a freshman in high school. Caleb will teach himself the guitar. Our cousin Matthew played guitar when he was 10 and I'll play drums.' The record label agreed,". Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak (2003 - 2005) Their first record, the Holy Roller Novocaine EP was released on February 18, 2003. At this stage, Jared was only 16 years old and had not yet learned to play the bass guitar. The release of Holy Roller Novocaine gave the Kings of Leon a significant amount of exposure prior to the release of their debut album, Youth and Young Manhood , receiving a 4/5 star rating from Rolling Stone magazine.

Four of the five songs would later be released on Youth and Young Manhood, however the versions of Wasted Time and California Waiting on the EP differ, with the first having a more tense riff and different vocal style than the same track off Youth and Young Manhood, and the latter being recorded in a rush to finish the record. The EP contains the B-side Wicker Chair while another track titled Andrea , was discarded prior to its release. All the songs released on the EP were co-written by Angelo Petraglia who also produced the record. The band's debut studio album, Youth and Young Manhood was released in the UK in July 2003, and in the United States in August of the same year. The album was recorded between Sound City Studios in Los Angeles and Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California, with producer Ethan Johns (son of producer Glyn Johns who most notably worked with the Rolling Stones and the Eagles). The album received some critical notice domestically, but became a sensation in the UK and Ireland, where NME declared it "one of the best debut album of the last 10 years".

Following the release of the album, Kings of Leon was chosen to tour with fellow American rock band The Strokes and U2 . The band's second album Aha Shake Heartbreak was released in the UK in October 2004 and in the United States in February 2005. Building on the southern-infused garage rock of their first album, the album broadened the band's domestic and international audience. The album was again produced by Angelo Petraglia and Ethan Johns. The Bucket , Four Kicks , and King of the Rodeo were all released as singles, with the "The Bucket" rising into the Top 20 in Britain. Taper Jean Girl was also used in the 2007 movie Disturbia and the movie Cloverfield in 2008. The band garnered accolades from several of their rock peers, including Elvis Costello , and also toured with Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam during 2005 and 2006. Because of the Times (2006–07) In March 2006, Kings of Leon were back in the studio with their producers Angelo Petraglia and Ethan Johns, working on their third album.

Guitarist Matthew told NME: "Man, we're sitting on a bunch of songs right now that we wish we could let the world hear". The band's third album was titled Because of the Times , which may be a reference to a church ministers conference of the same name held at The Pentecostals of Alexandria church in Alexandria, Louisiana that the brothers often attended. The album showed a clear evolution from Kings of Leon's previous work, as the band's trademark dirty, southern-fried swagger was replaced with a more polished, clean-cut sound. The album was released on April 2, 2007 in the UK, and a day later in the United States, preceded by the single On Call , which became a hit in Britain and Ireland. It debuted at number one in Britain and Ireland and entered the European charts at number twenty-five, selling approximately 70,000 copies in its first week of release. NME said that the album "cements Kings of Leon as one of the great American bands of our times." and Entertainment Weekly called Because of the Times "an epic wide-screen movie of a CD and the band's best to date." However, some critics found the album inferior to their previous efforts.

Stylus Magazine rated it a C- and noted "If they wanted us to take them serious this time around, they'd at least try to be right honest about their ascent into minor celebrity and not keep on with the yokel façade. Without cautionary yarns regarding life on the tour bus or banging supermodels, the bright-eyed, legs-stretched mood of the music rings just as hollow." Dave Hood of Artrocker gave the album one star out of five, finding that "Kings of Leon are experimenting, learning, and getting a bit lost." Pitchfork Media contended that "Because of the Times sounds suspiciously like a counterattack on womankind, launched from somewhere in the mid-1990s, deep inside a bruised, stadium-sized ego." In spite of the mixed recognition, the album spawned a number of hit singles in Europe, including Charmer and Fans , along with a number of crowd favorites such as Knocked Up and My Party .

Only by the Night (2008–09) After recording throughout most of 2008, "the all American long haired rockers" (The Times), released their fourth studio album Only by the Night on September 19, which subsequently entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and remained there for one more week. Only By The Night also had two single week stints as the UK #1 album in 2009, one directly after the BRIT Awards. In the United States, the album reached number 5 on the Billboard Charts. Reception to the album was the most polarized yet, with the British press granting the album glowing reviews. Q Magazine named Only by the Night "Album of the Year" for 2008. In the United States, reactions to the album were more mixed. Spin, Rolling Stone, and All Music Guide gave the album positive reviews, while Pitchfork Media gave the album a virtual equivalent of 2 stars. The album was officially named as the UK's third biggest selling album of 2008 and the biggest selling album of 2008 in Australia. Sex on Fire was the first single released for download in the UK on 8 September.

The song became their most successful ever as it peaked at number one in the UK and in Ireland. It was also their first song to chart number one on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock chart. The second single to be released from the album on December 8, 2008 was Use Somebody which achieved worldwide chart success and consistency, such as peaking at number two in the UK Singles Chart, and also reaching top ten chart positions in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States. The album's popularity in Australia was confirmed with a total of four singles being voted into the world's largest online music poll, the "Triple J Hottest 100". The song Crawl came in at number 70, Closer was voted number 24 and "Use Somebody" finished number 3 in the poll. However, their biggest success from Only By The Night was "Sex on Fire" which was voted number 1 in the Hottest 100 poll for 2008 and number 90 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time, 2009 poll.

"Sex on Fire" also won the band a Grammy Award at the 51st Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 2009. They won Best International Band and Best International Album at the Brit Awards in 2009, where they also performed "Use Somebody" live. Kings of Leon also performed on 14 March 2009 at Sound Relief, a benefit concert, for the Victorian Bushfire Crisis. The song "Crawl" from this album was released as a free download on the band's website on July 28. The third and fourth singles were Revelry , which peaked at number 19 in New Zealand and Notion , which peaked at number 24 in Belgian charts. Only By The Night was certified platinum in the United States by the RIAA for selling one million copies in less than a year after its release.

In 2009, the band headlined a number of music festivals, including Reading & Leeds, Rock Werchter, Oxegen, T In The Park, Gurtenfestival and Open'er Festival in Europe, along with Sasquatch, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits in the United States. That same year, the band won their first Grammy Award for the single "Sex on Fire", as well as two BRIT Awards for "Best International Group" and "Best International Album." The album Only by the Night also won an NME Award for "Album of the Year." Future projects (2009-2011) The band has announced the release of a live DVD on November 10, 2009 and a remix album due for release in the coming months, though the latter is untitled and unscheduled at the moment. The DVD was filmed at London's O2 Arena in July 2009.

In an interview with Billboard.com drummer Nathan stated, "England is really the first place we broke … We figured what better place to make a live DVD than where the fans have been the craziest for the longest?" The show featured some choice rarities, and Nathan continued by saying "we just put the cameras in the back of our minds and acted like they weren't even there." The remix album came to life after Kings of Leon learned that other artists had started working on revisions of the band's songs. Mark Ronson , Kenna , Lykke Li with her cover of "Knocked Up", and Linkin Park are also contributing a remix to the album. On October 17, 2009, the night of the final show of the US tour in Nashville, Tennessee, Nathan Followill posted "Now it's time to start creating the next musical chapter in the novel that is Kings of Leon. Thanks again to all. Boomer fucking Sooner." on his personal Twitter page. Mechanical Bull (2012-2013): The band's sixth LP, " Mechanical Bull ", was released on September 24, 2013.

The album's first single, entitled "Supersoaker", was released on July 17, 2013. Walls (2016): On Oct 14, 2016, Kings of Leon released their 7th studio album, " Walls ", on the RCA Records label. It became the band's first number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The first single released from the album was " Waste a Moment ". Controversy Kings of Leon caused controversy at the 2009 Reading Festival when Caleb Followill tried to get the crowd going by asking "I thought this was supposed to be the loudest crowd in the world?" Picking up on a perceived hostility towards the band, he announced "we know you're sick of Kings of Leon, so for all those who don't give a fuck about us, I understand. But we've worked fucking hard to get here. So anyone that has anything to say to us, fuck you. We're the goddamn Kings of Leon." The band later smashed their guitars in anger and made rude gestures before leaving the stage. Nathan Followill further criticized the Reading crowd on his twitter page, declaring "Zero love for the kings.

I know it was cold but holy shit, y'all were frozen. I can only hope Leeds is in better form.". At the Leeds Festival Caleb again bad-mouthed Reading while complimenting the Leeds crowd declaring "We're only five songs in and you've blown Reading to hell", while complimenting UK crowds in general stating "It was the UK that made us feel like we could take on the world." Discography Confessions of a Cousin | Music | Style Weekly - Richmond, VA local news, arts, and events. Tweet Confessions of a Cousin Kings of Leon's guitarist on finally getting big in America, losing weight, and dealing with a naked lead singer.

By Hilary Langford click to enlarge Kings of Leon guitarist Matthew Followill is a straight shooter when it comes to divulging the sordid details of life as a mega-rockstar in Kings of Leon, which earned the enviable cover of this month's Rolling Stone (in a sort of cowboy motif) and was dubbed “America's Hottest Band.” That article revealed other tidbits, like that the band members, three brothers and a cousin, go by their middle names -- singer Anthony “Caleb” Followill, bassist Michael “Jared” Followill, drummer Ivan “Nathan” Followill and guitarist Cameron “Matthew” Followill. We caught up with Matthew just days before two Virginia shows and got the skinny on everything from his beloved Harley Davidson bikes to a late-night near-encounter with his unruly, naked frontman, and cousin, Caleb. Style: Just this year, you guys sold out Madison Square Garden and finally got a Grammy. It's possible that maybe Americans are finally catching on and up to the rest of the world's adoration, but does it ever piss you off that it's taken so long to get big at home?

Matthew Followill: Well, after the first two records it just seemed kind of normal that we weren't going to be big in America. So, we just kind of stopped thinking about it really. Maybe that's what made it happen, that we just stopped caring. And now, it's finally coming around and we're starting to think about it again. I'm convinced that The Garden sold out because everyone came over from England for that show. OK, speaking of being huge in England: How do four Southern boys deal with food there? Because it's a far cry from your grandmama's cooking back home I would imagine. Man, I don't know. We always lose like 10 pounds over there. At least they have hamburgers though. I hear they're not as good there, though. They taste gamey. Yeah, they're pretty crappy actually. But yeah, last time I went there I lost like 15 pounds and then gained it all back when I started eating Burger King and mom's food again. I gained it all back, dammit! I know you ride Harleys. Do you miss those when you are out on tour? Yes. I have three of them now.

Jared has one too and we were gonna bring them out and ride them on days off, but it didn't work out. So, I think we're gonna end up renting them. But yeah, riding is fun. What else do you miss on the road aside from decent food and your bike? God, everything really. The pressure to not have to do anything. I mean, I was thinking the other day how awesome it would be if after each show we got to go home that night and got to sleep in our own beds, and then maybe had another day off before another show .Of course, that will never happen. But, I mean really I miss everything. My TV, my couch, my bed. Knowing where everything is around you. Given the pace of your life, what's the one thing you always have to have on or around you to get by? My computer. I'm non-stop. Surfing the Internet, buying iTunes movies. I would be bored out of my mind if I didn't have it. I was never a computer guy, Jared was, but now I'm the geeky guy that always has his computer. What's the most difficult part about touring with the brothers Followill? It used to be really bad.

It's not too bad now. I don't really see them as brothers so much. It's like, they are your family so you get along pretty well. But, it's also bad because someone will tell you something you don't wanna hear and it pisses you off. If you were in a band with your friends they wouldn't say certain things. Show common courtesy or whatever. Let's talk bad habits. Anything you'd like to call the others out on? This is your chance to out them on anything and everything. Nathan exaggerates a lot, to the point of almost being a liar. Some people may drink too much. There's some egos going around. That's about all I can say … Without really getting in trouble, right? Yeah. What's up with Caleb's nickname, The Rooster? Man, I don't know. He just likes The Rooster so he has an excuse to get really, really drunk and then people are just like, “It's alright, it's just Rooster.” And then he can piss everywhere. And end up wandering around naked or something, right? Yeah, that usually happens.

Apparently, he tried to get in my room last night and I told him that would have been really weird for him because he would have woken up in his bed with two black eyes. Do you have a nickname? I don't know where I fit into all that. Some guys call me Lazy. That's not so bad. You could rock it like, Laz-E. Yeah, what up?! What's next for you guys? We're touring til November, non-stop. Then some time off after that. Then probably start this whole thing over again and make another record. We don't have songs, but we've got some ideas for stuff. The studio is fun, definitely the best part. You just get to hang out and nothing is rushed. It's what comes next that sucks and is hard work. Back to iTunes downloading, what's on your playlist these days? I downloaded the White Lies. They're pretty awesome. Also, a season of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show. Pretty funny. Let's see … Glasvegas. I'm trying to be cool here and name some good bands. It's OK, Matt, you can admit to downloading Kelly Clarkson the day it came out. Nah, I didn't.

But I downloaded some Miley for my girlfriend and I did listen to it. Kings of Leon plays Norfolk's Constant Convocation Center on Monday, April 27; the Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park in Cary, North Carolina on Tuesday, April 28; and the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte on Thursday, April 30. Kings Of Leon | Biography, News, Photos and Videos | Contactmusic.com News Pictures Video Music Press Festival Quotes RSS Biography Kings of Leon (formed 2000) are an American rock band, consisting of three brothers (Caleb, Nathan and Jared) and their cousin (Matthew), all of whom have the last name Followill, best known for their single 'Sex on Fire'. Formation: Kings of Leon chose to name themselves after Caleb, Nathan and Jared's father and grandfather who were both named Leon. The brothers had spent their childhood traveling around the Southern states of the US because their father was a United Pentecostal Church preacher. The brothers moved to Nashville in 1998, before forming the band with their cousin in 2000. Career: Kings of Leon signed to RCA Records, who put them under the guidance of Angelo Petraglia.

The band had a grounded history in Country Music up until this point, and Petraglia began indroducing them to more rock 'n' roll oriented material. Kings of Leon released their 'Holy Roller Novocaine' EP on 18th February 2003. This was followed almost immediately by the 'What I Saw' EP, which was released on 26th May 2003. Kings of Leon released their debut studio album, 'Youth & Young Manhood', on 7th July 2003, receiving rather high praise from critics. The album shot to the number three spot in the UK charts, although it failed to perform as well in the US. 'Aha Shake Heartbreak', Kings of Leon's second studio album, was released on 1st November 2004. The album received more consistent praise, yet failed to be recognised as much as their previous effort. In June 2006, Kings of Leon released a limited edition EP entitled 'Day Old Belgian Blues', which was soon followed by their third studio album.

'Because of the Times' was released on 30th March 2007 in Australia (as the country had proved to provide the best sales for the band), before opening in the US and UK in early April. The album received glowing reviews from critics, and topped the charts in the UK, New Zealand and Ireland. Within a matter of days from releasing the album, the band were already working on their fourth studio album. Kings of Leon released 'Only By the Night' on 19th September 2008. The album saw moderate success with mixed reviews from critics. The band's fifth studio album, 'Come Around Sundown', was released on 15th October 2010. The album debuted at the number one spot in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom's charts. It became the band's highest charting album in the US, with it reaching the number two spot on Billboard's 200 list. Despite this, the album received very mixed and moderate results, receiving an average score of around 3/5. The band bounced back on 20th September 2013, with the release of 'Mechanical Bull'.

The album received far more praise from critics, yet fared worse on the albums charts. It still topped the UK charts and came second on Billboard's 200, yet the number one spot was only reached in four countries, as opposed to eight with the previous album. Biography by Contactmusic.com Kings Of Leon | Rolling Stone artists > K > Kings Of Leon > Bio Kings Of Leon Bio Kings of Leon have a backstory so steeped in rock mythology that it almost sounds made up. The Followill brothers — Nathan, Caleb and Jared — are sons of a preacher man who were raised on the road throughout the South, traveling from one Pentecostal church to the next. After being shattered by a divorce, the brothers were transformed by illicit substances and the stoner music of Led Zeppelin. Soon, they were a rough and ready band, enjoying the pleasures of the road while playing grinding, garage-y jams tinged with Southern rock and gothic lyrics. By the end of the 2000s, they were famous. The Followills grew up watching their father Leon, a Pentecostal minister, instill the fear of God in parishioners across the South.

Forbidden to listen to secular music, they spent their early childhoods being home-schooled, watching church choirs and occasionally banging on drums during services. The boys' fates as followers of fundamentalist Christianity seemed sealed until 1997, when Leon Followill resigned from the church and divorced his wife. The divorce rocked the Followills' world, and afterwards, the Nathan and Caleb moved to Nashville, hoping to break into the music business. They quickly ran into Nashville songwriter and former new waver Angelo Petraglia, who turned the brothers on to the secular music of the Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash. Kings of Leon, named for their father, were born in 2000 when youngest brother Jared and a cousin, Matthew Followill, joined Nathan and Caleb in Nashville. Jared, who had briefly attended public school, had learned about the music of the Pixies and Velvet Underground. The boys began woodshedding, and by 2002 Kings of Leon had interest from nine labels. A bidding war ensued, and the band ultimately signed with RCA Records.

The group's debut EP, Holy Roller Novocaine, and LP, Youth and Young Manhood (Number 113), both produced by Petraglia and Ethan Johns (son of Led Zeppelin and Who producer Glyn Johns), were released in 2003. The band's retro-chic look and blend of Southern boogie and gritty garage rock inspired comparisons to both Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Strokes. The British press hailed the Kings as the second coming of rock & roll; according to The Guardian, they were "the kind of authentic, hairy rebels the Rolling Stones longed to be." But the band failed to make much of an impact in the United States, where reviews were generally lukewarm and the modern rock audience generally disinterested. In the U.S., their debut sold only 100,000 copies, compared with the 750,000 copies it moved abroad. The group's highly anticipated second album, Aha Shake Heartbreak (Number 55, 2005), released in November 2004 in the UK, debuted at Number Three on the British charts.

Kings added more newer sounds, including an angular guitar attack that recalled British art-punk band Wire, to their raw Southern aesthetic. A tour supporting U2 upped the band's profile in the U.S., and in late 2006, just before the release of Kings' third album, the band opened for Bob Dylan at a handful of shows. Because of the Times (Number 25), released in April 2007, found the Kings moving even further away from their short songs with immediate hooks, but the general sound and substance remained the same, with lyrics about pregnant girlfriends and black Camaros. The British love affair with the band continued, and the album debuted at Number One in the UK. In 2008 Caleb Followill admitted to struggling with anorexia. Also in 2008, the Kings released Only by the Night (Number Four). With a slicker pop sound, the album drew mixed reviews but y cracked the Top Ten in the U.S. and topped the British charts for the second time in as many years. The band also found success on the U.S.

singles chart when the album's second single, "Use Somebody," a plaintive ballad that showed off Caleb Followill's increasingly ragged croon, reached Number Four. They picked up their first Grammy for Only by the Night's first single, "Sex on Fire," in 2009. Joel Hoard contributed to this article. Kings of Leon remember grandfather, namesake | Inquirer Entertainment Kings of Leon remember grandfather, namesake Associated Press / 10:51 AM January 25, 2014 File photo shows members of Kings of Leon, from left, Jared Followill, Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill and Matthew Followill in Nashville, Tenn. When the Followill family, brothers Nathan, Caleb, Jared and cousin Matthew, moved to Nashville to start a rock band, they wanted the band’s name to pay homage to their family ties back in Oklahoma. Leon Followill, grandfather of the four members of the Grammy-winning rock band Kings of Leon, died on Jan. 9, 2014, at the age of 84, but his grandsons said his legacy will continue to live on through their music.

AP NASHVILLE— When the Followill family — brothers Nathan, Caleb, Jared and cousin Matthew — moved to Nashville to start a rock band, they wanted the band’s name to pay homage to their family ties back in Oklahoma. Leon Followill, grandfather of the four members of the Grammy-winning rock band Kings of Leon, died on Jan. 9 at the age of 84, but his grandsons said his legacy will continue to live on through their music. “He was the kind of guy that never met someone that wasn’t his friend instantly,” said singer Caleb Followill in an interview on Thursday. “I think that’s something that you strive to be, but I think he was born that way.” ADVERTISEMENT Drummer Nathan Followill said his grandfather raised five sons and worked in the concrete business his whole life. He was also immensely proud of the success of his grandsons, whose sixth album, “Mechanical Bull,” is nominated for a Grammy this year. Nathan Followill said his grandfather told him he couldn’t understand how they dealt with the pressure of being rock stars, after watching his grandsons play a show in his hometown of Oklahoma City.

“He said, ‘My arm is so sore from shaking so many hands and my face hurts from smiling for pictures,'” Followill said. “He said, ‘Y’all can have that fame stuff. It’s not for me.'” The band is starting the first leg of its 2014 Mechanical Bull tour on Feb. 5 in Atlanta. Kings of Leon Revealed: 13 Things You Didn't Know About Rock's Hottest Band - Rolling Stone Kings of Leon Revealed: 13 Things You Didn't Know About Rock's Hottest Band Kings of Leon Revealed: 13 Things You Didn't Know About Rock's Hottest Band The Followills' real names, who's obsessed with Chris Farley and how to clear a party with jalapenos All Stories For Rolling Stone's new cover story charting Kings of Leon's God-fearing, booze-swilling rise to rock stardom, Austin Scaggs followed the Followills from Tennessee to Australia, swilling wine and partying with huge stars like Chris Martin along the way.

RS also visited the Kings in their Nashville homes for an intimate tour of their private lives — watch the video, above — and managed to squeeze a few more facts and hilarious stories out of the foursome. Here's 13 of the most enlightening: More News All Stories 1. All of the Kings go by their middle names. So what are their real first names? Singer Anthony "Caleb" Followill, drummer Ivan "Nathan" Followill, guitarist Cameron "Matthew" Followill and bassist Michael "Jared" Followill. 2. In their teens, the Followill boys threw parties at their dad, Ivan's house. When Ivan deemed that the party was over, he put jalapeños in the microwave. The fumes burned peoples' eyes until they vacated the premises. 3. In their earliest years evangelizing through the South with their preacher father, the family traveled in a Chrysler. "It would backfire," says Nathan, "and we were so embarrassed that when we'd pull into a church, we'd have to kill the engine and coast into the parking lot." Ivan could also backfire the car on command, say, when they were driving by a construction site.

"The guys would literally drop to the ground," says Nathan. "I don't know how my dad did it. He was a man of God. He was gifted." 4. When he was three years old, Jared would jump up on the arm of the sofa, unclasp the lock on the front door, and climb up onto the neighbors' roof. Jared was also known around the neighborhood for riding his scooter, naked. "I'd wear a T-shirt, so I wasn't completely naked," Jared says. "I'd be casual, but naked from the waist down." 5. When the Kings played Saturday Night Live last September, Caleb walked the backstage halls and took a moment to pause in front of a portrait of Chris Farley. Growing up, he was obsessed with the comic. "I knew I was going to be on Saturday Night Live," he says. "I didn't know that I'd be singing." Nathan remembers the phone call he received on December 18th, 1997. "Caleb was crying his eyes out and he kept saying, 'He's dead! He's dead!' I was like, 'What? Dad's dead?' " 6.

Caleb was 14 the first time he smoked weed, in Henderson, Tennessee. "I was with [cousin] Peanut, and we were in a graveyard," says Caleb. "I was like, 'I don't feel it,' but when we got home I was eating a bunch of chicken tenders. Peanut said, 'What the fuck, man, you're gonna kill your buzz.' That's when I realized, 'Maybe I am feeling this?' " 7. The first great Kings song, according to Caleb, was "Wicker Chair," which appeared on their EP Holy Roller Novocaine. "Trey Boyer would play guitar while me and Nate sang," says Caleb, remembering their first gigs in Nashville. "One day he taught me a C chord, and that night I was playing it, and Jared came downstairs and sat in our white wicker chair. When Nathan wasn't looking, I'd get stoned with Jared and we'd have a good time. So I remember writing the opening lyrics about Jared.

'In your little white wicker chair, unsuspicious…' And then I wrote the rest of the song about my dad." (Caleb also said he wrote "Head To Toe" about Matthew, "Razz" about Jared, and "Go Fuck Yourself" about Nathan.) 8. On September 11th, 2001, Nathan and Caleb were in San Diego for a songwriters conference. They were staying with a friend of a friend, and early that morning, before heading to the conference, the boys smoked weed on the deck. They failed to properly extinguish the joint, leaving it accidentally smoldering. Later that day they got a call that they'd burnt the whole deck down. 9. When they were young, Matthew, Jared and their moms took a trip to New York City. "We got into so much trouble," says Matthew. "I was peeing in elevators, lighting towels and throwing them into the pool. We were stealing cigars, smoking 'em." During that road trip, Matthew also went joyriding.

"I stole the car and I drove it the wrong way onto a highway onramp." Matthew also went to jail briefly (for about an hour) after he shot an old lady with a paintball gun. "When I look back on this stuff, it's crazy. Was I possessed?" 10. Nathan's favorite TV shows are Eastbound and Down, and "that new one with Glenn Close" (Damages). Caleb says he loves America's Funniest Home Videos, and is well versed on all the Food Network shows. When Jared watches Oklahoma football games, he stands in one specific spot, at a 45 degree angle to the left corner of his flatscreen. When the team scores a touchdown, he does a shot of Patron. Matthew and his girlfriend, Johanna, like to watch movies in bed, each with their own set of headphones. 11. The Kings' first gig ever was at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta, opening up for the Skeeters and the outlaw country star Billie Joe Shaver. (Coincidentally, Shaver stars in the film The Apostle.

Caleb compares his dad to Robert Duvall's character in that movie.) "That was one of the scariest moments of my entire life," says Caleb. "We walked in and saw all the cowboy hats, and I literally said to the guys, 'You fucking country it up. Tonight, these songs will be alternative country.' And we fuckin went out there and people were takin' their cowboy hats off, goin' 'Whooo!' and fucking lovin' it, even though we were dressed like the New York Dolls. When the curtains closed, it was like a 90210 moment, we all gave each other high fives." 12. For their third album, Because of the Times, the Kings entertained the idea of a new producer. "We talked about everybody," says Jared. "We went to dinner with Dave Grohl, and met with Brendan O'Brien." They ended up sticking with longtime producer Ethan Johns. 13.

Nathan's favorite sexual position is "reverse cowgirl, with a braid." Kings of Leon — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm alternative rock Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, United States in 1999, consisting of brothers Anthony "Caleb" Followill (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ivan "Nathan" Followill (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Michael "Jared" Followill (bass guitar, backing vocals), with their cousin Cameron "Matthew" Followill (lead guitar, backing vocals). Each member of the family group is known by their middle name (second given name) as opposed to their first given name. The band's early music was an… read more Kings of Leon band Concerts Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, United States in 1999, consisting of brothers Anthony "Caleb" Followill (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ivan "Nathan" Followill (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Michael "Jared" Followill (bass guitar, backing vocals), with their cousin Cameron "Matthew" Followill (lead guitar, backing vocals).

Each member of the family group is known by their middle name (second given name) as opposed to their first given name. The band's early music was an upbeat blend of southern rock and blues influences but the band has gradually expanded their sound to include a variety of genres, including alternative rock. Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band's albums at the time peaking in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Band From: United States, Mt.

Juliet - Tennessee Band Members: Caleb Followill (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jared Followill (bass guitar), Matthew Followill (lead guitar), and Nathan Followill (drums, percussion) Kings of Leon: 15 Facts You Didn't Know (Part 1) Tweet on Twitter fanpop.com Kings of Leon took the world by storm in 2008, gaining worldwide success with their singles “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody.” Since then, members Caleb (vocals, guitar), Nathan (drums), Jared (bass) and Matthew (lead guitar) Followill have been playing to sold-out arenas all over the world and headlined popular music festivals such as Reading & Leads, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, among others. The band has amassed millions of fans all over the world and received numerous awards for their arena rock sound. Read on to find out more about Kings of Leon, and check back soon for part two of our list. Number Fifteen: Kings of Leon Didn’t Hit Commercial Success Until Their Fourth Album Kings of Leon released three albums before they reached any sort of commercial success with their fourth, Only by the Night.

The album was released in 2008, and contains the hit singles “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody.” Number Fourteen: They Are All Relatives Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill are all brothers and Matthew Followill is their cousin. Furthermore, their tour technician is their cousin Christopher. Number Thirteen: They Go by Their Middle Names Instead of just using their first names, the band decided to go by their middle names in the band. Caleb’s first name is Anthony, Nathan’s is Ivan, Jared’s is Michael and Matthew’s is Cameron. Number Twelve: They’re Big in Australia Though the band’s music started to take off in the U.K. before hitting big everywhere else, the band seems to have the biggest draw in Australia. Only by the Night became the best-selling album in the country for 2008 and went nine-times platinum on its release. Number Eleven: They’re Named After Their Grandfather Kings of Leon named their band after their grandfather, whose name is Leon. Unfortunately, Leon passed away in 2014. Number Ten: Their Father Was a Minister Caleb, Nathan and Jared grew up in Tennessee travelling with their mother and United Pentecostal Church preacher father, Ivan.

As a preacher, their father travelled a lot and the boys came with him, driving in a purple Oldsmobile that would frequently break down. Many times, the boys have also helped out with Ivan’s sermons, occasionally being asked to bang on drums. When their father retired from preaching, the boys formed Kings of Leon. Number Nine: Kings Of Leon Released a Documentary About Their Career In 2011, Kings of Leon released a documentary about their lives and their career. Called Talihina Sky, the film was directed by Stephen C. Mitchell and ran just under an hour-and-a-half. The film made its premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival in New York, followed by premieres in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Scotland. The Edinburgh premiere was turned into a live U.K. movie theater one-night-only streaming event. In November 2011, the documentary was made available for purchase. Check back for part two of our list of 15 interesting facts about Kings of Leon, coming soon. SHARE

Question: The Followill brothers and cousin, known by their middle names Nathan, Caleb, Jared and Matthew, are members of which rock band?
Answer: Kings of Leon