Isaac Hanson criticizes Kings of Leon, documentary director Stephen Mitchell confident KOL will work out issues after tour cancellation
Kings of Leon
In a potential battle of family bands with Oklahoma ties, Isaac Hanson of Tulsa-based brother trio Hanson has taken Kings of Leon to task for letting down their fans.
As previously reported, Kings of Leon on Aug. 1 canceled their entire U.S. tour after frontman Caleb Followill left the stage halfway through a disastrous July 29 Dallas show during which he complained of the heat and problems with his voice. The band – brothers Caleb (vocals, guitar), Nathan (drums, vocals) and Jared (bass) Followill and first cousin Matthew Followill (lead guitar) – is set to resume touring Sept. 28 in Canada.
Although the official announcement cited Caleb Followill’s “vocal issues and exhaustion,” Jared Followill indicated there might be more to the cancellation, and Isaac Hanson told
Isaac Hanson
WENN he believes that there are underlying attitude issues:
“I have a hard time with musicians who act like p–cks because it just makes me mad. I just sit there and I go, ‘You know what, dude, no matter whether you’re in a band just surviving or you’re in a bus playing stadiums, one way or another you’re still among the rare breed of people that are actually getting paid to do it.’
“If you’re actually making a living doing it, man, pinch yourself every day, because it goes if you don’t love it… and people will eventually get pissed off.
“And I’m gonna call somebody out on it – the Kings of Leon guys are running some risks. They’re irritating people; you can’t do that too much. Eventually the bad boy image affects fans’ willingness to show up. Their fans will get bummed out.
“Everybody has their demons, everyone has their challenges… I’m a bit of a hothead in certain circumstances, but you gotta temper it because your fans are there and they’ve paid good money to see a show, and you gotta bring it. I don’t wash my dirty laundry in public, I do my dirty laundry backstage… I have flipped the bird at a few people that deserved it and told them to go ‘f’ themselves.”
On the night after the band’s Dallas disaster, Jared Followill posted on Twitter @youngfollowill, “I love our fans so much. I know you guys aren’t stupid. I can’t lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade.”
Isaac Hanson told WENN that if the Kings can’t sort out their problems, they could become an ill-fated family band on par with Oasis:
“They got that too and it hurt them ultimately, because it made it hard for people to have a lot of fun at their shows – because they were worried that Noel (Gallagher) was gonna get pissed off (and walk off)… But I don’t think that they (Oasis) necessarily didn’t finish shows.”
Stephen Mitchell (The Oklahoman Archives)
But Stephen Mitchell, director of the KOL documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” told MTV News that while he hasn’t spoken to the band since they scrapped their tour, he’s not worried about the band’s future:
“It’s a fabric of the band, the roots of the band, they’re family, and I think that’s a reason that they’ve been able to find a common ground to stick together and make five albums over, what, eight-plus years?” he said. “That’s really hard to do. There’s not many bands making two albums, let alone five, during that time … and I’m not a band spokesperson, I can’t speak for them, they make the great music, but I believe in them and I think the family side of it will be the same reason we end up seeing more great shows and hearing more great albums from them in the future.”
Even Jared Followill’s Twitter implications don’t have Mitchell fretting about his musical pals, the filmmaker told MTV News:
“I think some of the draw to these guys is that they are brothers and cousins; there’s a magnetism to that. … They say anything and everything to each other, and it is how they sort of work things out internally; they’re very vocal. And I had to learn a long time ago that they’re not yelling at each other, they’re just communicating, and it’s loud. And sometimes the stuff they say to each other … you’ve got to have some thick skin to be walking around with those guys.”
Brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill spent their childhood traveling the Bible Belt between Oklahoma and Tennessee with their itinerant Pentecostal preacher father, Leon. Despite their strict upbringing, they formed the rock band Kings of Leon in 1999 with their cousin, Matthew Followill.
Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group received in spring the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Their unusual upbringing and rise to musical stardom is the subject of the new documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival and opened Oklahoma City’s deadCenter Film Festival. The rock doc will premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday on Showtime and air repeatedly through the end of August on Showtime, Showtime Showcase and Sho 2.
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Kings of Leon cancel U.S. tour due to illness
Kings of Leon (AP file)
Grammy-winning rockers Kings of Leon, who have Oklahoma ties, have canceled their entire U.S. tour following a disastrous show Friday in Dallas. In the announcement on KingsofLeon.com, the family band says that frontman Caleb Followill is suffering from “vocal issues” and exhaustion:
We are so sorry to say Kings of Leon are canceling their entire US tour due to Caleb Followill suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion. The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break. Unfortunately, the US dates cannot be rescheduled due to the band’s international tour schedule. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. Tickets purchased online or via phones will be automatically refunded. The band will resume touring in Canada at the Rogers Center in Vancouver, BC, on September 28th. That show was originally schedule for September 14th.
On Sunday, the Associated Press reported that the band – brothers Caleb (vocals, guitar), Nathan (drums, vocals) and Jared (bass) Followill and first cousin Matthew Followill (lead guitar) – had promised a redo for Dallas fans after the lead singer left the stage mid-show and didn’t return. The band on Sunday announced plans to return to Dallas on Sept. 21 to make up for Friday’s mid-show cancellation, but now the group is saying it won’t resume touring until Sept. 28.
Nathan Followill apologized and reassured fans about the future of the band this afternoon on Twitter @doctorfollowill:
“Bummed about the tour not happening. So sorry 4 all the fans. We just need some rest. Thanks 4 understanding. WE ARE NOT BREAKING UP!”
During Friday’s show at Gexa Energy Pavilion, lead singer Caleb Followill repeatedly complained that it was too hot and that his voice was suffering because of it, reports the AP.
“My voice is completely 100 percent gone,” he said, according to the AP report.
After a few more songs, he announced to the audience: “I’m gonna go back stage for a second, I’m gonna vomit, I’m gonna drink a beer and I’m gonna come back out and play three more songs.”
But he never came back out, leaving the rest of the band to announce the abrupt end of the show to a booing audience. Sunday’s statement released by the band said Caleb “suffered from heat exhaustion and dehydration … causing his vocal chords to seize,” according to the AP.
The other members took to Twitter to apologize to fans and vent their frustrations.
“So sorry Dallas, your heat got the best of a few of us. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience of all this bull—-. We’ll be back soon,” Nathan Followill tweeted Friday
“Not so good morning 4 me today,” he posted on Twitter Saturday. “Ashamed & embarrassed by last night’s fiasco. Can’t apologize enough, utterly gutted. A million I’m sorrys.”
Jared Followill also tweeted an apology and indicated that more than just the record heatwave blanketing the Southwest was affecting the band.
“Dallas, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. There are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be addressed. No words,” he tweeted Friday @youngfollowill.
He added Saturday on Twitter, “I love our fans so much. I know you guys aren’t stupid. I can’t lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade.”
Jared Followill again took to Twitter today to express his disappointment, apologies and joking reassurances.
“Utterly depressed. It’s completely out of my hands. Family has to come 1st. If bass solos & backing vocals were more popular, I’d be there,” he tweeted.
“Thanks to all my friends, family, & fans. I’m not going to stop working. I’m going to spend time writing songs and looking to the future.”
In another tweet, he wrote “Don’t jump to conclusions guys. We’re not breaking up. BRB (Be right back). Just got a text from Nathan….. Ummm…. Eesh. So about what I just said…….”
Quickly followed by, “Kidding! Kidding! Not breaking up.”
Brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill spent their childhood traveling the Bible Belt between Oklahoma and Tennessee with their itinerant Pentecostal preacher father, Leon. Despite their strict upbringing, they formed the rock band Kings of Leon in 1999 with their cousin, Matthew Followill.
Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group received in spring the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Their unusual upbringing and rise to musical stardom is the subject of the new documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival and opened Oklahoma City’s deadCenter Film Festival. The rock doc will premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 on Showtime and air repeatedly through the end of August on Showtime, Showtime Showcase and Sho 2.
The band has been touring in support of its fifth album, “Come Around Sundown,” released in fall 2010. It is the follow-up to the group’s breakout 2008 album “Only By the Night,” which spawned the smash singles “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” and won the quartet four Grammys.
Kings of Leon played an April show at Tulsa’s BOK Center; no other Oklahoma shows were listed on the band’s 2011 tour schedule.
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“Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” to premiere Aug. 21 on Showtime
The warts-and-all documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” will premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 on Showtime and air repeatedly through the end of August on Showtime, Showtime Showcase and Sho 2.
“Talihina Sky,” which follows the band as it travels to a family reunion in Talihina, tells the story of the brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, who spent their childhood traveling the Bible Belt between Oklahoma and Tennessee with their itinerant Pentecostal preacher father, Leon. Despite their strict upbringing, they formed the rock band Kings of Leon in 1999 with their cousin, Matthew Followill.
Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group received in spring the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
The title of the film is drawn from a hidden track on the Grammy-winning family band’s 2003 debut album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” which in turn is taken from the Oklahoma town where the multiplatinum rockers attend an annual family reunion. The reunion serves as a catalyst to explore the band’s roots and the difficulties they faced growing up. Home movies, childhood photos and revealing interviews with family members — including a colorful group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins — expose how the influence of their family has informed the creativity that drives Kings of Leon today.
The film made its world premiere as a work-in-progress at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in April and then screened last month during the opening night of the deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City.
My excellent colleague George Lang interviewed “Talihina Sky” director Stephen Mitchell about the rock doc during deadCenter. To read the interivew, click here.
For showtimes on Showtime for “Talihina Sky,” click here.
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Video: Beyonce performs Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” at Britain’s Glastonbury Festival
Beyonce closed out Britain’s venerable Glastonbury Festival Sunday night with what Billboard.com has deemed a “career-defining set.” The R&B/pop songstress performed for an estimated 175,000 people for more than 90 minutes and even appeared via satellite on the BET Awards.
Her set included her solo hits like “Single Ladies,” “If I Were a Boy,” “Telephone” and “Irreplaceable”; Destiny’s Child favorites like “Survivor,” “Independent Women” and “Jumpin’ Jumpin’”; and pieces of various covers, including Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughtta Know” and the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.”
The cover that seems to be getting the most buzz the day after is her medley of Oklahoma/Tennessee rockers Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” and R&B superstar Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones.”
Check out the KOL part of that mash-up in this YouTube video, and if you are a guy or are watching with one nearby, you’re advised to have your fire extinguisher handy.
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Video: deadCenter Film Festival opens with “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” continues through Sunday
The 2011 deadCenter Film Festival opened Wednesday night with a free, open-air screening of the documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon.”
The documentary, directed by Stephen Mitchell and produced by Casey McGrath, chronicles the rise of Kings of Leon, the band’s beginnings in the Pentecostal church, and the members’ regular attendance at a family reunion in Talihina.
Mitchell talks to NewsOK host Angi Bruss in this NewsOK video. He says deadCenter will be the last U.S. festival the film will play before rolling out in the summer and fall. About 100 members of the band’s family were planning to attend the screening, which drew a huge crowd.
Mitchell told my excellent colleague George Lang that he met the band — brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill and their cousin, Matthew Followill — when he was working in the music industry and signed the brothers to a songwriting contract. This was more than 10 years ago, before the young men became Kings of Leon and rose to prominence on the international and national rock scene.
“I think that’s why they provided me with the opportunity to tell the story,” Mitchell told George. “A lot of their goal was to be accurate in telling their story. The band is huge overseas, obviously, so people around the world have tried to tell their story and have gotten close, but I think the boys wanted someone who they trusted would tell it accurately.”
To read more of George’s interesting interview with Mitchell, click here.
The festival continues through Sunday evening in seven locations around Oklahoma City, and organizers are promising a more diverse group of films and subjects on this year’s slate.
The 2011 event continues at 8 tonight with the critically acclaimed documentary “Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times” will lead deadCenter Opening Night film screenings beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr.
Founded in 2001, the deadCenter Film Festival – named for its central geographic location – has grown to become a premiere international event, recognized by MovieMaker magazine as one of the world’s top 20 coolest festivals.
For more information and full schedules for the deadCenter Film Festival, go to www.deadcenterfilm.org.
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What to do in Oklahoma on June 8, 2011: See “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” as the deadCenter Film Festival opens
Today’s featured event:
See the Oklahoma premiere of “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” as the 2011 deadCenter Film Festival launches.
The documentary about Oklahoma-rooted rockers Kings of Leon will be screened at a free, open-air block party to kick off the five-day event. The screening is set for 9:30 tonight in the 400 block of North Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City.
The format of the event will closely follow the 2010 premiere of “The Birth of Big Air,” which opened last year’s festival and featured a question-and-answer session with producer Spike Jonze and the film’s star, Edmond BMX legend Mat Hoffman. To read my excellent colleague George Lang’s feature on how deadCenter is building on last year’s success, click here.
“Talihina Sky,” which follows the band as it travels to a family reunion in Talihina, tells the story of the brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, who spent their childhood traveling the Bible Belt between Oklahoma and Tennessee with their itinerant Pentecostal preacher father, Leon. Despite their strict upbringing, they formed the rock band Kings of Leon in 1999 with their cousin, Matthew Followill.
Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group recently received the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
The title of the film is drawn from a hidden track on the Grammy-winning family band’s 2003 debut album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” which in turn is taken from the Oklahoma town where the multiplatinum rockers attend an annual family reunion. The reunion serves as a catalyst to explore the band’s roots and the difficulties they faced growing up. Home movies, childhood photos and revealing interviews with family members — including a colorful group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins — expose how the influence of their family has informed the creativity that drives Kings of Leon today.
The film made its world premiere as a work-in-progress at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Due to scenes with graphic content and adult themes, this film is recommended for mature audiences only.
The deadCenter event is free and open to the public, and a question-and-answer session with director Stephen Mitchell will take place following the film.
The festival will officially celebrate its opening night Thursday and continue through Sunday at seven locations in downtown Oklahoma City. All-access passes are $100. For tickets and more information, go to www.deadcenterfilm.org.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Kings of Leon “Back Down South”
Rockers Kings of Leon, who have Oklahoma roots, have released the music video to “Back Down South,” the third single and my absolute favorite song from their 2010 album “Come Around Sundown.”
Fans who want to see more of the Kings of Leon have only one more week to wait until the Oklahoma premiere of “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” at the 2011 deadCenter Film Festival, which it will help launch.
The documentary will be screened at a free, open-air block party to kick off the five-day event. The screening is set for 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 in the 400 block of North Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City. The format of the event will closely follow the 2010 premiere of “The Birth of Big Air,” which opened last year’s festival and featured a question-and-answer session with producer Spike Jonze and the film’s star, Edmond BMX legend Mat Hoffman.
“Talihina Sky” tells the story of the brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, who spent their childhood traveling the Bible Belt between Oklahoma and Tennessee with their itinerant Pentecostal preacher father, Leon. Despite their strict upbringing, they formed the rock band Kings of Leon in 1999 with their cousin, Matthew Followill.
Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group recently received the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
The title of the film is drawn from a hidden track on the Grammy-winning family band’s 2003 debut album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” which in turn is taken from the Oklahoma town where the multiplatinum rockers attend an annual family reunion. The reunion serves as a catalyst to explore the band’s roots and the difficulties they faced growing up. Home movies, childhood photos and revealing interviews with family members — including a colorful group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins — expose how the influence of their family has informed the creativity that drives Kings of Leon today.
The film made its world premiere as a work-in-progress last month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Due to scenes with graphic content and adult themes, this film is recommended for mature audiences only.
The deadCenter event is free and open to the public, and a question-and-answer session with director Stephen Mitchell will take place following the film. Special VIP seating for the event will be available for those attending the second annual redCenter Lounge fundraiser, starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 at Red Primesteak, 504 N Broadway. Call 246-9233 for more information.
The festival will officially celebrate its opening night Thursday, June 9 and continue through Sunday, June 12 at seven locations in downtown Oklahoma City. All-access passes are $100 and can be purchased online at www.deadcenterfilm.org.
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Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill marries model Lily Aldridge
Caleb Followill (AP file)
Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill, 29, married model Lily Aldridge, 25, on Thursday in California, reports People.com.
“It was a perfect day,” says Followill.
The couple exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony with just family in attendance at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, Calif., according to People.com.
The bride wore a custom made strapless Vera Wang gown with layers of chantilly and corded lace appliqué and raw edge swirling chiffon detail at the back. The groom wore a Gucci suit.
The couple, engaged since last fall, plan to have a larger party at a later date following their small, intimate ceremony, the groom’s bandmate and brother Jared recently told People.
Kings of Leon have Oklahoma ties: Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while their brother Nathan and cousin Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group recently received the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
In addition, the documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” will have its Oklahoma premiere and kick off the 2011 deadCenter Film Festival. The rock doc, which had its world premiere last month at the Tribeca Film Festival, will be screened at a free, open-air block party at 9:30 p.m. June 8 in the 400 block of North Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City.
For more information, click here.
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Video: Kings of Leon to appear on VH1′s “Storytellers” tonight
Rockers Kings of Leon, who have Oklahoma ties, will appear on an episode of VH1′s “Storytellers” series premiering at 10 tonight on the cable music channel.
It will air again at midnight and at 10 a.m. Sunday.
In addition, organizers of Oklahoma City’s deadCenter Film Festival announced today that the documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” will have its Oklahoma premiere and kick off the 2011 festival. The rock doc, which had its world premiere last month at the Tribeca Film Festival, will be screened at a free, open-air block party at 9:30 p.m. June 8 in the 400 block of North Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City.
For more information, click here.
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Video: Kings of Leon documentary “Talihina Sky” to open deadCenter Film Festival
“Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon” will have its Oklahoma premiere at the 2011 deadCenter Film Festival, which it will help launch.
The documentary about Oklahoma-rooted rockers Kings of Leon, who will appear at 10 tonight on VH1′s “Storytellers,” will be screened at a free, open-air block party to kick off the five-day event. The screening is set for 9:30 p.m. June 8 in the 400 block of North Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City. The format of the event will closely follow the 2010 premiere of “The Birth of Big Air,” which opened last year’s festival and featured a question-and-answer session with producer Spike Jonze and the film’s star, Edmond BMX legend Mat Hoffman.
“Talihina Sky,” which follows the band as it travels to a family reunion in Talihina, tells the story of the brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, who spent their childhood traveling the Bible Belt between Oklahoma and Tennessee with their itinerant Pentecostal preacher father, Leon. Despite their strict upbringing, they formed the rock band Kings of Leon in 1999 with their cousin, Matthew Followill.
Caleb and Jared were both born in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., while Nathan and Matthew were born in Oklahoma City. The band is now based in Tennessee, but the group recently received the Rising Star Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
After achieving critical acclaim for the band’s first two albums, 2003′s “Youth and Young Manhood” and 2005′s “Aha Shake Heartbreak,” Kings of Leon rose to stadium status with the breakthrough albums “Because of the Times” and “Only By the Night.” The group’s latest album, “Come Around Sundown,” was released in 2010.
The title of the film is drawn from a hidden track on the Grammy-winning family band’s 2003 debut album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” which in turn is taken from the Oklahoma town where the multiplatinum rockers attend an annual family reunion. The reunion serves as a catalyst to explore the band’s roots and the difficulties they faced growing up. Home movies, childhood photos and revealing interviews with family members — including a colorful group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins — expose how the influence of their family has informed the creativity that drives Kings of Leon today.
The film made its world premiere as a work-in-progress last month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Due to scenes with graphic content and adult themes, this film is recommended for mature audiences only.
The deadCenter event is free and open to the public, and a question-and-answer session with director Stephen Mitchell will take place following the film. Special VIP seating for the event will be available for those attending the second annual redCenter Lounge fundraiser, starting at 6:30 p.m. June 8 at Red Primesteak, 504 N Broadway. Call 246-9233 for more information.
The festival will officially celebrate its opening night June 9 and continue through June 12 at seven locations in downtown Oklahoma City. All-access passes are $100 and can be purchased online at www.deadcenterfilm.org.
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