Kings of Leon Tallhina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon. EIFF Edinburgh. Photo by Martin Smith.
Sex on Fire,
The official announcement from the four-strong band, who are all family members, is that they have been forced to cancel the tour because of lead singer Caleb Followill’s “vocal issues and exhaustion.” On July 29, Followill left the stage half-way though a disastrous gig in Dallas, Texas, and did not return. The band are due to resume their tour in Vancouver, Canada on September 28.
- Internal sicknesses. Although their publicist cited dehydration, bassist Jared Followill said: “There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade,” reported Sean Michaels at The Guardian, who detailed the car-crash Dallas concert: “’I know you guys fucking hate us,’ his brother, Jared, told the crowd; It’s really not our fault; it’s Caleb … Fucking hate Caleb, not us.’” Jared later took to Twitter to say: “I can’t lie … There are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be addressed.”
Drummer Nathan tweeted: “So sorry 4 all the fans. We just need some rest. Thanks 4 understanding. WE ARE NOT BREAKING UP!”
- I’m not drunk… I’m just f****** hot. Metro reported that the Caleb Followhill was “seemingly drunk” at the Dallas gig and pointed to a YouTube vid which captured the singer rambling to the crowd before he split. Here’s what he reportedly said: ‘My voice is completely 100 percent wrong. I’m sorry… Do you know what? I’m going to drink some beer and I’m going to drink some tequila and I’m going to have a good time and for the record I’m not drunk… I’m just f****** hot. I’m about to fall down here because I’m so goddam hot. I have no goddam idea what the f*** is going on, all I know is that I’m married to the prettiest f****** girl in the whole world. I’m gonna go backstage for a second. I’m gonna vomit, I’m gonna drink a beer and I’m gonna come back out here and I’m gonna play three more songs.”
Bitter arguments between the Gallagher brothers allegedly tore apart Oasis
- Losing trust of fans. Gigwise editor Jason Gregory argued that this could well mark the end for the hard-living band. While he conceded that “it’s well known” that the Followills “like a drink,” he suggested that “the gig cancellation in Dallas and subsequent cancellation of their US tour puts Kings Of Leon in a position they’ve not been before: one where they are dangerously close to losing the trust of their fans, and when that happens, the road back to the stage for any band is a long one.” Gregory flagged up the example of how bickering between the Gallagher brothers tore apart Oasis.
- They’ll be back (if they change). Gigwise Deputy Editor Holly Frith reminded they’ve had problems before and “Caleb has always spoken openly that he hates being in a band that people’s mums like.” Frith prescribed “a much needed rest, time out and a some green tea” and then a return to their roots: “Kings Of Leon now need to grow some more facial hair, wear t-shirts five sixes too small for them and give back a band to fans that are once again truly great.”