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Kings of Leon Perform Frustrated Headline Set at Reading

Most headline performances at Reading Festival have come with a sense of triumph and celebration. The Kings of Leon's Friday night closer, however, was anything but.

Perhaps the blame should be laid on the wind raking the site, causing the sound to dip in an out, but what could have been the Followill brothers' gig of the summer turned into something of a debacle.

Caleb Followill soon had the air of a man who had just undergone minor tooth surgery without a proper anaesthetic. In a set which unleashed older hits such as 'Molly's Chambers' and 'Red Morning Light' early on, Kings of Leon were in the mood to turn Reading into one great big Southern rock-tinged hoedown. But something got lost in the translation, and it irked the Followill clan's charismatic frontman.

With technical problems leaving some of the crowd visibly restless, the Kings of Leon seemed to take it personally, especially as they were clearly trying their hardest to get the Main Stage audience moving.

Maybe it's been a long tour. Maybe the band are itching to get back into the studio and come back with a raft of new songs. But it wasn't long before Caleb's entreaties for the crowd to loosen up and get dancing turned more and more tetchy. Though a squalling 'Charmer' and a rather less impressive 'Sex on Fire', the Kings' mood turned decidedly sour.

"There are some of you out there who are sick of Kings of Leon. Well we're f---ing sick of Kings of Leon. We do this everyday," Caleb said at one stage.

"So for all those who don't give a f--- about us, I understand. But we've worked hard to be here. We're the god damn Kings of Leon, so f--- you."

After 'Use Somebody' -- the band's most stratospheric attempt at an arms-aloft anthem, and one perfect for a Reading finale -- the set closed with the classic display of rock and roll anger; Caleb trashing his guitar centre-stage and trooping off with his comrades with a middle finger pointed to the crowd. Reading, we fear, won't be seeing this family gathering for some time.



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21 Comments

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James Fox

Kings of Leon were okay but I like Permacrush better. They were the best band at Reading. They rocked it up.

September 10 2009 at 12:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa George

I was also there very near the front and central. I was shocked at the reviews as I thought they were amazing! From where i was standing the crowd were singing and jumping around and totally into the set.
Hope they return next year :/

September 05 2009 at 9:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Becki

I was there at Reading, and thought there were doing great...until Caleb's little outburst in the middle of the songs. I was totally confused since the crowd was singing along, and people were going crazy. Sure, it was windy, but people still cheered and stuff.

I again, was way confused when the guitarist started to smash up his guitar on an amp, and swear at the crowd as the whole band stormed off stage. They didn't even look like they were enjoying it from the start. And they also made no effort to get the crowd involved other than just stand there and play.

I thought they sounded good but were a bit up their own damn arses and I don't understand why they were all so pissed. The crowd sang along and everything but he just stood there the whole time looking like someone just slapped him. I am dissapointed with the KoL, since I was looking foward to watching them and they repay the loyal fans with a half-arsed effort.

September 04 2009 at 9:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jasmine

I was at Reading right down the front and the fans we're going mad, I thought it was an amazing set and Kings of Leon were amazing!
I can't wait to see them again!
Best band by far that night!

September 04 2009 at 9:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
micawber

There was a more professional band headlining the other stage. I made the right choice.

September 01 2009 at 10:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Katie Ellis

I could hear the whole gig without problems at all. infact they played very well.
I think saying they did their best to get the crowd moving is more than just a little inaccurate!!
There was no stage presence at all and the interaction with the crowd consisted of insulting them!
The lack of spark to their gig was felt throughout the crowd and as a result they threw a temper tantrum which any band should be ashamed of!!

September 01 2009 at 8:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wendy

I watched it on telly and thought his comments were odd and offensive...I'm not surprised they didn't want BBC to show the second half!

September 01 2009 at 5:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stuart

this gig was fantastic. 4th time ive seen them in 3 years and whilst is was the worst out of them its like winning 90 million on the lottery compared with winning 100 million i.e. less good but still amazing. these guys work so hard and their songs are never badly recieved by me and where i was at the rear right was still an awesomme experience and the best band of the weekend for me at least. their attitutes are that of people who work hard and want people to hear that in their music and when things dont reflect that, they get pissed off- entirely understandable. i say well done to them even if they dont come back, it wont stop me from seeing them again

August 31 2009 at 3:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pigeonspi

i saw them at reading and was near middle by the barrier. I thought they played amazingly and the set they picked was brillant, it was just a great shame that the sound was so effected. The high winds made it come in waves, sometimes it was loud, some songs i couldn't even hear his vocals, which was shame. I noticed people on the left hand side kept chanting turn it up. Where i stood though people were chanting, singing along. Which made his rant come out the blue for the people around me. So yeah the atmosphere was cheery by me. KOS saw frozennes, which i can understand. being in the crowd though I saw some agitation, which was made worse by his arrogant rant 'We're the goddamn Kings of Leon, so f**k you'. they left so abruptly i think it left half the crowd mystified!

August 31 2009 at 10:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lynnette

They were shit!!! You're not going to get anything from the crowd if you don't give anything to them. And their reaction left a sour taste in the mouth of Thousands or fans.

August 31 2009 at 9:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply