Questions
Who is in Kings of Leon?
The band is made up of three brothers, Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill, plus their cousin Matthew Followill. All four have been core members since the group formed.
Where does the name Kings of Leon come from?
The band is named after the Followills’ grandfather, Leon, who died in January 2014.
When and where did the band form?
Kings of Leon formed in 1999 in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, after brothers Nathan and Caleb were joined by Jared and Matthew.
What was the band’s upbringing like?
Their father Ivan was a United Pentecostal Church preacher, and the family reportedly spent years driving through the southern United States in a purple 1988 Oldsmobile, camping wherever Ivan was scheduled to preach.
What was their first release?
Their debut record was an EP called Holy Roller Novocaine, released on February 18, 2003.
What was their first album?
Their debut album Youth & Young Manhood came out in the UK in July 2003 and in the United States that August.
Were they bigger in the UK or the US at first?
Much bigger in the UK early on. Youth and Young Manhood sold only about 100,000 copies in the US compared with 750,000 abroad, and the band notched nine UK top 40 singles before breaking through in America.
What genre did they start out playing?
Their initial sound blended Southern rock and garage rock with blues influences, shaped by artists like Thin Lizzy, the Rolling Stones, and the Clash.
Which album was their big US breakthrough?
Only by the Night (2008) broke them in the US, spawning three number-one Alternative Songs hits: Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, and Notion. It was their first platinum-selling US album.
Did Kings of Leon win any Grammys?
Yes. At the 2010 Grammy Awards they won Record of the Year, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, all for Use Somebody. Overall they have won 4 Grammys from 12 nominations.
What about UK awards?
They won 2 Brit Awards in 2009, for Best International Album and Best International Group, and their third album Because of the Times reached number one in the UK.
When did they get their first US number-one album?
Their 2016 album Walls became their first number-one album on the US Billboard 200.
Is it true they released an album as an NFT?
Yes. In 2021 they became the first band to release an album as an NFT with When You See Yourself. The NFT was later displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and launched into space aboard the Inspiration4 mission.
What happened at that infamous 2011 Dallas concert?
In July 2011 a Dallas show ended abruptly when frontman Caleb Followill, reportedly heavily intoxicated, left the stage and never returned, which led the band to cancel their remaining US tour dates.
