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Kings Reign With U2
Tennessee rockers reveal the highs and lows of playing with the world's biggest band
"We've always heard that we shouldn't open for a really big band because they'll put you on the corner of a stage, turn you down and make you look small," says Caleb Followill, frontman for Kings of Leon, who are halfway through a U.S. tour with U2. "But out here, nobody treats us like an opening act."
Bono and his boys' relaxed touring schedule has also given the four Followills --- brothers Nathan, 25, Caleb, 23, Jared, 18, and their cousin Matt, 20 -- the chance to play smaller secondary gigs at certain tour stops to promote their new album, Aha Shake Heartbreak.
The Kings met U2 last October, when they were summoned to the band's dressing room after a taping of the British music program CD: UK. "We were like, 'All right!'" remembers Nathan, the drummer. "We ordered some drinks, and we all sat around talking about shit. The funny thing was that they knew a lot more about us than we knew about them." Two weeks later KOL were invited to open all twenty-six of U2's spring gigs.
Things got off to a slow start. "Those first two nights in San Diego, we sold a total of seven T-shirts," says Nathan. But U2 have taken the band under their wing, talking them up in the press, encouraging fans to come out early, and upgrading the lighting and visual effects during the Kings' sets. Even so, says Caleb, "if people in the crowd are treating us wrong, at this point we're like, 'Fuck it.' We think about U2 and what an honor this is and how we don't want to disrespect them, but if we're bringing the intensity and people are being disrespectful, we'll spit on them just like it was our crowd."
In Seattle, on April 25th, the Kings hit their stride. "Eddie Vedder came out and sang 'Slow Night, So Long' with us," says Nathan. "We blew the fucking roof off the place."
And then there are the perks: all the beautiful girls ("Bono's got a couple of cutie daughters," says Nate, with due respect) and late nights with celebs. "It's funny watching famous young bands come out to see U2, and they can't even get within earshot," says Caleb. "Me and Nathan were drunk, sitting between Eddie, Bono and Larry, the drummer. Bill Gates was sitting across the room. We wanted to say to him, 'Just fart out a million bucks and give it to us.'"
And what do the boys say to Bono? "Whatever the hell he wants," says Nathan. "If we don't know what he's talking about, we have a friend Google it, then give Bono some tidbits so we sound intelligent."
The party is on for the Kings. "We're going straight to rehab after this tour," says Nathan. "A Betty Ford clinic just happens to be in Chattanooga, not far from our place. Mom can visit on the weekend and bring us fresh socks and cigarettes."
AUSTIN SCAGGS
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7304601/kingsofleon?rssfeed=musicnews
Tennessee rockers reveal the highs and lows of playing with the world's biggest band
"We've always heard that we shouldn't open for a really big band because they'll put you on the corner of a stage, turn you down and make you look small," says Caleb Followill, frontman for Kings of Leon, who are halfway through a U.S. tour with U2. "But out here, nobody treats us like an opening act."
Bono and his boys' relaxed touring schedule has also given the four Followills --- brothers Nathan, 25, Caleb, 23, Jared, 18, and their cousin Matt, 20 -- the chance to play smaller secondary gigs at certain tour stops to promote their new album, Aha Shake Heartbreak.
The Kings met U2 last October, when they were summoned to the band's dressing room after a taping of the British music program CD: UK. "We were like, 'All right!'" remembers Nathan, the drummer. "We ordered some drinks, and we all sat around talking about shit. The funny thing was that they knew a lot more about us than we knew about them." Two weeks later KOL were invited to open all twenty-six of U2's spring gigs.
Things got off to a slow start. "Those first two nights in San Diego, we sold a total of seven T-shirts," says Nathan. But U2 have taken the band under their wing, talking them up in the press, encouraging fans to come out early, and upgrading the lighting and visual effects during the Kings' sets. Even so, says Caleb, "if people in the crowd are treating us wrong, at this point we're like, 'Fuck it.' We think about U2 and what an honor this is and how we don't want to disrespect them, but if we're bringing the intensity and people are being disrespectful, we'll spit on them just like it was our crowd."
In Seattle, on April 25th, the Kings hit their stride. "Eddie Vedder came out and sang 'Slow Night, So Long' with us," says Nathan. "We blew the fucking roof off the place."
And then there are the perks: all the beautiful girls ("Bono's got a couple of cutie daughters," says Nate, with due respect) and late nights with celebs. "It's funny watching famous young bands come out to see U2, and they can't even get within earshot," says Caleb. "Me and Nathan were drunk, sitting between Eddie, Bono and Larry, the drummer. Bill Gates was sitting across the room. We wanted to say to him, 'Just fart out a million bucks and give it to us.'"
And what do the boys say to Bono? "Whatever the hell he wants," says Nathan. "If we don't know what he's talking about, we have a friend Google it, then give Bono some tidbits so we sound intelligent."
The party is on for the Kings. "We're going straight to rehab after this tour," says Nathan. "A Betty Ford clinic just happens to be in Chattanooga, not far from our place. Mom can visit on the weekend and bring us fresh socks and cigarettes."
AUSTIN SCAGGS
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7304601/kingsofleon?rssfeed=musicnews
