Zach Bryan, J.R. Carroll, et Kings of Leon

After the divorce of their parents, brothers Nathan and Caleb Followill moved to Nashville, Tennessee where they met songwriter Angelo Petraglia who introduced the pair to the influences of Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones and The Clash. In 1999 youngest brother Jared inspired by the Pixies and The Velvet Underground and cousin Matthew also moved to Nashville and Kings of Leon was born.

In 2002 Nathan and Caleb caught the attention of RCA Records who said they would be sending an A&R rep to hear them play. The band kidnapped Matthew from his home and spent a month in the brothers’ basement where they carved out the tracks “Molly’s Chamber”, “California Waiting” and “Wicker Chair”. A year later with Jared still unable to play bass, Kings of Leon released the “Holy Roller Novocaine” EP to critical reviews, receiving a considerable amount of exposure.

Kings of Leon have gone on to be one of the most successful rock bands of the 2000s, fusing their climatic Southern rock and blues influences to increasingly accessible results. The band released their debut “Youth & Young Manhood” in 2003 and subsequently “Aha Shake Heartbreak” in 2004, “Because of the Times” in 2007, “Only by the Night” in 2008, “Come Around Sundown” in 2010 and “Mechanical Bull” in 2013.

The band’s initial success was in the UK with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008 and all their five albums peaking in the Top 5 of the UK Albums chart. Following the release of “Only by the Night” in 2008 the band won the hearts of American fans largely helped by the radio-friendly “Sex on Fire”, “Use Somebody” and “Notion”. At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards the group took home awards for Record of the Year for “Only by the Night”, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “Use Somebody”.

Due to the band international success and popularity of “Only by the Night” In 2008 Kings of Leon headlined Glastonbury festival followed by headlining slots at Reading & Leeds, Sasquatch, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits the year after.