Kings Of Leon are sex, drugs and rock & roll personified. Few bands do it better than these wailing souls.
With the release of their new album Only By The Night, the band’s fourth studio album since 2003, they have emerged as one of the most prolific and consistent rock bands around.
Propelled by the unadulterated ode to carnal satisfaction, the first single from the album 'Sex On Fire' has deservedly just debuted at #1 in the UK, making it their biggest single to date.
With plenty more from where that came from on the new album, Kings Of Leon – brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared, and cousin Matthew – are set to prove that as one of the hardest-working, and hardest-partying bands in the world, their status is unrivalled.
Sitting across from me in a London hotel, Caleb and Matt are virtually unrecognisable from the shaggy-haired, bearded, hobo-esque misfits that were associated with their brilliant 2003 album Youth & Manhood.
Who knew that under all that hirsute, deep-South, hillbilly-like presence was a fiery bourbon-soaked sex appeal that, these days, oozes unreservedly from the band.
Thankfully it’s not a new stylised presence, but more so a case of a what-lies-beneath truth that was purposely hidden by the band so that it wouldn’t get in the way of them being taken seriously as a real rock ‘n roll band.
Sloshing around his mojito, and following a late night of partying from which he’s still recovering, sporting bloodshot eyes, Caleb begins by telling us by telling us how the new album came about almost by accident.
“I don’t think we necessarily planned on completing an album – we just finished some songs up because we had some good opportunities to play some good shows (Glastonbury and V in the UK), so we wanted to have some new material to play,” he says matter-of-factly in his Southern-drawl.
“We work very quickly. We’ve never taken more than six weeks in the studio for an album – a lot of other bands take six months to make a record.”
“When you’re a young band you kinda have to strike whilst the iron’s hot,” adds Matt. “We just have to get it out there and get on with playing live.”
Four albums in five years is quite the task, indicating the balance of hard work and partying for the band is still very much under control.
“We’re very hard workers; I know it’s because of our family – our dads are very competitive,” Caleb explains. “There’s no sisters in the family, there’s only boys, so there’s this constant competition going on, and I think that just spills over into what we do as a band. We got off tour in the beginning of February, and we got into the studio on April 2nd, which means that during that time I had shoulder surgery, and we got the songs written.”
“Pretty much, his surgery was the only reason we were forced to take a break. We would have been in the studio quicker otherwise,” shrugs Matt, before Caleb footnotes, “Yeah, and now that we know that surgery is the only way we get to take a break, we’re all going to get liposuction after this.”
The injury and surgery they’re speaking so casually about refers to a fight between Nathan and Caleb which resulted in serious shoulder injury for lead singer Caleb. Doctors told him he shouldn’t play guitar until 2009. Not surprisingly Caleb ignored that piece of advice, stocked up on his prescribed painkillers and booze, and kept rolling on in a creative haze.
“I will say that I have to be inebriated in some way to let myself go and really trust myself and my creativity,” he admits curiously. “If it was just me sitting here trying to write a song and I was stone sober, I would second-guess myself the whole time.
“What happened with the songs on this album was that I would literally wake up in the morning and I would look over at my songbook which would be open, and I was like, ‘oh shit, I must’ve worked last night’. I’d read it, and would think it was better than what I would do when I was sober. It just so happens that I was taking pain pills – by doctor’s orders – as well, so that mighta helped too.”
Raw bluesy charisma
Only By The Night is notable for the refined and more accomplished sound that the band have created with the help of long-time producer Angelo Petraglia and engineer Jacquire King.
The songs have extended from the previous short, sharp, rock ’n roll riotous punches that the band previously served up, to a more thoughtfully designed production, in turn highlighting the depth that exists within the band.
Caleb’s bluesy howling has been slightly refined into more-centred and emotionally-connected performances, boosted by an emerging confidence, which Caleb says he has finally begun to develop.
Songs like 'Revelery', 'Manhattan', and the dirty-grunt of 'Crawl' elevate Kings Of Leon from their earlier underground roots to soaring new heights, without losing any of their raw bluesy charisma.
Some may call it a more stadium-friendly sound, which has no doubt been influenced by the extensive touring schedule, which included support slots for the likes of Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan and U2.
When I tell them that I interviewed Mick Jagger last year and that he agreed with me that Kings of Leon were one of the best rock ‘n roll bands around – Jagger loved the single 'Charmer' – Caleb and Matt suitably swell with pride.
“First of all it’s always great to be recognised as a band’s band” says Matt. “For people like Mick Jagger to say he likes us is incredible. I would never have dreamed that we would be thought of by people like that.”
“Literally – and I’ve said this a million times – back when we started this band, we said if 10,000 people bought our record, that would be the biggest thing ever,” Caleb says graciously.
“I think right now, honestly, if this was the end of Kings Of Leon – and we never had one record that sold a million copies – to have brilliant fans, and other bands who’ve paved the way say that we’re one of their favourite bands… well, what else can you ask for?”
Only By The Night out now through SonyBMG.
