Kings of Leon is an American rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band includes brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill.
The band's early music was a blend of Southern rock and garage rock with blues influences, but it has evolved throughout the years to include a variety of music genres and a more alternative rock-based sound.
Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine top 40 singles and two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band's albums at the time peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Their third album, Because of the Times, reached No. 1.
After the release of Only by the Night in September 2008, the band achieved chart success in the United States. The singles "Sex on Fire", "Use Somebody", and "Notion" all peaked at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The album was their first platinum-selling album in the United States, and the best-selling album of 2008 in Australia, being certified platinum nine times.
The group has won 4 Grammy Awards from 12 nominations, including Record of the Year for "Use Somebody" in 2010.
Members:
Members:
Caleb Followill (born January 14th, 1982, in Memphis, Tennessee) (rhythm guitar/lead vocals)
Jared Followill (born November 20th 1985, in Memphis, Tennessee) (bass guitar)
Nathan Followill (born June 26th 1979 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) (drums/cowbell/backup vocals)
Matthew Followill (born September 10th 1984, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) (lead guitar)
Name Origin:
Band name originates from their fathers and grandfathers name "Leon"
Genre(s):
Alternative rock,
Southern rock,
indie rock,
garage rock revival
Active From: 1999-present
Did You Know:
• Three of the four Followills were still in their teens when Kings of Leon debuted with the five-song EP Holy Roller Novocaine in February 2003.
Awards:
2009
BRIT Award for International album: Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
BRIT Award for International group:
2008
Grammy Award for Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: Sex on Fire
2004
NME Award for Best New Band
NME Award for Best International Band
BPI Certifications (England):
Youth And Young Manhood , Gold , Fri Sep 26 2003
Youth And Young Manhood , Silver , Fri Sep 26 2003
A-Ha Shake Heartbreak , Platinum , Fri Apr 1 2005
Quotes:
"We sound like stuff that comes from way before our time because that's where most of our influences come from,”
Jared Followill
"When we grew up, our Dad was a preacher,”
Jared Followill
"He was an evangelist and he'd travel all over America doing revivals and stuff. So that's how we grew up: in the car going to all kinds of different churches. Back then it was awesome and I can totally see why people are interested in it now, because now that we're not doing it, it seems pretty weird.”
Jared Followill
"Everybody played music and sang songs. It was real close, like a family. So you just got up there and had fun,”
Jared Followill
"The kind of churches we played in, it wasn't about how good you could play your instrument, it was about how much you enjoyed playing your instrument.”
Nathan Followill