Kings of Leon at Home: Inside the Followills' Private Worlds

Rolling Stone took you behind the Kings of Leon's cover shoot for the new issue, now go inside the bandmates' homes in an exclusive video tour. Our cameras trailed the Followills to Nashville, where Matt showed off his "no-girls allowed" zone (his well-stocked garage) and the first guitar he got in Kings, while Jared welcomed us into his guest room, which is for "guests who will not pee on my bed — so no Caleb."

Caleb invited RS into the farmhouse where he wrote the most recent KOL album, Only by the Night, (it used to be more wine-bottle strewn, he says), and we stumbled into his vinyl collection. When asked if he listen to music when he's writing, Caleb replied no, but he listens to songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and Roger Miller. We also checked in with Nathan, who revealed that when he's off tour his focus is getting fresh air and cooking so he can "rest up and hang with my girl."

In Austin Scaggs' cover story, the Kings open up about their most brutal brawls, most unbelievable drinking stories and early days as a country-singing act. Grab the new issue for the full story, plus listen to 10 essential Kings of Leon tracks and check out the boys' family photo album plus exclusive shots from our photo sessions here:

• Kings in Their Castles: At Home With Kings of Leon
• Kings of Leon's Family Album
• All the Kings' Gems: 10 Essential Kings of Leon Tracks
• Kings of Leon Interviews, Photos, Reviews and More

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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