Kings of Leon Cancel US Tour
There's some drama boiling over in the Kings of Leon camp and somehow, we don't think it truly has anything to do with performing in the heat. On Friday, July 29, singer Caleb Followill stormed off stage in Dallas. Followill declared that it was too ungodly hot to perform to the best of his abilities. Actually, according to Billboard, he said that his voice was "100 percent gone" thanks to the oppressive heat. The band then canceled the following evening's performance in Houston. Sounds like the band is going crazy from the heat? Maybe, maybe not. But the band's "official" statement and their individual tweets suggest that there is more than meets the eye going on here.
The band first said it would be rescheduling the truncated Dallas show and the canceled Houston show for this September. Then, the Kings issued a statement via their publicist, saying the whole tour was now being canceled and would not be rescheduled imminently due to already confirmed international touring plans.
"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," read the statement. "The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break."
28 dates are being canned and refunds will be issued at the point of purchase. Also, the band will resume touring in Canada in Vancouver, BC, on Sept. 28; that show was originally scheduled for Sept. 14.
Now, back to this weekend's shows and the underlying, simmering drama. While onstage at the Gexa Energy Pavillion, Caleb Followill got graphic, saying, "I'm gonna go backstage and I'm gonna vomit, I'm gonna drink a beer and I'm gonna come back out and play three more songs." But it turns out that he did not return as promised. The band quickly issued a statement blaming "heat exhaustion and dehydration," saying those elements caused the singer's vocal chords to suffer.
But that whole crazy from the heat thing we mentioned? The rhythm section of the band got detailed in their public comments on the problems. Drummer Nathan Followill hinted on Twitter that it was not a matter of lack of H2O. He tweeted: "Not so good morning 4 me today. Ashamed & embarrassed by last nights fiasco. Can't apologize enough, utterly gutted. A million I'm sorry's."
Bassist Jared Followill was way more honest, posting: "I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade."
Yikes. Something is rotten in the state of Followill. We hope that the band, which consists of family members, sorts out its issues, stat.
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