Kings Of Leon's Bay Area Appearance Among Concerts Canceled
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS / AP) -- The band Kings Of Leon announced Monday the cancelation of the rest of their U.S. concert tour, including their upcoming Sept. 10 performance at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View.
Singer Caleb Followill was said to be suffering from vocal problems and exhaustion, according to a statement provided to CBS San Francisco from the band's promoter Live Nation.
"The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break, the statement continued. "Unfortunately, the U.S. 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, B.C., on Sept. 28th. That show was originally schedule for Sept. 14th."
The cancellation of the shows at Mountain View and other U.S. locations comes three days after Followill left the stage mid-show in Dallas, Texas due to what he called "excessive" and "unbearable" heat. But other members of the family band said over the weekend that its problems go beyond dehydration, something that wasn't addressed in Monday's statement.
"Thanks to all our true fans for understanding and helping us through this hard time," Followill said in a posting on Twitter.
Followill's exit led to vows to replay the show by his brothers, drummer Nathan and bassist Jared, and cousin guitarist Matthew on Twitter. But Jared Followill also acknowledged the band has "internal sicknesses & problems" that go beyond dehydration.
After years of buzz, the Nashville, Tenn., band named for the brothers' father stormed the international scene with the singles "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" from their breakthrough album, the multi-platinum "Only by the Night," in 2008. They released their fifth album, "Come Around Sundown," earlier this year.
They've been bankable touring stars, though not without a few notable problems. They had to postpone some dates earlier this year when Nathan Followill tore his right biceps and labrum while working out. The band also walked off stage in St. Louis last year due to the large volume of pigeon poop falling from the rafters, but returned a few months later to make it up to fans.
Caleb Followill told the crowd repeatedly last Friday that he was too hot and that his voice was suffering for it. At one point he said he was ill and would be back after taking a few minutes to recover, but he never returned.
The Followills, known for their sense of humor and willingness to circle the wagons when criticized, took to Twitter to apologize. Matthew Followill even went so far as to apologize to individual followers.
Jared Followill tweeted Monday that he was "utterly depressed" and that "family has to come 1st." But then he tried to lighten the mood.
"Don't jump to conclusions guys," he wrote in a subsequent tweet. "We're not breaking up. BRB. Just got a text from Nathan..... Ummm.... Eesh. So about what I just said....... "
Then he posted: "Kidding! Kidding! Not breaking up."
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved.)
