andPOP » kings of leon

Celebrities React to the Death of Etta James

Natalia Buia — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:13:35 +0000

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The soulful, sultry singing legend passed away at the age of 73 this morning due to complications from Leukemia. Etta James had a voice like no other; it was earthy, emotional and endearing.

Surely, her loss is felt by every musician around the world. Here are how some celebrities have been reacting to the sad news.

Film Exposes Kings of Leon

andPOP Staff — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:58:43 +0000

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After cancelling the remainder of their tour, Kings of Leon have a new film which shines new light into the band.

“They are just tired from touring, they just don’t stop. Everyone needs a break from each other once in a while, and they just need a little time off,” Stephen C. Mitchell, who signed the then-unknown musicians several years ago, told FOX411. “They’re just having a little rest now and they’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to seeing them play again soon. They are still young; they have a whole other chapter ahead of them.”

Mitchell created a film called Talihina Sky: The Story of the Kings of Leon. The film exposes life behind the scenes, and the interesting dynamic of the group.

And in regards to their turbulent relationship?

“They are brothers too so they’re relationship is a little different to other bands, brothers can pretty much say whatever they want to each other,” Mitchell explained.

Isaac Hanson Bad Mouths Kings of Leon

andPOP Staff — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:42:17 +0000

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Remember Hanson? Those were the band of brothers who had that hit song ”MMMBop.” Well the oldest brother Isaac has some thoughts on Kings of Leon cancelling the rest of their tour.

Kings of Leon is made up of three brothers and their cousin. The band claims vocal issues and exhaustion are the reason for the cancellation, along with some family feuding.

“I have a hard time with musicians who act like pricks because it just makes me mad,” he told WENN.

“I just sit there and I go, ‘You know what, dude, no matter whether you’re in a band just surviving or you’re in a bus playing stadiums, one way or another you’re still among the rare breed of people that are actually getting paid to do it.’”

And he also made some comparisons to Oasis.

“It made it hard for people to have a lot of fun at their shows — because they were worried that Noel (Gallagher) was gonna get pissed off (and walk off) … But I don’t think that they (Oasis) necessarily didn’t finish shows.”

So there you go – wise words from Isaac Hanson. Now let’s listen to ”MMMBop.”

Kings of Leon Lead Singer Leaves Stage to Puke

andPOP Staff — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:19:17 +0000

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Kings of Leon played in Dallas last night, but unfortunately they didn’t get to finish the entire show. Lead singer Caleb Followill left the stage to “vomit,” and never came back.

Caleb was complaining about the heat and said he needed to go backstage and puke, and also grab a beer. He did do that, but he never returned. So the other two members ended the show, and said ”Hate Caleb, not us.”

This could have happened to anybody. You get really loaded and play in a hot venue, it’s not surprising Caleb couldn’t last the entire show.

Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill marries Victoria’s Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge

Kimberly Rupnarain — Sun, 15 May 2011 19:22:15 +0000

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Two wedding stories in one day? The more the merrier.

Us Magazine reports the Kings of Leon front man Caleb Followill, married Victoria’s Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California on Thursday. As expected, the couple’s important guests included Followill’s band mates and brothers, Natahan and Jared Followill, as well as his cousin, Matthew Followill.

Just hours before the small ceremony the couple enjoyed a family breakfast together.

Said Us Weekly’s source, “Caleb and Lily had coffee and pastries and everyone sat around chatting. There was a relaxed vibe and everyone took their time eating and taking in the nice weather.”

Once breakfast was over, 25-year-old Aldridge left with a friend to begin getting ready for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony while Followill and his family relaxed by the pool.

“Caleb seemed very relaxed and not nervous at all,” the insider notes.

If I was marrying a Victoria’s Secret Model, I doubt I’d be very nervous either. Followill did try to suit up for his bombshell bride, who wore a custom-designed Vera Wang gown, in a tailored Gucci suit. The couple said their vows just before sunset under a tree adorned with twinkling lights.

“Lily cried throughout the whole thing,” another source told Us Magazine.

“It was a perfect day,” said Followill on Friday.

To end their perfect day, the pair spent their first night as married couple at the Lilac Cottage. For just a mere $1,200 a night, the newlyweds enjoyed a one bedroom cabin featuring a king-sized bed, a masonry fireplace, heated bathroom floors and an outdoor sunken hot tub and rain shower.

Though there have been many new marriages all over headlines as of recent, I think this pair definitely tops the list as most beautiful. Congratulations to the gorgeous couple!

Kings of Leon Show Shut Down Due To Pigeon Crap

andPOP Staff — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:45:25 +0000

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A Kings of Leon concert was shut down Friday night in St. Louis after pigeons started crapping on the band, reports CNN.

“Jared [Followill, the band's bassist] was hit several times during the first two songs,” said Andy Mendelsohn of Vector Management. “It’s not only disgusting – it’s a toxic health hazard. They really tried to hang in there.”

“I was hit by pigeons on each of the first three songs,” said the musician and self-professed germophobe. “We had 20 songs on the set list. By the end of the show, I would have been covered from head to toe.”

After the cancelation, the band issued a statement via their publicist. “We want to apologize to our fans in St. Louis and will come back as soon as we can.” Added the band’s publicist, “No fans got pooped on as far as we know.”

A Complete List of Grammy Results

Graham Slaughter — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:55:43 +0000

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The results are in! Last night, the music industry celebrated artist’s achievements at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Miss the show? Check out the list of winners below, courtesy of the Grammy website.

Record of the Year – Use Somebody, Kings of Leon

Album of the Year – Fearless, Taylor Swift

Song of the Year – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it), Beyonce

Best New Artist – Zac Brown Band

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it), Beyonce

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance – Make it Mine, Jason Mraz

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals – Lucky, Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

Best Pop Instrumental Performance – Throw Down Your Heart, Béla Fleck

Best Pop Instrumental Album – Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

Best Pop Vocal Album – The E.N.D., Black Eyed Peas

Best Dance Recording – Poker Face, Lady Gaga

Best Electronic/Dance Album – The Fame, Lady Gaga

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, Michael Bublé

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance – Working on a Dream, Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – Use Somebody, Kings of Leon

For full results, check out http://www.grammy.com/nominees .

Kings of Leon Stick with Columbia Records

Graham Slaughter — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:00:52 +0000

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Kings of Leon are clearing up rumours after Perez Hilton reported yesterday that the band was planning on leaving Columbia Records to move to Warner Bros. A source to the online blogger also claimed that the band was going to pay out the recording costs with Columbia, citing that the band “have enough heft to negotiate such a favourable deal.”

However, the band made announced today that these claims are completely false. “Consider the source. Kings of Leon have always had and continue to have a great relationship with their label,” stated the band.

The Nashville-born Kings of Leon plan on staying with Columbia Records, the label that produced their 2007 album Because of the Times.

Kings of Leon Move to Warner Brothers

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:24:52 +0000

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Kings of Leon have left Columbia Records and will be recording with Warner Brothers, reports Perez Hilton. The new deal requires the group to pay half of the recording costs, but gives them more control over production and a larger cut of the profits.

“Kings of Leon are one of the few bands on the planet who have enough heft to negotiate such a favourable deal,” said a source. “It is virtually unheard of, but it shows how keen Warner Brothers were to have them on their books.”

Traditionally, labels give artists an advance to record, which they must pay back along with a share of the profits made on an album.

Kings of Leon to Release Clothing Line

Blake Dillon — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:16:08 +0000

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Rock favourites, Kings of Leon, are moving from your iPod and into your closet. Relax girls, not literally.

According to MuchMusic.com, the group has teamed up with Surface to Air, a Parisian fashion label, and are debuting a new line of clothing titled S2A x KOL.

The new line is composed of rock-inspired formal wear, leather jackets, accessories, jewelry and more.

For a glimpse of what to expect, check out Vogue.com.

S2A KOL is planned to launch this month.

The Kings Of Leon Reign Over iTunes

Sara Harowitz — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:06:26 +0000

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The Kings of Leon are the kings of iTunes, reports CHARTattack.com.

The rock band’s album Only By The Night was 2009′s top-selling album on iTunes in the United States.

The album beat out the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack for the number one spot. The soundtrack came in at number two, followed by Lady Gaga’s The Fame at number three, Taylor Swift’s Fearless at number four, and Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King at number five.

The Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” was the year’s top-selling single on iTunes, followed by Flo Rida’s “Right Round” in second place and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” in third. The Black Eyed Peas had a second top five hit with “I Gotta Feeling,” which came in at number four. Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” rounded up the top 10.

Here are 2009′s top 10 best-selling albums on iTunes:

Kings Of Leon — Only By The Night
Various — The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack
Lady Gaga — The Fame
Taylor Swift — Fearless
Dave Matthews Band — Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King
Michael Jackson — The Essential Michael Jackson
The Fray — The Fray
Jay-Z — The Blueprint 3
Eminem — Relapse
The Black Eyed Peas — The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)

Here are 2009′s top 10 best-selling singles on iTunes:

The Black Eyed Peas — “Boom Boom Pow”
Flo Rida — “Right Round”
Lady Gaga — “Poker Face”
The Black Eyed Peas — “I Gotta Feeling”
The All-American Rejects — “Gives You Hell”
Lady Gaga — “Just Dance”
Miley Cyrus — “Party In The U.S.A.”
Miley Cyrus — “The Climb”
T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake — “Dead And Gone”
Kings Of Leon — “Use Somebody”

Kings of Leon Drummer Weds

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:23:10 +0000

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Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill married singer Jessie Baylin Saturday at a ceremony in Brentwood, Tennessee, reports Perez Hilton. The pair had been dating for three years.

“I woke up with a married woman in my bed this morning,” Tweeted Followill on Sunday. “Luckily she was mine.”

DJ Space Cowboy, Ready To Raise North American Party Levels

Jeremy Singer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:09:43 +0000

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With the touch of a button, Nicolas Dresti delivers a shot of adrenaline to the sea of 30 thousand fans. Their screams are met with his quick rhythmic jumping and head bobbing to the beat on-stage. He’s not the main event, heck he’s not even a co-headliner, but he’s still the man orchestrating one of the hottest concerts on the planet – all from a laptop. This may be Lady Gaga’s party, but DJ Space Cowboy is the event’s power source – the battery that keeps the beat alive.

He’s now on top of the world.

On that night Dresti was the European energizer bunny, but now he’s recharging his own batteries at his hotel. It’s hard to believe that he is the key to Lady Gaga’s live performance successes. The man in the neatly-cut dark-suit and sparkling rhinestone skinny-tie seems sophisticated and quiet – the complete opposite of what a Gaga concert is notorious for.

But it’s true. Look at Dresti and his alter ego DJ Space Cowboy like you would Clark Kent and Superman – they’re both the same person, yet totally different at the same time. Put Clark Kent into a phone booth and he’ll become Superman. Well, put Dresti in front of an audio mixer and laptop, and he’ll suddenly transform into the backbone – or backbeat, if you will – as DJ Space Cowboy, Gaga’s DJ and head maestro responsible for explosive energy in any crowd.

His new album Digital Rockstar dropped earlier this week, and it’s one of the rare chances to really hear Superman-like energy harnessed into one CD.

“Raising the energy bar is one my main jobs as a DJ,” Dresti tells andPOP in the martini bar of Toronto’s Pantages Hotel.

Understand though, that he will do it any way possible. This is a man whose sole belief and line of work is to find the party factor in all depths of music. That’s basically the narrowed down version of his job.

“I prefer to do it with the Pop, Rock, Hip/Hop approach, but basically anything to get that killer reaction from an audience. Nothing beats spinning a song, and seeing a crowd go nuts. Nothing.”

Released by Cherrytree Records, the fourth studio project marks Dresti’s first album output with an American record label – a personal milestone for the Paris-born Disc Jockey. On that note, Dresti recalls how much the American DJ scene has evolved over the last few years. “There wasn’t much house music,” says Dresti in a refreshing British accent. “That was the big difference between here and back home.”

Before he got here, Dresti was busy amping up crowds in London’s underground club scene. There, he was a U.K. DJ extraordinaire – the protégé of British DJ legend Fatboy Slim.

But listing his accomplishments is of little interest to him. “Home is home. I was always musically inclined.”

He’s the kind of guy who refuses to mention that his passion led to a handful of singles, which flooded the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S. It was following the remix of Fergie’s Glamorous, which took the No. 2 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Chart in 2007, that Dresti released Digital Rock (2007) – his third and most valuable released album to-date.

“I was just trying to show the whole aspect of being a DJ and a rock-star at the same time,” explains Dresti about the term Digital Rock.

“Then, when I combined it with technology, guitars and synthesizers, it just all turned into this Digital Rock age which was a pretty important stage in my life.”

The album is the reason why he was presented with a signing deal to U.S. label Cherrytree Records – an Interscope Records imprint, which focuses on new artists – and the ergo-step to eventually meeting an up-and-coming artist from New York, who was also signed with the label, by the name of Lady Gaga.

“The label said I should meet with this girl, listen to her songs,” says Dresti.

He even recalls their first conversation.

“We actually spoke on New Years Eve. I was in London and she was in Los Angeles, and we just began talking about all our experiences

“We got along so well right away.”

You could say the two were speaking the same language, with conversation topics including sequins, disco balls, Prince, David Bowie and body paint. The U.K. man then flew to L.A. to help Gaga record the single Starstruck – which featured Flo Rida – on her debut album The Fame (2008).

“After we got to know each other better, she invited me to come on tour with her,” says Dresti.

And so he began mastering the sound beds for Gaga’s Fame Ball Tour, which kicked off last March. At that point, Dresti had already had years of experience fueling parties to know the true meaning of peak energy.

Or so he thought.

While working with Gaga, the DJ – who had previously worked and remixed with a variety of iconic artists from The Darkness to Sir Paul McCartney – witnessed energy being set to a new level.

“A unique thing about her,” begins Dresti, “is that whether you’re playing in a stairwell or a stadium, it always has to be the same energy. There’s no excuse, she’ll do whatever it takes. She’ll come to me five minutes before we go on stage and tell me she wants to switch this song in the set, and cut that verse out, and add this in…

“It’s enough to make you go crazy, but in a good way. She always sets the standards high.”

As the audiences grew bigger for each passing show, Dresti came to realize that he was on the most colossal tour of the year. Cities were being booked for two-a-night performances due to the high demand for tickets. The DJ found that with the rising popularity of the tour, so did his pressure to get more creative behind the laptop.

“I definitely had to sit down and start putting together some new sounds,” recalls Dresti. “For example, she (Gaga) would ask me for a song to dance to for two minutes on stage to represent something sad. So I would then try to incorporate other instruments like an organ or violin to find the right sound. Stuff like that.”

And when time would allow it while on the tour bus, Dresti would work on his own passion project, Digital Rockstar. He says it’s taken around a year to complete, and he can’t wait for it to hit the shelves. Shining brightly are songs like I Came 2 Party featuring Cinema Bizarre, Falling Down featuring Chelsea Korka from The Paradisco Girls and then a remixed version featuring LMFAO.

Simply put, it’s dance meets rock, meets party like a digital rockstar.

“Definitely a lot of work,” he says after a deep breath, smirking as he looks back on the experience. “I’m glad that’s finally all put together; looking forward to the reception.

“But then again, I’m also so glad that I got those artists to help me out.”

He seems a bit tired; maybe from the performance in Vegas the night before, or the North American solo tour that he’s been doing since the end of July. Luckily he now has a month break before the real fun begins.

There might not be a more perfect situation for his post-release promo-trip: LMFAO’s Party Rock Tour – 31 shows squeezed into a month and a half on the road from November 5 until December 20. A bunch of artists jumping up and down on stage, singing about partying, drinking and having a good time. It’s Dresti’s utopia.

“That truly, is going to be really exciting,” says the DJ who will be joined by the Far East Movement, Shwayze and the Paradiso Girls. “I love those guys and their work. A lot of DJs opt to play stuff by David Geutta or Black Eye Peas’ I Got A Feeling. It’s pretty big right now, but I like spinning with LMFAO a lot.”

Ideally he would love to work with David Bowie or even Kings of Leon, but as he gets up, he readjusts his rhinestone tie and parts with some insight. “I don’t always believe in going with the No. 1 charted song. That’s too easy. Sometimes in order to get a crazy reaction, you’ve got to dig deep and pull off something unique. You’ve got to find a song that not everyone would really expect, but then show them the party factor.”

Kings Of Leon Added To MTV Movie Awards

Eva Lam — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:54:38 +0000

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Kings of Leon have joined the lineup for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, the network revealed Wednesday.

The band, which is currently in the middle of a North American arena tour, will perform “Use Somebody,” the most recent single from their album “Only By The Night.”

Only one other performer, Eminem, has been confirmed to perform at the show so far.

Hosted by “SNL”/Lonely Island star Andy Samberg, the awards will air live from the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City, CA on May 31, beginning at 9 p.m. ET on MTV Canada.

Kings of Leon kicked off their tour on April 19 and will wrap up May 21 in San Francisco. Fans can also catch them this summer at several U.S. music festivals – including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Sasquatch – as well as the U.K.’s Reading and Leeds festivals.

Kings OF Leon Add North American Dates

Eva Lam — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:40:08 +0000

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Kings of Leon have extended their current North American tour into the summer in support of their fourth album, “Only By The Night.”

The southern rockers, who are in the midst of a spring trek that takes them to Europe in June, will return to their home continent in August for six newly-added dates.

These include three Canadian stops: Edmonton on Aug. 12, Calgary on Aug. 13 and Vancouver on Aug. 15. Tickets for those shows went on sale Friday.

Released last September, “Only By The Night” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and received three Grammy nominations, including best album. The band eventually took home a win for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals for the single “Sex on Fire.”

The foursome have already begun writing songs for a new album, which guitarist Matthew Followill says may be “a little grungier” than their previous releases. “We’re touring until the end of this year so we can’t start until 2010 but it’ll come out probably fall of 2010,” Followill told BBC 6 Music recently.

Here are King of Leon’s newly-announced North American dates:

- Aug. 9 – Morrison, CO (Red Rocks Amphitheatre)
- Aug. 12 – Edmonton, Alberta (Rexall Place)
- Aug. 13 – Calgary, Alberta (Pengrowth Saddledome)
- Aug. 15 – Vancouver, British Columbia (General Motors Place)
- Aug. 17 – Portland, OR (Rose Garden)
- Aug. 22 – Los Angeles, CA (The Forum)

Radiohead, Kings Of Leon Among Reading And Leeds Performers

Eva Lam — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:06:50 +0000

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Radiohead, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys have been tapped to headline this summer’s Reading and Leeds Festivals in the U.K.

The festivals are among the country’s largest annual music showcases and will be held in two different parts of England over the Bank Holiday weekend from Aug. 28 to 30. Most of the performers will play both events.

Among the other confirmed bands: Fall Out Boy, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, the Prodigy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, Placebo, Deftones, Funeral for a Friend, Maximo Park, White Lies and Glasvegas.

Tickets went on sale Monday; more information can be found at the festivals’ websites here and here.

Radiohead will be making their debut headline performances at the festivals, though the Oxford-based group previously played Reading in 1994. The band picked up two wins at this year’s Grammy Awards, including best alternative music album for “In Rainbows.”

Kings Of Leon Coming To Canada

Eva Lam — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:00:34 +0000

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Kings of Leon have announced a spring arena tour that will take them across North America, including one stop in Toronto.

So far, 17 cities have been scheduled for the trek in support of the southern rockers’ fourth studio album, “Only by the Night,” which was released in September.

The tour kicks off April 19 in Boston, with the band eventually making their way to Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on April 21.

Tickets for that show go on sale Feb. 13.

KOL are going into Sunday’s Grammy Awards with three nominations: best rock album, plus best rock song and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals for the single “Sex on Fire.”

Kings of Leon Ready Tour

Adam Gonshor — Tue, 19 Aug 2003 14:16:14 +0000

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Rock buzz-band Kings of Leon will tour beginning September 4, in support of their debut album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” which was released last month.

Dates:
9/4: Philadelphia, Theater of Living Arts
9/5: University Park, PA, Penn State University
9/6: Rochester, NY, Water Street
9/8: Toronto, Lee’s Palace
9/10: New York, Bowery Ballroom
9/11: Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
9/12: Boston, Axis
9/15: Pittsburgh, Rosebud
9/16: Louisville, Headliners
9/17: Nashville, Exit/In
9/19: Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
9/21: Austin City, TX, Zilker Park
9/23: Phoenix, Bash on Ash
9/24: Los Angeles, Troubadour
9/26: San Diego, The Scene
9/27: San Francisco, Slim’s
9/29: Seattle, Graceland
9/30: Vancouver, Richards on Richards
10/2: Chicago, Double Door
10/3: Salt Lake City, Zephyr
10/4: Denver, Cervantes