Post by alitahearts on Jan 9, 2008 13:25:18 GMT
go to the site to see the picture with this article if you like
www.smh.com.au/news/music/too-much-grabarse-action-moan-kings-of-leon/2008/01/09/1199554721890.html
Alex Tibbitts
January 9, 2008 - 3:28PM
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
Rising American rock gods the Kings Of Leon do not want to be photographed with their fans pawing at them through the fence at the Hordern Pavilion.
"There's too much grab-arse action," says 24-year-old lead singer Caleb Followill.
That is hardly surprising when all four band members - three brothers and cousin Matthew Followill - are wearing black denim jeans so tight they wouldn't look out of place on Ian Thorpe swimming laps.
Aren't they worried about fertility problems?
"I've had a couple frozen," says the recently engaged drummer, Nathan Followill, 28.
"It's cheaper than having a vasectomy," says bass guitarist, Jared Followill, 21.
Nathan: "I've actually got them in my mum's basement. She has no idea. She think it's from a science project I did eight years ago."
The two brothers bounce off each other well offstage and on, which is handy when you're the engine room of a rising rock behemoth.
The Kings Of Leon's latest album, Because Of The Times, debuted on top of the British charts but only at No. 25 in their homeland.
"For a long time we thought [Americans] were just slow to catch on, now we're thinking maybe they just don't like us," Jared deadpans.
But they have big fans in U2, Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan, who gave support slots to the band who are as notorious for their partying as the brothers' puritanical upbringing as sons of a Southern American evangelical preacher.
"I think Pearl Jam and U2 took us on the road with them to revive the party," Nathan says, the smell of dope backstage not dispelling any reputation.
Jared: "Bob Dylan was a party tour in that we got off stage at 7pm every night and had nothing to do other than watch Bob Dylan."
In 2003 the Kings Of Leon rode the "new rock" wave that catapulted Australasian bands The Datsuns, Jet and Wolfmother to their 15 minutes of fame. The Kings survived and flourished thanks to the evolution of their sound.
While many new-rock acts were shamelessly mining old-rock catalogues, the Kings Of Leon were playing music that reflected the brothers' limited exposure to the devil's music until their father left the preacher trade in questionable circumstances in the late '90s.
"The church we went to was way too strict for anybody," Jared says. "United Pentecostal makes Baptists look like Sodom and Gomorrah. No drinking."
Nathan: "No smoking."
Jared: "Guys can't wear shorts."
Nathan: "The women have to wear dresses, no make-up."
Jared: "It was like the Amish on vacation."
Nathan: "We heard no popular music growing up, it was a big taboo. Have you ever seen the movie Footloose with Kevin Bacon?"
Jared: "We preached in that town many times."
Nathan: "That was the kind of lifestyle we had, where rock'n'roll was the devil's soundtrack."
They managed to hear "old soul, old R&B, black gospel, Chuck Berry" and their producer turned them on to the Rolling Stones. Their fuzzy-guitar-heavy, driven rock was good enough for two albums but the relatively newly awakened musical minds were soaking up plenty of other influences, such as New Order, by Because Of The Times.
"Our brains were such sponges that had never been touched," Nathan says. "It's impossible for us not to get influenced by music we have never heard before; it's just we were exposed to them so much later in our lives."
They have won over musical-shoplifter Noel Gallagher.
"They are the best band to come out of America in years," he said.
Nathan explains the gushing: "I think he loves us so much because Leon is Noel spelt backwards."
The Kings of Leon play the Hordern Pavilion tonight.
www.smh.com.au/news/music/too-much-grabarse-action-moan-kings-of-leon/2008/01/09/1199554721890.html
Alex Tibbitts
January 9, 2008 - 3:28PM
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
Rising American rock gods the Kings Of Leon do not want to be photographed with their fans pawing at them through the fence at the Hordern Pavilion.
"There's too much grab-arse action," says 24-year-old lead singer Caleb Followill.
That is hardly surprising when all four band members - three brothers and cousin Matthew Followill - are wearing black denim jeans so tight they wouldn't look out of place on Ian Thorpe swimming laps.
Aren't they worried about fertility problems?
"I've had a couple frozen," says the recently engaged drummer, Nathan Followill, 28.
"It's cheaper than having a vasectomy," says bass guitarist, Jared Followill, 21.
Nathan: "I've actually got them in my mum's basement. She has no idea. She think it's from a science project I did eight years ago."
The two brothers bounce off each other well offstage and on, which is handy when you're the engine room of a rising rock behemoth.
The Kings Of Leon's latest album, Because Of The Times, debuted on top of the British charts but only at No. 25 in their homeland.
"For a long time we thought [Americans] were just slow to catch on, now we're thinking maybe they just don't like us," Jared deadpans.
But they have big fans in U2, Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan, who gave support slots to the band who are as notorious for their partying as the brothers' puritanical upbringing as sons of a Southern American evangelical preacher.
"I think Pearl Jam and U2 took us on the road with them to revive the party," Nathan says, the smell of dope backstage not dispelling any reputation.
Jared: "Bob Dylan was a party tour in that we got off stage at 7pm every night and had nothing to do other than watch Bob Dylan."
In 2003 the Kings Of Leon rode the "new rock" wave that catapulted Australasian bands The Datsuns, Jet and Wolfmother to their 15 minutes of fame. The Kings survived and flourished thanks to the evolution of their sound.
While many new-rock acts were shamelessly mining old-rock catalogues, the Kings Of Leon were playing music that reflected the brothers' limited exposure to the devil's music until their father left the preacher trade in questionable circumstances in the late '90s.
"The church we went to was way too strict for anybody," Jared says. "United Pentecostal makes Baptists look like Sodom and Gomorrah. No drinking."
Nathan: "No smoking."
Jared: "Guys can't wear shorts."
Nathan: "The women have to wear dresses, no make-up."
Jared: "It was like the Amish on vacation."
Nathan: "We heard no popular music growing up, it was a big taboo. Have you ever seen the movie Footloose with Kevin Bacon?"
Jared: "We preached in that town many times."
Nathan: "That was the kind of lifestyle we had, where rock'n'roll was the devil's soundtrack."
They managed to hear "old soul, old R&B, black gospel, Chuck Berry" and their producer turned them on to the Rolling Stones. Their fuzzy-guitar-heavy, driven rock was good enough for two albums but the relatively newly awakened musical minds were soaking up plenty of other influences, such as New Order, by Because Of The Times.
"Our brains were such sponges that had never been touched," Nathan says. "It's impossible for us not to get influenced by music we have never heard before; it's just we were exposed to them so much later in our lives."
They have won over musical-shoplifter Noel Gallagher.
"They are the best band to come out of America in years," he said.
Nathan explains the gushing: "I think he loves us so much because Leon is Noel spelt backwards."
The Kings of Leon play the Hordern Pavilion tonight.
.
