Kings of Leon - Male Musicians - Bellazon Male Musicians Not recommended on shared computers Sign in anonymously · Report post Kings of Leon Kings of Leon are a rock band made up of the three Followill brothers (Caleb, Nathan, and Jared), and their cousin (Matthew Followill), based in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, United States. Their influences include Southern rock, garage rock, Hard rock, country and blues. History The group's name is derived from Nathan, Caleb, and Jared's father and grandfather, both named Leon. Jared and Caleb were born in Tennessee, while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma. Matthew is a cousin to Nathan, Caleb and Jared. The brothers spent much of their youth travelling around the SSCS with their father, a traveling United Pentecostal Church preacher and their mother, who taught them when they were not in school. According to Rolling Stone magazine, "While Leon preached at churches and tent revivals throughout the Deep South, the boys attended and were occasionally enlisted to bang on some drums. They were home-schooled or enrolled in small parochial schools.

Except for a five-year stretch when they settled in Jackson, Tennessee, the Followills spent their childhoods driving through the South, camping for a week or two wherever Leon was scheduled to preach." Although it was rumored their father, Leon, was defrocked, in an article for Q Magazine in July 2007 Leon himself was quoted as saying "I was not defrocked, I was forced to resign." After various jobs, the brothers moved to Nashville in 1998. They formed a band in 2000 with their cousin Matthew. Their music is influenced by their religious upbringing and Jack Daniels. Brothers Nathan and Caleb originally sang country music and later moved to playing rock and roll. They worked for a brief period of time with label and management group Pistol Creek Productions. They spent their time with this label mainly singing at rodeos. They also were members of the West Tennessee Mass Choir for a short time. Nathan, the eldest of the brothers, graduated from Christian Life Academy (a private school that is now defunct) in Henderson, TN. Caleb dropped out mid-senior year to pursue country music.

Upon signing with RCA, they were introduced to Nashville-based song-writer/producer Angelo Petraglia, who had previously worked with artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride. Petraglia would prove very important to the band, moving them in a more rock-oriented direction and co-writing many of their songs. "I turned those guys on to the Rolling Stones and a lot of the older raw rock-and-roll stuff," he said. In an interview Caleb Followill cited The Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Bob Dylan as some of the band's early influences. Caleb also stated though that "...because of the way we [the band members] grew up, we were really sheltered from music and we didn't know that much...", going on to say that the significant musical influences have only been in very recent years. Holy Roller Novocaine and Youth and Young Manhood Kings of Leon's first release, The Holy Roller Novocaine EP came out in 2003. Four of its five songs would later be released on Youth and Young Manhood, with the songs "California Waiting" and "Wasted Time" being remade. The EP also contained the B-side "Wicker Chair".

All the songs were co-written by Petraglia. Their debut album Youth and Young Manhood propelled them to relative stardom, particularly outside the United States, where they were dubbed one of the driving forces behind the so-called "new rock revolution" by the European press. Their stakes only rose when they were chosen by popular rock bands The Strokes and U2 to tour with them. According to Jared, the title of the album was taken from their father's Bible. All songs were again co-written by Petraglia, who also contributed guitar and co-produced the album with Ethan Johns. The songs "Molly's Chambers", "Red Morning Light", and "Holy Roller Novocaine" were used in various video games, movies, and TV advertisements. Aha Shake Heartbreak The band's second album Aha Shake Heartbreak was released in the United Kingdom in October 2004 and in the United States in February 2005. Building on the southern-infused garage rock of their first album, the album was released to widespread acclaim and broadened the band's domestic and international audience.

"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 used in the 2007 thriller movie, "Disturbia". The band also garnered accolades from several of their rock peers, including Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, Bryan Adams, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Kelly Jones of Stereophonics, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, and Bob Dylan. The band toured with Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan for much of 2005 and 2006. Because of the Times In March 2006, it was announced by NME that Kings of Leon were back in the studio, working on their third album. Drummer Nathan Followill told NME.COM: "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 large UPC ministers conference of the same name held in Alexandria, Louisiana that the brothers often attended.

The album was released on April 2, 2007 in the UK, and a day later in the US to virtually universal praise. NME said that the album "cemented Kings of Leon as one of the great American bands of our time" and Entertainment Weekly called Because of the Times "an epic wide-screen movie of a CD and the band's best to date." Another reviewer described Because of the Times as, "an accomplished album of unbelievable beauty and familiar, loveable grit. Kings of Leon is maturing wonderfully and with patience, not forcing anything musically or lyrically that doesn’t sound natural." After this album was released, Ed O'Brien of Radiohead admitted he was a fan, adding them to a list of Radiohead's favorite acts. He said, "I don't get jealous when I see other bands, but when I see them I think, 'Man, I'd love to be in that band'. They're young...they remind me of... the Bunnymen or something like that. They're growing, they're evolving... They're amazing players, the drummer, he's amazing.

They're all great but he's really special." The album debuted at #1 in the UK and Ireland and entered the US charts at #25, selling approximately 70,000 copies in its first week of release. The album was preceded by the single "On Call", which became a hit in Britain. The album showed a clear evolution from the band's previous work, as the band's trademark dirty, southern-fried swagger was replaced with a more mature, polished sound. This, however, did not stop the album from becoming arguably the band's most successful commercial and critical release. Other singles from the album were "Fans" and "Charmer." The 4th album In early 2008, frontman Caleb Followil confirmed to UK magazine NME that the band is working on tracks for the fourth album. In an interview Jared (bass) said the next album will "rock harder", and that they are "ready to tackle their southern roots...again." Recording began in February 08, when the band completed its 2007 tour. They are currently finishing their recording sessions in Nashville, Tennessee and predict the album to be released in September, 2008.

In the June 2008 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, Caleb discussed how he believes his pain medication (which he takes after a fistfight with brother Nathan) inspires him to write some of the "most beautiful" songs, so much that he's acclaimed he is "proud track-by-track." The band have already debuted two new songs entitled "Crawl" and "Cold Desert", both of which can be found on youtube. Members · Report post Thank you Michael for starting the thread! I was itching to start one Lol, I first heard "On Call" in those fashion shows I watched on FTV but I didn't know who the band was. Then I watched the Brit awards this year and found out that it was KOL and I spent the entire easter holiday listening to the them. Hehehe, a few weeks later I bought all of their albums Shame the first album is faulty...But I love their new album! Cannot wait until they perform in Glastonbury this year, although I won't actually be there watching, I will enjoy watching them perform on TV. LONG LIVE THE KING!

Kings of Leon abandon concert due to pigeon poop - News - American Top 40 With Ryan Seacrest American Top 40 With Ryan Seacrest Home > News > Kings of Leon abandon concert due to pigeon poop NEWS Tweet Kings of Leon abandon concert due to pigeon poop The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping. Jul 24, 2010 (Reuters) - American rock band Kings of Leon said they were forced to abandon a concert in St. Louis at the weekend after three songs because pigeons kept pooping on them from the rafters. The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping. "Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't deal any longer," the Nashville band's publicist, Any Mendelsohn, said in a statement. "It's not only disgusting - it's a toxic hazard.

They really tried to hang in there." Drummer Nathan Followill apologized on Twitter to fans of the Grammy-winning band which is made up of three Followill brothers and their cousin Matthew who plays lead guitar. "So sorry St Louis. We had to bail, pigeons s***ing in Jared's mouth and it was too unsanitary to continue," he wrote. "Don't take it out on Jared ... Sorry for all who (traveled) many miles." The band was to continue its U.S. tour in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday to promote its fourth album "Only By The Night" before heading to Canada and Britain. The country duo Sugarland was scheduled to play the venue on Sunday night. Photo Copyright Getty Images Kings of Leon abandon U.S. concert due to pigeon poop | Reuters Mon Jul 26, 2010 | 12:37 AM EDT Kings of Leon abandon U.S. concert due to pigeon poop Caleb Followill, lead singer for ''Kings of Leon,'' appears with his band on NBC's 'Today' show in New York, July 31, 2009.

Reuters/Brendan McDermid LOS ANGELES American rock band Kings of Leon said they were forced to abandon a concert in St. Louis at the weekend after three songs because pigeons kept pooping on them from the rafters. The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping. "Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't deal any longer," the Nashville band's publicist, Any Mendelsohn, said in a statement. "It's not only disgusting - it's a toxic hazard. They really tried to hang in there." Drummer Nathan Followill apologized on Twitter to fans of the Grammy-winning band which is made up of three Followill brothers and their cousin Matthew who plays lead guitar. "So sorry St Louis. We had to bail, pigeons s***ing in Jared's mouth and it was too unsanitary to continue," he wrote. "Don't take it out on Jared ... Sorry for all who (traveled) many miles." The band was to continue its U.S.

tour in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday to promote its fourth album "Only By The Night" before heading to Canada and Britain. The country duo Sugarland was scheduled to play the venue on Sunday night. (Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Dean Goodman) ADVERTISEMENT 33 of the greatest bands of brothers (and sisters) | Gigwise by Chloe Ravat | Photos by WENN.com, Press 33 of the greatest bands of brothers (and sisters) The history of family bands, from The Kinks to Kings Of Leon, The Jackson 5 to Oasis and more The Kinks: A legendary rock band formed by brothers Dave and Ray Davies. They stormed the English music scene with songs like 'You Really Got Me' and 'Waterloo Sunset'. The brothers were the only two steady members of the band, with an ever-changing line-up of bassists and keyboard players. The Bee Gees: A disco trio of brothers consisting of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. They experienced the height of their career around the late 1970s with songs like 'Stayin' Alive' and 'Night Fever'.

Barry is sadly the only surviving brother after Maurice died in 2003 and Robin lost his battle to cancer in 2012. Gladys Knight and the Pips: Famed as an R'n'B/soul family act, Gladys Knight & the Pips featured siblings Gladys and Merald 'Bubba' Knight, as well as their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest. They are known for songs such as 'Midnight Train to Georgia' and 'Heard it Through the Grapevine'. Jackson 5: Arguably the most famous sibling musical act in musical history; the Jackson 5 was the vehicle that showcased a tiny Michael Jackson's talents as a solo artist. Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon reunited for a tour in 2012, which marked the first time they had toured together without Michael. The Allman Brothers Band: The Floridian rock and blues band was formed in 1969 by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman. They achieved huge chart success with their song 'Ramblin' Man', and last year they were awarded with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Iggy and the Stooges: The Michigan-born band originally comprised Iggy Pop (real name James Newell Osterberg), Dave Alexander, and brothers Dave and Ron Asheton, until Ron died in 2009. They didn't sell many records in the beginning, but are nevertheless regarded as instrumental in the rise of punk rock. The Carpenters: An American brother-sister pop duo consisting of Karen and Richard Carpenter; they exhibited a softer musical style than was prevalent during their era of popularity. Karen suffered from a well-documented battle with anorexia, which eventually caused her death in 1983. Conversely, after overcoming an addiction to quaalude, Richard now lives with his wife and children in California. The Jets: The Jets were a British rockabilly band consisting of three brothers, Bob, Ray and Tony Cotton. Their most successful single was 'Love Makes the World Go Round', which reached number 21 in the UK charts in 1982. Sister Sledge: Another one of the most famous family bands in music; Sister Sledge was comprised of four sisters; Kim, Debbie, Joni and Kathy.

They hit the big time in 1979 with their album We are Family and the single of the same name. AC/DC: The Aussie (but mostly UK-grown) rock band was formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who played rhythm and lead guitar, repsectively, and continue to do so today. Interestingly, Malcolm wrote the guitar riff for 'Back in Black' but was unsure as to whether it was any good - so asked brother Angus for his opinion. Van Halen: Named after the brothers that formed the band; Van Halen consisted of Eddie and Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth (who was replaced for a while by Sammy Hagar) and Michael Anthony. They garnered success in the UK with songs like 'Jump' and 'Why Can't This Be Love'. The Bangles: The Bangles were an all-female pop band featuring sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson. They had some huge hits in the UK with songs like 'Eternal Flame', 'Walk Like an Egyptian' and 'Manic Monday'.

After disbanding in 1988, they reformed in 1998 to record a song for the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. The Proclaimers: Scottish twins Charlie and Craig Reid have endowed us with such nuggets of musical genius as '(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles' and 'Letter from America'. They made singing in a Scottish accent cool, and feature on VH1's list of the greatest one-hit wonders, as '500 Miles' was their only US hit. Orbital: An electro dance duo made up of brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll. The brothers stood out among other techno acts due to their ability to improvise during live performances. They broke up in 2004 but reformed again in 2009 to headline The Big Chill. Radiohead: Fronted by Thom Yorke, with brothers Jonny and Colin Greenwood on lead guitar and bass, as well as Phil Selway and Ed O'Brien on percussion and guitar, respectively. The band write songs collaboratively, and as a result all their songs are credited to 'Radiohead'.

Oasis: Almost as famous for their warring brothers as they are for their music, Oasis were a pivotal and hugely popular Mancunian rock band until Noel Gallagher left in 2009. His brother Liam and the rest of the band continue to perform to this day as Beady Eye. Hanson: The trio of brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma set teenage hearts aflutter in 1997 with the release of their debut single 'MMMBop'. We still neither know what the lyrics are or even what 'MMMBop' means - if anything - but it sure is catchy. Isaac, Taylor and Zac now even have their own brand of beer, 'MMMHops'. K-Ci & JoJo: The R'n'B duo consists of Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, and Joel "JoJo" Hailey. Also members of the group Jodeci, the brothers broke out on their own to record 'How Could You' for the movie Bulletproof, and continued to have a successful career as a duo right up to the present when they released their new single 'Knock It Off'.

30 Seconds to Mars: Brothers Jared and Shannon Leto formed the band in 1998, recruiting Matt Wachter later on as bassist. Even though Jared is also a successful actor, the band have revealed that they are recording their fourth album, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams. They are also the first band to ever send and debut a single (in their case, 'Up In The Air' in 2013) on a space station. Tegan and Sara: An indie rock duo made up of identical twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin. Both sisters are openly gay with long-term girlfriends. Their 2012 single 'Closer' reached number 1 on the US dance chart. Kings of Leon: The Tennesee-based rock band is formed of three brothers; Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill as well as their cousin, Matthew Followill. The brothers were sons of a Pentecostal preacher, and were able to embrace the rock lifestyle they'd been denied when their father left the profession. As Kings of Leon they are famed for songs like 'Sex on Fire' 'Use Somebody' and 'Notion'.

Biffy Clyro: With Simon Neil at the helm, twin brothers James and Ben Johnston provide solid support on bass, drums and vocals in the hugely successful rock trio Biffy Clyro. They were noticed by manager Dee Bahl while playing small gigs around Glasgow, which led to a career that has culminated in their headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2013. Arcade Fire: The Canadian rock outfit's members include husband and wife Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, along with Win's brother Will, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, Jeremy Gara, and Sarah Neufeld. Most of the band are multi-instrumentalists, playing unusual instruments like the glockenspiel, the mandolin and hurdy-gurdy. The Cribs: The three-piece indie rock band from West Yorkshire is made up of twins Gary and Ryan Jarman, and their younger brother Ross. Initially recording lo-fi in an ancient mill near their home, the brothers went on to be named the 'biggest cult band in the UK' by Q magazine.

The Magic Numbers: The four-piece from Hanwell, West London is formed of two pairs of brothers and sisters; namely Romeo and Michele Stodart, and Sean and Angela Gannon. The sisters were brought on board after Romeo and Sean started writing music together. Frightened Rabbit: Brothers Scott and Grant Hutchison make up the lead vocals and percussion sections of Scottish band Frightened Rabbit. The name stems from a nickname Scott's mother have him as a child as a result of his severe shyness. Initally a solo act featuring Scott, the project became that of a full band, with the additions of Grant and the rest of the members. The Maccabees: Taking their name from a random word they found as they flipped through a Bible, the original line-up consisted of Orlando Weeks, Robert Dylan Thomas (who subsequently left in 2008), brothers Hugo and Felix White and Rupert Jarvis. While none of their singles have breached the UK top 20, they have nonetheless garnered critical and commercial acclaim. The National: Most of the Brooklyn-based band is made up of siblings; Aaron and Bryce Dessner on guitar and keyboard, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf on bass and drums.

The National is fronted by Matt Berninger. The band are very politically involved and were staunch supporters in the election and re-election of Barack Obama. First Aid Kit: Sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg make up the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit. It's perhaps testament to their sibling intuition that their close harmonies are always so beautifully affecting, and their lyrics at once personal and obtuse. The pair have said that they want their music to help people, and be a sort of "plaster for your soul". Disclosure: Brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence have already collaborated with the likes of AlunaGeorge, Eliza Doolittle and Sam Smith; and they show no signs of slowing down. Their debut album Settle debuted at number 1 in the UK charts and they performed twice at Glastonbury this year. Haim: Everyone's favourite Californian sisters seemingly can do no wrong at the moment. Este, Danielle and Alana Haim have received blinding praise from critics for songs like 'Falling' and 'Don't Save Me'. Their eagerly anticipated debut album Days Are Gone will be released on 27 September 2013.

Say Lou Lou: The Swedish/Australian dream pop twin sisters Elektra and Miranda Kilbey have already been the subject of much attention and praise after they published 'Fool of Me' online, a collaborative single with fellow Aussie Chet Faker. They've even already set up their own record label, A Deux. Drenge: Brothers Rory and Eoin Loveless from Sheffield have burst onto the scene making music that could be described as sightly scary, arguably best encapsulated as garage rock, on the periphery of punk and metal. Labour MP Tom Watson even recommended them in his resignation letter to Ed Milliband. Which could be a good or bad thing, we haven't decided. Ibeyi: Yoruban for Twins, Ibeyi comprise twin sisters Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz, whose music blends elements of soul, hip hop, jazz and pop to create something both youthful and innovative, and effortlessly mature. There must be something in the water at these guys' houses. We've come to the realisation that some of the best bands in the world, both modern and classic, seem to be made up of siblings and family members.

From entire bands made up of siblings, to a couple of cousins or brothers and sisters on drums and bass - musical talent clearly seems to be a genetic pre-requisite in these families, where most of us just pray that we don't get Aunt Hilda's moustache. We've picked 33 of the best sibling bands we could think of, from the current stars of tomorrow, to the nostalgia-inducing families of yesteryear. Have a look and see what you think... Kings of Leon & Pigeon SHIT! (NDC) - Google Groups Kings of Leon & Pigeon SHIT! (NDC) Showing 1-2 of 2 messages Kings of Leon abandon concert due to pigeon poop. The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping. Saturday, July 24, 2010 (Reuters) - American rock band Kings of Leon said they were forced to abandon a concert in St. Louis at the weekend after three songs because pigeons kept pooping on them from the rafters.

The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping. "Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't deal any longer," the Nashville band's publicist, Any Mendelsohn, said in a statement. "It's not only disgusting - it's a toxic hazard. They really tried to hang in there." Drummer Nathan Followill apologized on Twitter to fans of the Grammy- winning band which is made up of three Followill brothers and their cousin Matthew who plays lead guitar. "So sorry St Louis. We had to bail, pigeons s***ing in Jared's mouth and it was too unsanitary to continue," he wrote. "Don't take it out on Jared ... Sorry for all who (traveled) many miles." The band was to continue its U.S. tour in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday to promote its fourth album "Only By The Night" before heading to Canada and Britain. The country duo Sugarland was scheduled to play the venue on Sunday night.

Has this ever happened at a GD show, especially an outdoor show? This may be a first. Actually I feel sad for the audience and this band. Lots of laughs, 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 [TMP] "Kings of Leon abandon U.S. concert due to pigeon poop..." Topic link American rock band Kings of Leon said they were forced to abandon a concert in St. Louis at the weekend after three songs because pigeons kept pooping on them from the rafters. The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping. "Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't deal any longer," the Nashville band's publicist, Any Mendelsohn, said in a statement. "It's not only disgusting – it's a toxic hazard. They really tried to hang in there." Drummer Nathan Followill apologized on Twitter to fans of the Grammy-winning band which is made up of three Followill brothers and their cousin Matthew who plays lead guitar. "So sorry St Louis.

We had to bail, pigeons ing in Jared's mouth and it was too unsanitary to continue," he wrote. "Don't take it out on Jared Sorry for all who (traveled) many miles." The band was to continue its U.S. tour in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday to promote its fourth album "Only By The Night" before heading to Canada and Britain. The country duo Sugarland was scheduled to play the venue on Sunday night. 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 Kings of Leon Film Exposes Band's Pentecostal Past, Family Tensions | Fox News Kings of Leon Film Exposes Band's Pentecostal Past, Family Tensions Facebook 0 Twitter 0 livefyre Email Print Nathan is third from the left, in the funny hat. A few weeks ago Kings of Leon stopped performing partway through their Dallas concert after lead singer, Jared Followill, stormed off the stage. Two days later, the rest of their U.S. tour was canceled amid speculation that the groundbreaking American rock band, made up of three brothers and one cousin, was suffering some serious synergy issues. But it seems fans can breathe a sigh of relief. “They are just tired from touring, they just don’t stop. Everyone needs a break from each other once in a while, and they just need a little time off,” Stephen C.

Mitchell, who signed the then-unknown musicians several years ago, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “They’re just having a little rest now and they’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to seeing them play again soon. They are still young; they have a whole other chapter ahead of them.” And Mitchell should know. He documented Kings of Leon's journey from their parents’ garage to the biggest stadiums in the world in the insightful film “ Talihina Sky: The Story of the Kings of Leon ." “Talihina Sky” delves deeply into the dynamics between the brotherhood band – the good, the bad, and the ugly. “They are brothers too so they’re relationship is a little different to other bands, brothers can pretty much say whatever they want to each other,” Mitchell explained. The Kings of Leon crew has been known over the years to make their frustrations with one another quite clear the public. Following the Dallas debacle, Jared Followill tweeted: "Not so good morning 4 me today. Ashamed & embarrassed by last night's fiasco. Can't apologize enough, utterly gutted. A million I'm sorrys." Mitchell’s response? “They should be banned from tweeting,” he laughed.

Audiences may also be surprised to learn in the film about the Followills’ connection to the Pentecostal church, having grown up with their traveling preacher father. Although they’re lives may not be dedicated to the Lord in the same way as it were 10 years ago, their underlying faith remains strong. “Even though you grow and advance in the world and change your views somewhat, I still think some of those core beliefs are there,” Mitchell said. “This really is their true back story, this shows the Pentecostal world they came from and the ministry, and also the very large, colorful family that they come from and that’s obviously a big part of the film. The band is executive producers of the film, and they wanted to put their back story out there once and for all. A lot of it was hard for them to say ‘okay, use that scene.’ But they take people on a wild and truthful journey.” At one point in the film, there is tension about whether or not the boys have chosen a life path of fame and fortune, and whether they’ve strayed from righteousness and God’s will. “I think their mom would like to line us all up and wash our mouths out with soap a few times,” said Mitchell.

“But they (the parents) are real proud of the boys. They always knew that they were so talented when they were young that they were going to be something, whether that be playing in a big stadium or playing to a ministry of their own. But now that they are out there performing, I’m sure they couldn’t be more proud of them.” “Talihina Sky: The Story of the Kings of Leon” premieres on Showtime on Sunday, August 21 10pm. Hollie McKay has been a FoxNews.com staff reporter since 2007. She has reported extensively from the Middle East on the rise and fall of terrorist groups such as ISIS in Iraq. Follow her on twitter at @holliesmckay Advertisement Kings of the wild frontier | Music | The Guardian Pop and rock Kings of the wild frontier They were raised in Tennessee, the sons of a preacherman, but with their punky breed of sexy southern rock, Kings Of Leon are spreading a religion of a very different kind.

Laura Barton meets them Saturday 17 November 2007 18.51 EST First published on Saturday 17 November 2007 18.51 EST Share on Messenger Close Backstage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Kings Of Leon lie like basking sharks in a sea of cheese platters and beer bottles. There are text messages and telephone calls, a kerfuffle over this evening's guestlist, and amid it all a discussion of the constancy of the band's British fanbase. "I think," says singer Caleb Followill, with a flick of the fringe and a southern quiver to his voice, "the UK kind've took our virginity as a band." Certainly since 2003, and the arrival of their first album, Youth & Young Manhood, Kings Of Leon have revelled in a degree of success on British shores that has so far proved elusive in their American homeland.

Because Of The Times, their third, and most recent, album, went straight in at number one here earlier this year, selling 70,000 copies in its first week alone, and later this month, following stints supporting U2 and Bob Dylan, the band will embark on their first UK headline arena tour. Hailing from America's deep south, the band is made up of the three Followill brothers: Nathan, the eldest at 28, on drums; Caleb, 25, on vocals and guitar; and Jared, 21, playing bass; plus their cousin Matthew, 23, on lead guitar. The familial bond brings an intensity to the band - they compose together, live together, play bunched-up together on stage, and to witness them in close conversation is to feel a bit like sitting at the family dinner table; slow and steady older brother Nathan tempering the occasional bombast of Caleb, while Jared butts in with the odd wisecrack.

When they first arrived in the UK, a group of lithe young men in tight trousers wearing big beards who also happened to be sons of a preacherman from Tennessee, they brought with them a whiff of Lynyrd Skynyrd, of swamp rock and JJ Cale, and departed with not only a troop of committed followers but also a trail of swooning ladies in their wake. Stylistically and musically, they offer an alluring mix of the Strokes and archetypal southern rockers the Allman Brothers Because Of The Times is a sparkling example of what Kings Of Leon do best: a punky breed of southern rock with a sultry, bluesy feel. The record shares its name with a preachers' conference the band would attend each year as children in Louisiana. "But when we came up with the name, we didn't register that [it was the name of the conference]," recalls Nathan, his voice a deep, flat, hungry rumble, "and when we finally realised we were like, 'Oh fuck! The whole religion thing...' We'd finally gotten away from it and now we have to go right back to it..." "The whole religion thing" plays an integral part in the myth of Kings Of Leon.

The brothers spent much of their childhood travelling the southern states with their father, Leon, a preacher in the United Pentecostal Church, and the inspiration behind the band's name. This alone proved intriguing enough, but coupled with rumours that Leon had been defrocked (in truth he resigned), murmurings that they weren't really brothers (they are) and whispers of their wild ways with whisky and women, it all proved rather irresistible. "Southern guys from the deep south of Tennessee," Nathan rolls his eyes a little, "yunno, they were wondering if we were gonna have socks and shoes on when we stepped off the plane." Some of the myth has prevailed and, perhaps drawn by its heady mix of music, religion, sex and southern-ness, the band have garnered a fanbase that is unusually broad: a Kings Of Leon audience will frequently range from breathless teenagers to merchant bankers, via Hollywood actresses and Kate Moss.

They have achieved that rare feat of appealing to both men and women not only through their music, but also by virtue of being good little God-fearing boys gone bad, all poster-pretty (now the beards have gone) and unfailingly polite, but with a devilish sense of humour and red-blooded masculinity."It's a compliment really," says Caleb, sunk low in his chair, one foot on the coffee table. "It happens to most great bands, and so it lets us know that we're maybe going to a place that we really want to be. The same people, that same diverse crowd, like every huge band ever - like U2 has the same kind of fanbase, and the Beatles.

You can cross all kinds of different boundaries if you make the right kind of songs and you're not one-dimensional." "And I think," adds Nathan, more measuredly, "that we kind've stumbled on to a sound that was reminiscent of times of old, or certain things that older people as well as younger people can relate to." The curious thing about the sound Kings Of Leon stumbled on is that, owing to the nature of their upbringing, dominated as it was by the gospel music of the church, they grew up with very little exposure to rock'n'roll. They recall fondly the time in their late teens when they first rebelled, sitting down to get stoned and listen to a box set of Led Zeppelin. "And we realised right then that we were gonna have to be tight musicians," remembers Caleb, still sounding faintly awed. "Coz the churches we grew up in, the musicians were all so tight - they were having fun, but they were all so inspired. And when we heard Led Zeppelin and how tight they were, we were like, 'Well we're nuthin', we're not nearly as talented as those people.' " "We didn't start our band to sound like any other band," explains Nathan.

"So when we started out, the music that we made was the music that came out from us playing together." What sets Kings Of Leon apart, what is allowing them now to make that step from alternative rock band to ingrained-in-the-culture artists in a way that few bands beyond, say, Red Hot Chili Peppers or U2 have been able to do, is that their music holds a kind of strength, a well-stewed longevity, that prevents them from sounding faddish. However great the Strokes might be, they will be eternally remembered as the sound of 2001; Kings Of Leon's music sounds as if it has always existed. One wonders if the Kings have successfully circumnavigated that faddishnessthrough virtue of being southern rather than New York hepcats. Jared, who has been quietly perusing the internet in the corner, suddenly pipes up: "Being southern doesn't really help when it comes to being in a band. Helps with penis size, but playing music, doesn't really help." He bursts out laughing. Caleb looks amused. "Well, southern-ness helps in as far as separating yourself from the hipsters," he says soberly.

"I think middle America can relate to us. They can be someone from Iowa or Ohio where it's really country living and they think, 'These guys, they're not pretentious', even though we're up there wearing Dior or whatever. They don't see that. They see it like, 'Man, these guys are trying to bring back rock'n'roll.' And at least when we do wear the high fashion stuff we wear it tight and we try to be larger than life. I mean, the things we're singing about are very down to earth, but, yunno, we don't wanna go up there with baggy jeans and Birkenstocks, we wanna at least have something that's not so tangible about us." Indeed, in an age when we perhaps know too much about our stars, the Kings' aloofness adds considerably to their appeal. On stage they are free of between-song banter, refraining from elaborate crowd-pleasing displays, stage-diving or pyrotechnics.

"I'm not being cocky," says Caleb, in the tone of someone about to be very cocky indeed, "but if there's a band playing after us at a festival, even if they have bells and whistles and lights, unless they play a great show people aren't gonna remember their set. The cream's gonna rise to the top." For all their love of an itinerant lifestyle, the band have put down roots in Nashville, buying a plot of land they can retreat to when not on tour. It exists, you suspect, as much as a soothing idea as a place they can spend much time - after all, the majority of the past few years has been spent touring. "When you're off the road it gives you peace of mind," Nathan says, already sounding weary at the prospect of the tour before them. "God. You can just go out there and shoot a gun in any direction and not hit anything but a tree or maybe a bird. Just no pressure...

When you're on the road, your day is dictated by a day sheet that they slide under your door, that tells you what time you're waking up, what time you're getting on the bus, what time you're going to soundcheck, what time you're eating, what time you're playing, what time you're crawling back on the bus, driving to the next place, what time you get up..." He smiles. "Poor Caleb, we toured for about three years solid on the first record into the second, and we were off for, what, a month? And every day I still had to slide a sheet under his door saying: 10 o'clock: you don't have to do shit. Noon: you don't have to do shit. Two: you don't have to do shit." The groundwork has already started on the next record. "We got some songs kicking around," Caleb says leisurely, sliding back down in his chair and stretching his legs. "Haven't sat down and written lyrics for them coz then we'll wanna play it live." Although Caleb is responsible for the lyrics, the songwriting process involves the entire band.

"We basically build the songs during soundchecks and then we paint the house when we're off the road," Nathan explains. "Or when Caleb's pissed off everybody getting too drunk and has about three days to collect his thoughts." Caleb looks sheepish. Nathan is referring to a brief period of excommunication, in which Caleb, somewhat humbled, composed the lyrics to a song named The Runner: "Hard times as we go," it runs. "We know what times will change/ I talked to Jesus/Jesus says I'm OK." It is an interesting fact that, for all Caleb's braggadocio, his lyrics are not the usual rock'n'roll thrustings, but are imbued with an appealing honesty, whether confessing to the "cold sailor heart" that keeps him from settling down, or of a desire to "get back my lonely life". There is, I say tentatively, a certain mystique that surrounds Kings Of Leon, especially regarding women and drugs... "Keep talkin'..." Caleb smiles and rubs his hands together. Are they weary of all that these days, three albums into their career? "Not really," he says.

"We do what we do, it doesn't really matter and it's one of those things where all those bands that we think are really cool have had reputations for being really big fuck-ups." Nathan looks a little bemused. "Now it's cool to be a fuck-up, especially in the UK," he says, referring to the recent exploits of Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse, "that's disgusting, that's gross, I mean get some fucking talent..." Jared pipes up again: "Yeah, what's going on over there? Honestly, in America, Paris Hilton drove drunk once and she got four days in jail, this motherfucker is shooting his kitten up with heroin or something and the guy's been arrested twice a month for the last eight months... what are you guys doing? Where's Tony Blair when you need him?" Tony's gone, I tell him. "It's Gordon Brown now," Nathan informs his little brother gravely. "Good old Gordy," Caleb adds, and frowns. "Like, what do you have to do? If he was homeless or just a normal guy, wouldn't he have been arrested a long time ago? And who would like his music anyway?

I mean the Libertines, there was that little glimmer of hope that the UK was gonna have a band that was as good as the Strokes almost, if the Strokes only put out B-sides..." Nathan laughs: "Let the record know that we object!" But America has the whole faux-rehab culture. "Yeah," Nathan concurs, "that's everyone's excuse, you know you can do anything you wanna do and then you apologise and go to rehab..." Jared smirks, "Ever think about adopting that?" "But when most people go to rehab they go to this swanky place in Arizona. Pete Doherty went to Thailand!" Caleb says with astonishment. "Good God. The heroin capital of the world!" That said, Kings Of Leon are not without their own wayward drink and drugs past. Recent reports, however, have suggested that the band has at least tempered the cocaine habit. "We don't do any coke any more," Nathan says in a voice that very much belongs to an older brother. Why? "It made us pale," he says. "We were scared to look our mom in the face.

Couldn't breathe through our noses." "You just get sick of a 30-minute high that gets worse every time you do it," Caleb explains. "It got a little bit boring. At least if you get drunk you can get fucked up for as long as you want and then you can fall asleep. We like to have a good time with drink, and we'll do the odd hallucinogenic if it strikes us, but it got to the point where we were on our way to Brazil and everyone was so pumped up coz there was gonna be good coke there and I was like, whoah... I was more interested in the girls." Ah, the girls. If there is one thing for which Kings Of Leon are famous, bar the music, it is their way with the ladies. Their aftershow parties are notoriously awash with attractive women, there have been rumoured dalliances with Ms Moss and Kimberley Stewart, daughter of Rod, to name but two, and rumours abound of all manner of outrageousness, such as tales of the band popping into Nashville to cherry-pick the finest-looking women and whisk them off to their ranch.

The lustiness of their lyrics, meanwhile, is undeniable, as indeed was the cover of Aha Shake Heartbreak, with its sexually suggestive photograph of a white orchid. Earlier this year, however, Nathan's engagement to his long-term girlfriend caused some consternation in the band, particularly for Caleb, who, the rumour held, believed that Nathan's work ethic would be diluted by his marriage. In one newspaper interview they even seemed to squabble over the subject. "It's all cool now," Caleb says, a little awkwardly. He admits that at first he could not speak to Nathan's fiancee, in the same way that they all find it difficult to adjust to the fact that any other member of the group has a girlfriend. They start discussing the notably absent Matthew, his girlfriend, and whether or not they approve. "Me and him never actually fought," Nathan concludes with one eye on Caleb. "We did one interview and me and him did it together and we were laughing along and it was the day after I'd gotten engaged, and it was nothing big..." But I heard that Caleb was concerned that anyone in a happy relationship would be incapable of a certain calibre of songwriting? "Well I still think it's tough," Caleb says warily.

"But you just can't write the way you feel. You have to become another person, and say, 'OK, these lyrics have nothing to do with the relationship I'm in.' " "And it's just ridiculous," Jared interjects. "Every great band is pretty much married." Caleb looks a little sceptical. "But usually people when they get married, they kind've drop off, unless they're creative with their lyrics. I mean, I've told every girl that I've encountered if ever anything happens with us, don't think I'm gonna stop writing songs about stuff that has a little shock value, or has meaning to single people, or fucked-up people can relate to. Which is awesome, coz it means I can fantasise when I'm writing lyrics. I can get to write about some filth." He smiles. "I try in my heart not to worry about it," he adds.

"When it gets down to the point where we're putting the finishing touches on these songs there will be moments when we're all face to face screaming at each other, like, 'Fuck you, you don't know what you're talking about...!' And the fact is we have that, the fact is we're family and we can do that without breaking up." · · Kings Of Leon's tour starts in Dublin on November 27.

Question: Which American rock band is made up the three Followill brothers and one of their cousins?
Answer: Kings of Leon