Kings of Leon

cratesok6 · #1 08-26-2011, 08:28 AM

Hello. I saw a ShowTime documentary on this band and have become somewhat infatuated. I know they're having some problems with the lead singer Caleb Followill. Any mega fans? Curious about your input about the band in general.

skcin · #2 08-26-2011, 10:09 AM

I don't know much about them, but I've liked every song I've heard. I did hear the singer has a drinking problem & it's starting to negatively affect the band - cancelled shows, abrupt stopping at other shows. Not a good sign of the future, IMO.

bucklind17 · #3 08-26-2011, 03:33 PM

I've liked them for a few years and consider them one of my favorite bands. I saw Talihina Sky at Tribeca and I found it fascinating, not just as a fan of the band, but as an illustration of the world they grew up in and how that affected them. It's rare to get such a personal look into a band and as a fan, it helped me to understand them better and see some reasons behind why they are who they are.

I think it's kind of sad that what Caleb's going through now is being painted as negatively as it is. All four of these guys have struggled at some point but now that it's Caleb essentially struggling alone and holding back the other three, it is less about being a "rock star" and more about disappointing fans or being cocky. They are a family band and with that, there's going to be internal drama but for the most part, these guys do their job. I can't think of any other way to have handled getting Caleb back on track. If they hadn't canceled the tour, every show might have been a crapshoot, with fans never knowing what they are paying for. Instead, they took him out of the situation and refunded ticketbuyers and are giving him time to sort things out. Obviously it's not something they want to do but I think it's the best case scenario given the circumstances. Hopefully he comes out of this and they can get back to doing what they do.

cratesok6 · #4 08-28-2011, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the input.

louielouie2000 · #5 08-28-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucklind17

I've liked them for a few years and consider them one of my favorite bands. I saw Talihina Sky at Tribeca and I found it fascinating, not just as a fan of the band, but as an illustration of the world they grew up in and how that affected them. It's rare to get such a personal look into a band and as a fan, it helped me to understand them better and see some reasons behind why they are who they are.

I think it's kind of sad that what Caleb's going through now is being painted as negatively as it is. All four of these guys have struggled at some point but now that it's Caleb essentially struggling alone and holding back the other three, it is less about being a "rock star" and more about disappointing fans or being cocky. They are a family band and with that, there's going to be internal drama but for the most part, these guys do their job. I can't think of any other way to have handled getting Caleb back on track. If they hadn't canceled the tour, every show might have been a crapshoot, with fans never knowing what they are paying for. Instead, they took him out of the situation and refunded ticketbuyers and are giving him time to sort things out. Obviously it's not something they want to do but I think it's the best case scenario given the circumstances. Hopefully he comes out of this and they can get back to doing what they do.

It's more than just canceled shows- if the band doesn't get the audience response they like, they'll just walk off the stage and not come back. Or insult their audience. After all the cancellations, walk outs, and berating of their audiences it's pretty amazing the band still has any fans.

That being said, I think they make really fantastic music. Some of the freshest rock that I've heard in many years.

bucklind17 · #6 08-28-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

It's more than just canceled shows- if the band doesn't get the audience response they like, they'll just walk off the stage and not come back. Or insult their audience. After all the cancellations, walk outs, and berating of their audiences it's pretty amazing the band still has any fans.

That being said, I think they make really fantastic music. Some of the freshest rock that I've heard in many years.

I've seen them live numerous times and never had anything but a positive experience. I could see if they were routinely walking off stage but it seems like only a few isolated incidents. Hopefully it doesn't progress any further from that, especially since it seems like Caleb is the source of most of it.

Bryan · #7 08-28-2011, 01:32 PM

They're good guys really. I know that there's a HUGE division between the 'real' fans-the ones who were there in the early years vs. the new commercial radio friendly 'I only like the hits' fans...the music is totally different but not any lesser imo..still great tunes. But even the band knows that there are folks that go to the shows *just* to hear/sing along to ''Sex on Fire''.Such is the case when a band has a hit on their hands.
I think Caleb never saw success coming so fast nor did he anticipate change in sound..it's not like they purposefully went out of their way to score a hit song/album,but there's the trouble--you can't predict it..radio jumps on something it takes on a life of it's own. You also get interference from 'outsiders' and before you know it blows up into a big business.Offers come flooding in,promoters/advertisers/GLEE-wants-to-use-all-your-songs-and-rape-them. Then comes the ''is this what I really wanted?'' part.
It's all a far cry from their genuine rock'n'roll days..I get the feeling it's all too well-oiled for Caleb's liking..and wow he's got some pent up rage!
All the best to them anyway,might do 'em good to split for a while but when there's promoters/label execs calling it's a bit hard to get a break..