When you hear the name Kings of Leon, an immediate association is made with soulful rock music, southern charm, and the band’s distinct family dynamic. Formed in Nashville, Tennessee, the band consists of three brothers and their cousin, all sharing the unique surname Followill. The band has enjoyed immense success since their formation in 1999, from their rock-and-roll roots to their evolution towards an alternative, stadium-ready sound.
In this article, we explore 30 intriguing facts about the Kings of Leon that span across their impressive two-decade-long career.
Kings of Leon Facts
Origins: Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated from Nashville, Tennessee.
Formation: The band was formed in 1999 by brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill, along with their cousin Matthew Followill.
Name Inspiration: The name “Kings of Leon” was derived from the name of their father and grandfather, both named Leon.
Early Life: The Followill brothers spent their early life travelling throughout the South of the United States due to their father being a travelling preacher.
Genre: Kings of Leon’s music spans several genres, including southern rock, garage rock, and alternative rock.
Debut Album: The band released their debut album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” in 2003.
Breakthrough: Their commercial breakthrough came with the release of their fourth album, “Only by the Night,” in 2008, which included hits like “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody.”
Grammy Awards: The band won three Grammy Awards in 2010, including Record of the Year for “Use Somebody.”
Documentary: A documentary about the band, “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011.
Pigeon Incident: During a 2010 concert in St. Louis, the band had to leave the stage after being targeted by pigeons in the rafters of the venue.
Hiatus: The band took a hiatus in 2011 due to internal tensions and resumed in 2013 with their sixth studio album, “Mechanical Bull.”
Family Collaboration: The band’s album artwork is often created by their cousin and fellow artist, Nacho Followill.
Nathan’s Injury: In 2019, drummer Nathan Followill underwent surgery for a torn bicep and rotator cuff, leading to some concerts being canceled.
Philanthropy: Kings of Leon have taken part in numerous charitable events, like “Rock for Oklahoma,” a benefit concert for Oklahoma tornado victims.
Cover Songs: The band occasionally performs covers of songs by artists such as Robyn and Creedence Clearwater Revival in their live shows.
Soundtracks: Their music has been featured on numerous movie and TV soundtracks, including “Twilight,” “August Rush,” and “I Am Number Four.”
Caleb’s Stage Fright: Frontman Caleb Followill has spoken about his severe stage fright, which he manages by having a drink before performances.
Record Label: The band started their own record label called Serpents and Snakes Records in 2009.
NFT Release: In 2021, Kings of Leon became one of the first major bands to release an album as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT).
Eight Albums: As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Kings of Leon has released eight studio albums, with “When You See Yourself” being their latest in 2021.
The Early Years: Kings of Leon was initially more popular in the UK and Ireland before gaining a similar level of fame in their native United States.
Music Influences: Their music is influenced by southern rock, hard rock, and blues.
Sports Fan: Nathan Followill, the band’s drummer, is a big sports fan and frequently tweets about his favorite teams.
First Big Tour: The band’s first big tour was opening for U2 on the Vertigo Tour in 2005.
Music Videos: Their music videos are known for being cinematic. The video for “Use Somebody,” for example, features footage from their live performances.
Live Performances: Kings of Leon is known for their energetic live performances, and they’ve played at many major music festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury.
Band’s Evolution: Over the years, the band’s sound has evolved from their original southern and garage-rock sound to a more arena-friendly alternative rock style.
A Family Affair: All members of the band are related. The three Followill brothers, Caleb, Jared, and Nathan, are joined by their cousin Matthew.
Lyrical Inspiration: Early Kings of Leon songs often drew from the experiences of the Followill brothers’ upbringing in Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Collaborations: The band has collaborated with a number of other artists, such as Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam and Chris Martin from Coldplay, during live performances.
