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How Do Kings of Leon Follow MTV Movie Awards? Big Summer Tour

6/1/09, 11:52 am EST

For years, Kings of Leon lamented that their U.S. fame didn’t match the mind-blowing acclaim they’d found in Europe. That all changed for our recent cover stars with the release of last year’s Only by the Night, and the Followill boys drove the point home last night at MTV’s Movie Awards, where they were the only band to take the stage on a show slim on musical moments (but heavy on Eminem-Brü crotch drama). The Kings played a pristine version of “Use Somebody” that filled Los Angeles’ Gibson Amphitheatre with its “whoa oh oh” refrain.

So where can fans catch the Nashville rockers next? Our Summer Tour Preview reports that in August they’ll launch another leg of the tour that saw them play their first-ever gig at New York’s Madison Square Garden (check out photos here), and they’ll also make a big stop at Lollpalooza. “[The U.S. shows] have been really great, actually, much bigger than we’ve come to expect in America,” bassist Jared Followill tells Rolling Stone. “We feel like we’re in Europe. Except they’re not as drunk here. There’s not as much beer being thrown around.” Last weekend the band was a bright spot on the eclectic bill at Washington’s Sasquatch! Festival.

The Kings tell RS that the growth in their live shows has been key to keeping them going since they released their debut in 2003. Followill says “tiny venues, tons of sweat … getting into a van all wasted and trapped with tons of cigarette smoke” could have derailed the family of rockers. But getting bumped up to huge venues has energized their sound and led to slightly fewer fistfights.

Check out our story on Kings of Leon’s summer plans for a playlist to get you pumped for the gigs and video of “Sex on Fire” live in London plus “Crawl,” “On Call,” “Use Somebody” and “Manhattan” as well as photos.

And get the lowdown on the season’s other major treks from Metallica to No Doubt and beyond in our Summer Tour Preview.

Related Stories:

Playlist: 10 Essential Kings of Leon Songs
13 Things You Didn’t Know About Kings of Leon
Photos: The Followills’ Family Album


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Comments

OMGAAH@twitter | 6/1/2009, 1:38 pm EST

The performance was so GOOD!
gaaah amazing i love kings of leon the only sucky part of the performance was that it barely showed jared followill .. just because hes only a bass player doesnt mean he doesnt deserve the spotlight :)

dude | 6/1/2009, 1:45 pm EST

i liked it better when they were dying of smoke, sweat, blood, and hangovers….bring back those original rockin’ tunes with deep lyrics. I think Use Somebody was the first KOL song that I ever disliked. Y&YM = 1st, ASH = 1st, BOTT = 2nd, and OBTN = 3rd. This next album better be another 1st or 2nd.

Anonymous | 6/1/2009, 3:10 pm EST

I’m still sticking by the Kings, but I could have done without them playing an award show dominated by Twighlight. Still like their new music. Hate their new fans, though. I honestly believe the fifth record will be amazing and hopefully alienate the 15 year-old girl faction of their new fanbase.

Embarassed | 6/1/2009, 4:28 pm EST

No wonder bands like playing overseas more than the States. Look at the crowd – what a bunch of zombies! Long live the Kings!!

Nikki Noffsinger | 6/1/2009, 5:34 pm EST

I’ve been a Kings fan since their first album and I have loved them and finally FINALLY we are going to get them over here!!! I thought they were awesome!

Jane Says | 6/1/2009, 10:40 pm EST

KOL is hands down the best band in the world. Finally, some real rock & roll. I just hate it that their name gets put in the same article as Eminem.

stupid Jane/stupid Kings | 6/2/2009, 4:11 am EST

These turds tottaly suck ass. Jane, you ingnorant slut!!!!

Neilzebub | 6/3/2009, 4:26 am EST

I got kicked out of a Kings of Leon show in Knoxville, TN for smoking a cigarette. I had just moved back to town. I ended up being kicked out by a cop who I smarted off to and got thrown in jail for the night. All the charges were dropped and the cop got reprimanded.

I still can’t wait to see them for a whole show when they come to Chicago (got wise and moved, you can never go home) for Lollapalooza. Saw an hour set of their’s in 2004 at Bonnaroo, but this year at Lolla will be the first full show. I’m gonna sit on my hands and yell at the top of my lungs! Long live the Kings!

helen | 6/4/2009, 2:39 pm EST

anonymous, im being honest here im a 15 year old that is quite in love with caleb, as you would all hate to know. but even though all of that, i still am mature for my age and love all 4 albums equally, and cant wait for the 5th album because they have said it will be bluesy which i think will be great.
i understand your point, but i just wanted to prove that there are people out there who yes may fancy one of them, or ‘obsess’ over them, but that doesnt mean they dont appreciate their music too, that IS the reason they may get over excited by them, because they are still teenagers at the end of the day who do get excited over things like bands they love.
it may annoy you but i just cant help love every thing about them just like you do, except as im a teenager im more likely to ‘obsess’ as you would say. at the end of the day, i do it because they are so great, and i wont be going anywhere when their next album comes out.
dont see me as someone who just fancies caleb and thats it, i love KOL. just like we all do.

helen | 6/4/2009, 2:39 pm EST

anonymous, im being honest here im a 15 year old that is quite in love with caleb, as you would all hate to know. but even though all of that, i still am mature for my age and love all 4 albums equally, and cant wait for the 5th album because they have said it will be bluesy which i think will be great.
i understand your point, but i just wanted to prove that there are people out there who yes may fancy one of them, or ‘obsess’ over them, but that doesnt mean they dont appreciate their music too, that IS the reason they may get over excited by them, because they are still teenagers at the end of the day who do get excited over things like bands they love.
it may annoy you but i just cant help love every thing about them just like you do, except as im a teenager im more likely to ‘obsess’ as you would say. at the end of the day, i do it because they are so great, and i wont be going anywhere when their next album comes out.
dont see me as someone who just fancies caleb and thats it, i love KOL. just like we all do.

maria | 6/5/2009, 6:12 pm EST

u are aesome keep on rocking

maria | 6/5/2009, 6:12 pm EST

u are aesome keep on rocking

maria | 6/5/2009, 6:12 pm EST

u are aesome keep on rocking

fran | 6/10/2009, 7:07 pm EST

im from argentina and i totally agree with anonymous. Saw them on 2006 when they came ddown here and can’t standthe little girls listening it just because they like sex on fire or jared’s face

whocareees | 6/22/2009, 1:37 am EST

I just recently found out about them from “Use Somebody” (which I love). Caleb, freaking cute. And I hope they gain more fame in the states, so i can see more of them ;)

Adorkable | 9/3/2009, 7:23 pm EST

Good. We Americans need to continue to support Kings of Leon. It’s ridiculous that they are bigger in the freaking UK and not in their homeland.

Imagine how The Beatles would be if they weren’t even popular in the UK.

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