The Kings of Leon: Sex On Fire (New Edition)

Book excerpt: By any standards, the Kings of Leon are unique. Consisting of three brothers and their first cousin, all surnamed Followill, the quartet from a God-fearing Tennessee background has conquered the music world on their own terms. They have audaciously mixed elements of classic rock with grunge, garage and a very contemporary attitude. The result is music that has found a ready audience between 15 and 50. It has also been used in several significant movie soundtracks, accelerating their rise. Their song- writing skills have earned the admiration of none other than Bob Dylan himself. This first-ever full-length, authoritative biography of the band, by Michael Heatley, traces their rise from local hopefuls to US Hot Modern Rock chart-toppers (singles 'Sex On Fire', 'Use Somebody', and 'Notion' all reached Number 1) with the platinum album Only by the Night. A background and lifestyle that kept them well away from popular music until 1997, when their father sensationally resigned from the church and divorced their mother, has produced some fascinating results. Exposure to the rock'n'roll lifestyle led to crises that have had to be resolved as a band and as individuals, and The Kings of Leon: Sex On Firerecounts them all.