Kings of Leon's disdain for fame
Melissa Breor
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Arts
When a band headlines and almost sells out a massive arena like Madison Square Garden, appears on the cover of Rolling Stone and is heard on "Gossip Girl," it is a good indication that the group is pretty famous.
All of these things have happened for the band Kings of Leon, whom I recently saw at Boston University's Agganis Arena. Their songs "Closer," "Sex on Fire" and "Be Somebody" have all graced the soundtrack of "Gossip Girl," which has surely gained them a gang of high school-drama-loving fans. The songs are from their September 2008 release, "Only by the Night," but this is not the band's first album.
Kings hit the scene in 2003 with the RCA release "Youth and Young Manhood," followed by 2005's "Aha Shake Heartbreak' and 2007's "Because of the Times." They are not at all a one-hit wonder band, though it may seem that way since most people are only familiar with their best-known song.
"Sex on Fire" is the first single off of their most recent CD. It can easily be described with the word "contagious." Caleb Followlil, the lead singer and guitarist, almost screeches at the end of each line, burning with the type of suffering only induced by the kind of sex that the title suggests. The drums, albeit keeping a rather boring, steady pace, get bodies moving. The guitar lines circle around and inspire some lighthearted rocking out. I do not think many people can hear this song without at least finding a part of their body tapping along.
Some people, even those who attended that concert, might only have known Kings for this one song - and the band was well aware of this fact.
During the encore, Followlil said something like "You know, 'Sex on Fire' isn't our first song. We have been around for a while," discrediting all of their newest fans. Such an attitude suggests that the band dislikes the new burst of fame that they have received from the popularity of this single.
Now, even though I find it annoying when a band I liked from its inception becomes really famous and all my friends start obsessing over them, I never expected the bands to have this type of attitude toward their fans. As someone who heard of Kings because a friend showed me "Sex on Fire" and who then invested a lot of time to further my knowledge of their entire musical past, I was taken aback by this public comment.
All of these things have happened for the band Kings of Leon, whom I recently saw at Boston University's Agganis Arena. Their songs "Closer," "Sex on Fire" and "Be Somebody" have all graced the soundtrack of "Gossip Girl," which has surely gained them a gang of high school-drama-loving fans. The songs are from their September 2008 release, "Only by the Night," but this is not the band's first album.
Kings hit the scene in 2003 with the RCA release "Youth and Young Manhood," followed by 2005's "Aha Shake Heartbreak' and 2007's "Because of the Times." They are not at all a one-hit wonder band, though it may seem that way since most people are only familiar with their best-known song.
"Sex on Fire" is the first single off of their most recent CD. It can easily be described with the word "contagious." Caleb Followlil, the lead singer and guitarist, almost screeches at the end of each line, burning with the type of suffering only induced by the kind of sex that the title suggests. The drums, albeit keeping a rather boring, steady pace, get bodies moving. The guitar lines circle around and inspire some lighthearted rocking out. I do not think many people can hear this song without at least finding a part of their body tapping along.
Some people, even those who attended that concert, might only have known Kings for this one song - and the band was well aware of this fact.
During the encore, Followlil said something like "You know, 'Sex on Fire' isn't our first song. We have been around for a while," discrediting all of their newest fans. Such an attitude suggests that the band dislikes the new burst of fame that they have received from the popularity of this single.
Now, even though I find it annoying when a band I liked from its inception becomes really famous and all my friends start obsessing over them, I never expected the bands to have this type of attitude toward their fans. As someone who heard of Kings because a friend showed me "Sex on Fire" and who then invested a lot of time to further my knowledge of their entire musical past, I was taken aback by this public comment.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
Aoife
posted 4/30/09 @ 12:44 PM EST
I think Caleb was well within his right to say it. They've spent the last 5 years working their arses off touring non-stop and producing three of the best albums you'll ever hear all of which America completely ignored. (Continued…)
Ezza
Ez
posted 4/30/09 @ 1:26 PM EST
I agree with the fact that what he said may hurt some people who, like yourself, have purchased their back catalogue and know more about them than just the words to the chorus of Sex on Fire. (Continued…)
Arielownsyourface
posted 4/30/09 @ 8:07 PM EST
ahhh calm down
Caleb had all the right to say what he said
besides who goes to a concert for one damn song!get over it srsly
Andy Keil
posted 4/30/09 @ 8:21 PM EST
If you heard Kings for the first time with Sex On Fire, you can't be a longtime fan...
The boys like their fans from the beginning and they've said in multiple interviews they're playing shows to people they don't want to be right now. (Continued…)
Amy
posted 4/30/09 @ 8:46 PM EST
Right on! Caleb said something similar in Philadelphia - thanking the longtime supporters, specifically (that totally made my night - besides hearing a new song!). (Continued…)
Joe
posted 5/01/09 @ 8:28 AM EST
couldnt agree more with amy...
they said before OBTN was released that the album is harder and rougher...like charmer and camaro...which i liked hearing. (Continued…)
Natalie Coleshill
posted 5/01/09 @ 10:08 AM EST
i skimmed through the artical but all i really wanted to say is that i love caleb an dthink hes really sexy!!!!!!
love you caleb xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Marius
posted 5/01/09 @ 1:14 PM EST
I agree. It is the longtime fans that made it possible for them to be where they are today
Nick
posted 5/03/09 @ 8:21 PM EST
Caleb has made a habit of complaining about their new fanbase as a result of 'Only By The Night' but what does he expect? 'Sex On Fire' and 'Use Somebody' are easily their most mainstream singles so they are bound to attract a more widespread audience. (Continued…)
Ez
posted 5/04/09 @ 3:24 AM EST
back where they started with no fans at all??
are you mad??
they had enough fans to roll out an ep and three QUALITY albums before Only by the Night. (Continued…)
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