When your band finally goes mainstream

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Discover the captivating rise and near-destruction of Kings of Leon in their quest for global fame. From their Southern rock roots to arena-sized anthems like "Sex On Fire" and "Use Somebody," witness how their massive success pushed the band to the brink. Explore the internal struggle, controversial performances, and the toll of constant touring that tested their brotherhood. Join me on this wild journey of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, as Kings of Leon grappled with the price of superstardom.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Ladies and Gentlemen, Kings of Leon
1:00 The Followill Brothers Start A Band
3:58 The Kings Go Mainstream
8:26 Working Hard or Hardly Working
12:47 After The Night
#Middle8 #alternativerock #videoessay #kingsofleon #onlybythenight

[@cloudbloom]

The only dubious part of this story is that they made an ounce of weed last a month

[@Middle8]

😂

[@johnpaulcross424]

More like doobieous

[@iCookCrystalMeth]

@@johnpaulcross424 lol

[@josephdennis3503]

​@@Middle8 😅😅😅😮😮😮

[@Greybruh]

Possible but very hard 😂

[@jasminmujezinovic324]

Kings of Leon are such an important band for me. I just love them no matter what they do.

[@NellyGandhella]

Even if they started murdering small children you would still love them forever?

[@jasminmujezinovic324]

@@NellyGandhella 😑

[@Brit_tizzle]

FACTS they evolved and did it beautifully

[@raiderxskull]

I found Kings of Leon recently over winter break and I feel in love right away. Unlike most rock bands I’ve listened to, these guys reach our soul with their music. Idc whether they’re a sell out or not. I think what matters for any band or artist is if they make good music regardless of their background And this band makes damn good music

[@Roysorb]

Mechanical Bull not being seen as a return to form was always really shocking to me. That album slaps.

[@Noelair]

People always are gonna hate

[@Pixelarter]

It's not as energetic and youthful as their first albums, and has the same sad undertones of their later work. The way Caleb sings is different, with less vocal dynamism like shouting, whispering, and creative variation overall compared to their previous sound, sounding more formulaic. It lacks their original rawness that was so appealing.

[@eazyAS666]

Insanely good album top 3 from them

[@pandadoublexl]

The original pseudo-hipster fans who liked them because they "weren't mainstream" (despite being backed by a major label the entire time) had moved on by that point. They could put out something on the level of Pet Sounds and people would still slate them.

[@jakebryan4602]

Loved Mechanical Bull from start to finish!

[@HotStrange]

I think Come Around Sundown is absolutely excellent. Very underrated. Their first 5 albums are fantastic.

[@gizmoxx999]

Sooo underrated. Might be my fav to be honest.

[@liammorrison4284]

Yeah I know people who prefer their older style say that they sold out and their music was uninspired, but man I really think that come around sundown was one of their best

[@terencecaron2922]

man, half your comment is right. Heres half a like 😂 I really hate Only by the night and most of what they did after, but really love Come around Sundown

[@dani4ever]

Use Somebody and Sex on Fire are cool songs but always make me afraid to tell people about them. Those first albums are amazing.

[@loneranger9485]

LOL AF 😂

[@homelessboy92]

Bands evolve. You don't have to love every album. It's okay.

[@cianbroderick7733]

If they're a good band then they will produce good albums

[@pandadoublexl]

@@cianbroderick7733wait until you hear about subjectivity

[@supdog8786]

Nah

[@rolandknaap4537]

but when did the singer become a shoegazer? in the video sex on fire he looks on fire but after that he just stared at his feet all the time.

[@homatsuzurita9795]

Sometimes they call such "evolving" thing to a great lack of inspiration because their lives has become so comfortable that they don't have nothing to write about. Live becomes a boring routine cicle and they start to repeat themselves and make boring shit.

[@TeakySnee]

Perfect band. Hating on them for mainstream success just makes you a detractor. Their sounds developed over the years but it just feels like a natural progression. It’s all great. Great video!

[@shanecorcoran2542]

great pfp, love Ab-Soul

[@laoch5658]

massive sellouts..their new music is shit

[@StickItUpYrBumGugle]

Not a progression if they got significantly more boring though is it?

[@woweezowie5826]

Bit of a strawman there. No one hates them because they achieved mainstream success, they hate them because they totally diluted their sound to achieve mainstream success.

[@rustyjuice9493]

Absolutely. Just the typical labeling an artist as a sellout for expanding on their sound and becoming successful. They never completely detracted, always been at their core making their music original. They have a great catalogue, no artist can make all the closed minded small timers happy.

[@discon_csert]

Can't even begin to tell you how the first four albums were literally my entire high school parties, first love, rebellious years. My heart.

[@CrazyAbe101]

Same 🥹

[@grabble7605]

"Can't even begin to tell you..." Weird lie. You just told us the whole thing.

[@brooklyn3299]

Wow love it! High School parties playing KOL, those were good parties .. not all that hip hop crap

[@irsamusic518]

I'm guessing you're from England 😅

[@andybud1983]

I remember buying their first album in 2004 whilst at university of Sheffield. After about 2 weeks, every lad on the floor had bought it as well. What a great album. My dad, RIP, came to pick me up one weekend and I played the album to him, he loved it. Especially California waiting. Great band.

[@youhavetogotheretocomeback]

RIP!

[@nabilfreeman]

Went to Sheffield too, I miss that town

[@crispinmelons3649]

Rip x

[@alfreygreen]

I secured a place at Sheffield 1992, to read for Master of Laws, turned it down for place at Warwick. Must say though, Sheffield is such a beautiful place.

[@ninjaboy201090]

Reading and Leeds Festivals are sister festivals, and the bands swap around each day between the sites. I saw them at Leeds the night after everything happened at Reading, they started with some of their current album and like 4th or 5th song they played Molly's Chamber and all the crowd sang along, Caleb started crying on stage saying thank you.

[@tmr512]

I was their for that too, I’m sure he said something about getting a better reception at Leeds, I didn’t know at the time that Reading didn’t go well.

[@joshtalbot6917]

Leeds always has a better atmosphere, feel northern crowd appreciates acts more and possibly more alcohol consumed

[@gloriousrevolutionary2306]

Rock is a lot more popular in the North of England, especially Yorkshire. Probably why the reception was so good in Leeds.

[@Bhraonain]

That's the North / South divide...

[@snowinowen4]

@@joshtalbot6917 Southerners generally don't know good music after all.

[@fioreloe.9256]

Your videos on how/why alternative rock bands changed their sound (like the Coldplay one) are so good and insightful 👌🏻

[@Middle8]

I appreciate it! They're some of my favourite videos to make because I end up falling in love with a band I previously shrugged off as "mainstream." Their stories of success are typically never straightforward and get eclipsed by their overwhelming success.

[@DougieL]

Coldplay really upset me when they started churning out nursery rhymes. Their first album had me so excited; could have been another Radiohead, but alas, they went down the U2 route.

[@DougieL]

(For clarification, U2's early albums I enjoyed, their later stuff: Nursery Ryhmes, (singalong rubbish).)

[@fioreloe.9256]

@@DougieL when I got into coldplay they were already in their pop phase, and I only knew and liked Clocks and maybe Yellow from them, but then, I dont know why I decided to give their first albums a try and they were magnificent. The second triple of albums have some nice songs in them aswell tbh. Also, at least U2 (maybe I missed something) still make rock. Coldplay is barely recognizable rn. Like, Id really like to go to one of their concerts, but I know that they are gonna play a lot of their songs from Spheres, and no hate, but thats awful music for my taste.

[@DougieL]

@@fioreloe.9256 Hearing you there. I have been to a Coldplay concert and seen them at festivals, a real crowd pleaser. U2 are not rock imho, they are a pop act. Good on Bono for his charity work though. All the best!

[@wonderboytroy7484]

My favorite band of all time. Criminally underrated when you realize most people only know the hits from Only By The Night. Their catalog depth holds up against just about anyone.

[@Jeremy5speed]

Absolutely! The first time I heard trani, I was hooked!

[@aliciaprictoe4017]

there’s not enough of appreciation for youth and young manhood, aha shake and because of the times

[@jackwojcicki3552]

They legitimately don’t have a bad song. It’s so hard to pick a favorite album

[@georgekirby7150]

Supersoaker and wait for me are great songs

[@Wayf4rer]

It's kind of interesting me that some people think they sold out. It's a common thing for many bangs to change their sound as they age and KOL are one of the few who sound good through basically every iteration. They are the only band I've found that I can legitimately enjoy listening to like 70% of their catalogue or more.

[@The234Experience]

I think When You See Yourself was the return that people had been waiting for, but it’s just gone unnoticed and unappreciated. The song 100,000 People alone is, to me, proof that there is no “something” missing. It’s all there, you just have to hear it.

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

The song When You See Yourself, What do You See is fucking incredible!

[@Pixelarter]

Definitely not. When You See Yourself has the same melancholic sound that is opposite of their energetic sound from their first albums, that is what most previous fans miss.

[@sweetwillow]

@@Pixelarter yeah, I feel like this is when they can go back to how they started, their true roots since now they have hit the mainstream, they’ve gotten through the door, now show the new fans what they were missing.

[@bnx_xnb7327]

I literally cried when I first listened to 100,000 people.. it was an unreal experience. I felt like they wrote that song specifically to me. No music has moved me like that before.

[@grantwalkersound]

So I got to help out a little on "Because of the Times". I was an intern at Blackbird studios at the time and Ethan Johns wanted a few extra hands to help set up and get the session rolling. I was a big fan of Ethan and of KOL, so I felt really lucky to get to be the volunteer. I got to set up microphones, and help twist a few knobs (when told)... but I wasn't even the "assistant engineer". That was Lowell Reynolds who basically helped build that studio. The band was in the studio for two months. I remember they didn't work on weekends, but kept the studio booked. They'd later do a bunch of additional sessions at Ethan's studio. Though I only officially worked two full days on the record, I did do a lot of runs for them and had conversations struck up in the lounges and what not. I witnessed a few disagreements on the direction of the record. The big debate was whether to record the tracks live as a band without a click track the way they had always done, or if they should lock in and play to a click. I believe it was Nathan and Caleb who were in disagreement. Ethan settled the debate by saying the album would likely be a mixture of the two and they should try each song both ways to see what best serves the song. What I can tell you is that there was a distinct intention to shift the sound, but they internally also did not want to abandon their roots. And you hear that on some of the more grungier songs on that record. The first song tracked was "On Call" and I got to witness that entire tracking session. It was really cool watching them do their thing through the glass of Studio D. Somewhere I believe I have a diary with all of the mic placements, FX pedals used (they had it written on a white board), and what not. The band spent countless hours smoking weed and playing wall ball. I also got to smoke with a few of them on 4/20 as well... It was a fun time.

[@garycunningham3132]

Wat an amazing story I wish I could of been there to witness it,these geezers was touring in the UK and was oblivious to there sound until I heard the amazing sex on fire to me they are the beatles all over.they are rock an roll.Oasis my arse 😂😂❤❤❤❤❤

[@malikshakur1306]

this band is incredibly important to me as a Georgia boy who grew envious of not only the Strokes/VW NYC scene but also the SoCal RHCP and everything in between KoL and Cage the Elephant were two of the only truly Southern bands who didn’t mimic other bands but gave us a unique and authentic experience of garage rock from the south for the south. i’m about to be a dad living in nyc and knocked up is the first song and last song i listen to every day. will always love this band.

[@luizarthurbrito]

Aw cage is one of my favorites

[@shadowaccount]

Literally the two most generic bands up there with Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots lol

[@malikshakur1306]

@@shadowaccount sure to you

[@12Saintsrow]

@@shadowaccount Nobody asked + I hope you run into traffic

[@luizarthurbrito]

@@shadowaccount although I agree about 21P, KoL and imagine dragons, cage is waaay less generic.

[@miaclairehuffman374]

i don’t know how people aren’t obsessed with every song they’ve put out. I know them all by heart and it’s hard for me to even pick a favorite

[@Abhishek.Basnyat]

Same

[@aidanmagill6769]

Some people prefer rock n' roll to radio friendly pop.

[@imalizard2113]

Different strokes for different folks. I feel the same way about The Mars Volta and most people I know can't stand them.

[@wadevid]

There's just too much out there nowadays. It's hard for consumers to consume it all.

[@prestonnnnn5114]

I grew up on kings of leon. Three year old me in the backseat w my mom during her divorce blasting KOF is a memory I will never forget. To this day, im a huge fan, have seen them in concert, and they will forever be my favorite band.

[@dhruvmadiraju1766]

I never felt they went wrong. WALLS was one of my favorite albums back in high school. It's such a solid listen-through and Waste a Moment still absolutely holds up.

[@charleszaman7666]

Hearing about Kings of Leon through the main stream and never being a big fan, being introduced to walls at a seminal time in my life was eye opening and really gave me a strong appreciation for them

[@TheKatchutes]

Yeah but did you like their first 2 albums… probably not ay. I loved the hell out of em, but still like their evolution

[@dhruvmadiraju1766]

@@TheKatchutes I loved them. I still blast Youth and Young Manhood, and Holy Roller Novocaine has been a favorite since high school as well. It's just a different flavor of their music.

[@anthonyrooks7557]

Man they've always been good and walls is potentially one of my favorite bums by them. Especially the saga of connecting music videos. It's awesome.

[@brooklyn3299]

@@dhruvmadiraju1766Anyone that is into those albums are just amazing 🥲

[@PennyStocks1269]

Was introduced to Kings on that U2 tour. The next day I discovered Ah Ha and was hooked. Then they dropped Becaue of the Times and it was all I listened to. Only By The Nights was great (at times) but Come Around Sundown is amazing. They have great songs on all their albums and I'll always be a fan. I never really thought of them as "selling out" as much as I thought of them as maturing as a band.

[@Benprogfuse]

I agree I always felt that Come Around Sundown was their best album and always wonder why that one isn't as popular.

[@alexdiachok6597]

Yeah totally agree. Come around sundown is one of my all time favorite start-to-finish listens.

[@malikshakur1306]

no money is such a banger

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

Celebration is a mega tune

[@SaintKines]

Come Around and Aha Shake are the 2 best for my money.

[@ColonelSandurz]

I saw them on their first US tour supporting the Strokes along with Regina Spektor. I remember my friends and I waiting in line and joking about KoL's name but we were soon eating our words. They opened with Red Morning Light and completely blew us away. As soon as Caleb uttered those first lyrics "You know you could have been a wonder..." with that bass line behind it, I looked over to my friends and we all kind of had the same surprised reaction. We all became instant fans. We bought the record the next day and saw them on their next tour promoting A-ha Shake Heartbreak. I never really listened to anything past those first two albums and I still consider them one of my favorite bands of all time.

[@roycedot]

Saw that tour as well. Saw them at the Tabernacle (Atlanta). Andre 3000 was in the balcony by himself. Still can’t believe that lineup and how cheap it was. The Strokes, KoL, and Interpol were my faves from that time

[@elmers2005]

Mechanical Bull is awesome.

[@SaintKines]

Found them the same way on the same tour. They played the Seahawks stadium (kind of) with the Strokes (who we came to see) and RS. They destroyed that night. Been a fan ever since.

[@iXmetalXi]

@@roycedot interpol. Another band that really hasn’t lived up to what they were lately, in my opinion. I love early interpol

[@44gg37]

@@iXmetalXiomg I went to Interpol concert a week ago, they were headlining the second day of a festival and the performance was so uninspired I had to leave during the second song (Obstacle 1)

[@e.my.]

What I love most about these guys is that they sound f unreal live 🔥 and they’ve never changed, always stayed humbled and continue to make amazing music

[@to819]

These guys ARE the kings. They couldn't write a bad song if they were forced to at gunpoint.

[@johnalbertson221]

Like it or not , they evolved and just got better.

[@carlitos366]

Me and all my friends learned about KoL through "sex on fire" and "use somebody". Then we went backwards in their discography and loved their previous albums. Theyll always be one of my top bands.

[@matthewferrier9675]

I don't think the band has faltered at all. Mechanical Bull, Walls, and When You See Yourself are all excellent albums. They've managed to evolve, yet still produce great music. I don't think the analogy to Coldplay applies.

[@BeaudaciousFilms]

Exactly 💯

[@addaminsane]

They're similar to coldplay in the fact that both bands produced alot of good tracks and a decent number of masterpiece tracks.

[@DavidSedano]

Mechanical Bull is one of the most underrated albums I can think of. I dare anyone to try and change my mind

[@dhruvmadiraju1766]

Wait for Me is such an underrated song. Supersoaker also just feels like summer. Such a great album.

[@DavidSedano]

@@dhruvmadiraju1766 Absolutely! Coming Back Again is in my top 10 songs of all time

[@Mx.Pickle]

@@dhruvmadiraju1766, I love supersoaker. It's such a fun song. Work On Me is another good one. It kinda sounds like their older stuff.

[@jess_o]

Youth and Young Manhood was so so good

[@tomassantos4381]

One of the best debuts of all time

[@sevendaughters]

they began as a very well-financed and supported band and their debut was in all the music press. they were always mainstream.

[@texmontana420]

They were probably industry plants

[@Sam-gw5pl]

Agree entirely

[@JNava]

How can they not be mainstream? That voice is GOLDEN

[@throwaway6405]

They are mainstream. I heard them in the late 00s everyday

[@radicalstanza3614]

There are thousands of bands with golden voices that never got close to the mainstream lol

[@TheCainReen]

I actually like Come Around Sundown, but maybe it is because I'm geting nostalgic whenever I'm listening to it.

[@Mx.Pickle]

I love that album too. It feels like a long, hot summer

[@christhompson7485]

Pyro is still in my opinion one of their best songs.

[@MrKeso100]

That album makes me think of my trips to tijuana when i was in middle school… i go back to listen to it and it gets better everytime…

[@lunaticvids42]

Their best album hands down everyone else can fight me

[@churrocharcharm]

Mi Amigo isn't talked about enough lol

[@reccollect]

I think you’re crazy talented bro. The narration is very well done, the subjects are always interesting and your EDITING oh my god, some of my favorite on KZbin.

[@Morbad007]

Come around sundown is a legit masterpiece. To this day that album will forever be a classic

[@millerirvin4701]

Old KOL and new KOL have very different sounds but personally I like them both. They’ve found ways to navigate such different genres while still sounding like themselves, I think kings of leon deserve more recognition

[@c.jenkins5649]

Agree 100%...for artists, songwriting evolves.

[@kylemlsantos97]

Agreed!

[@averyhamilton4945]

Mechanical Bull is my favorite album. Heard it for the first time in Nashville at night on the way to my aunts house from the Arena. I was floored. Great album. One of my favorite bands for sure.

[@YourManJam]

As a massive fan of the kings this is a well-made, well-researched and overall brilliant piece of work. Well done!

[@double-ohh-sheven7019]

Kings of Leon are probably one of the most underrated bands of all time. The general public only knows Sex on Fire and Use Somebody, which are good songs but nowhere near their best, and rock fans generally dismiss them as being a shitty band for whatever reason. Truth is, Caleb is one of the best singers rock has had in a long time and the other Followills are all with him in their craft. They’ve evolved from a punky garage rock band with southern flavor to an arena rock power act, but they’ve somehow managed to do it without losing their identity. Saw them in 2021 for their tour for their amazing album “When You See Yourself” and it was the best show I’ve ever seen. The best part was seeing everyone sing along to every word of every song. Not just the two “big ones”

[@toriyt2714]

Caleb definitely goes down on my list as one my fav and best voices. I think he should be noteworthy.

[@eshi31]

I love this band! Started listening to them in winter, cool that you always make videos about bands I love 😊

[@thesixfootsixexperience8781]

KOL was actually the band that taught me about the concept of underground vs mainstream. My older brother listened to them when I was in grade school and explained to me how they had stopped being a “secret band” for their fans

[@kbuttstadt]

"Secret band" that was playing Glastonbury. Hahaha. Thats such a bullshit selfish view towards music.

[@thesixfootsixexperience8781]

@@kbuttstadt that’s not the exact wording they used, but it was something to that effect. Basically they said “fans are mad because now everyone knows who Kings of Leon are”

[@AlFrazelle]

@@thesixfootsixexperience8781 Fans weren't annoyed because they became a band that everyone knew but because in doing so, they completely changed their sound...

[@HolyRollerKOL]

@@AlFrazellesound changes inherently with age. You think they could still be rocking like they were in there teens and early 20s? They are in their late 30s early 40s with families now. It’s normal to change sound with age

[@AlFrazelle]

@@HolyRollerKOL Their sound changed dramatically over the course of just one or two albums (3 or 4 years) though. We´re not talking 10/15 years...

[@bipinsamsohang]

hip-hop and r&b fan here. only by the night is one of the fewest rock albums I don't mind playing all the time.

[@Middle8]

Can't deny the album is loaded with great anthems.

[@powerguiller]

That album is also heavily criticized by dumb critics😂😂😂

[@tomassantos4381]

@@powerguiller specially pitchfork

[@slave2misery]

KOL is an amazing band. all of their albums rock. I've seen them live twice and they've put on a great show both times. I'd love to see them in their element (in England) some day.

[@JoeBlakeBleh]

Come Around Sundown and Mechanical Bull are very underrated in my opinion!

[@aledmb]

i would say let artists do what they want, KOL were great at the start and they still continue to make good music... let the guys be what they want to be... be glad that radiohead changed, be glad that u2 changed, be glad that muse changed, be glad that rush changed, be glad that pink floyd changed... ffs, what has davie bowie taught us, if not this very simple thing... that change is good!

[@DevinGibbs-cg7yb]

well said, if bands stick to the same formula that gave them success they get really boring really fast

[@peterbui3733]

Yeah it's weird how everyone expects an artist's next work be the same as the one before. Then it repeats again.

[@bananaempijama]

Radiohead changed for the worse imo not every change is good. Of course you don't want the same thing over and over but sometimes changes don't work.

[@stevenc6969]

Radiohead never went on the same trajectory as KOL, they actively avoided that type of commercialisation, to their credit.

[@stevenc6969]

KOL were a good band up until a certain point but not comparable to the big acts you mentioned there. Maybe Muse. They definitely were a "sell out" act, they got the balance right (between commercial and artistry) on Because of The Times, but it was all downhill from there in terms of quality.

[@thiagomagri9397]

They are just great! "Supersoaker" "Radioactive" and "California Waiting" are my favourites! superb!

[@viniciuscomacento]

solid vid, as usual, Middle8! looking back it's really crazy to think they were pressured to keep the momentum - even rock itself as a genre started its downfall to the mainstream appeal at that time. so when we see they pressured themselves to carry that weight alone... cannot help but feel sympathetic for these guys.

[@beatselekta]

I discovered KOL during their Only by the Night fame and became obsessed with their sound but after listening to Because of the Times and Aha Shake Heartbreak I fell even deeper in love even though they were completely different from the so-called 'sellout' album. Only by the Night and Come Around Sundown are those rare albums where every song is good and it's almost impossible to choose a favourite. However, these are my personal favourite KOL tracks across their earlier albums: - Talihina Sky - Milk - Fans - On Call - Knocked Up - Closer (it's a song about a vampire's pain, how dope is that?!) - Revelry - Cold Desert - 17 - I Want You - The Face - Pyro - Pony Up What are yours, and why?

[@bnx_xnb7327]

Pyro. It’s my personal anthem. Nevertheless, all of their songs are just the best pick, no matter what mood I’m in.

[@lotuseater7247]

The feeling towards their change was huge at the time. I can say that their development coincided with my own time frame. Their early stuff was just really deliciously set in a time and place; youthful, and care free, and escapist; around the time when alot of their fans, like me, were entering college or leaving home. Cut forward a 3-4 years, and I remember going to a club, which was becoming far less frequent for me, and hearing Sex On Fire for the first time, and thinking it was quite a banging tune, purely for that intro, but I think I didn't even realise it was KOL. Other people (younger than me by now) already knew the song. A year later it was everywhere, and it became one of those annoying karaoke anthems where people of all kinds were singing it. I'd hear it outside pubs on a weekly basis. It became a bit loathsome. The band also just looked different, and their fan base had shifted completely. I think that time will be kinder on them however, as even their new stuff does hold up well, and is simply a different trejectory. If they hadn't changed, they probbaly would have gone into obscurity like a lot of other good bands formt hat time. They aren't the only Indie band to have gone through that process though, and they won't be the last. But their change was probably the most sudden and divisive of that time.

[@goldkats]

This is spot on and you put the words to my exact feelings.

[@mr-nobody-on-youtube]

Always breaks my brain when I find out an American band that is massive here in the UK wasn't as big (relatively) in the US.

[@rkid727]

American music is either comprised of hip hop or country with a few rock bands in between. Guitar music died over here around 2001. Sadly.

[@Drabee]

it happend a lot in the early 00's indie scene

[@OngoGablogian487]

@@rkid727 lol 2011, maybe. rock was still doing just fine throughout the 2000s. and it's got nothing to do with country or rap music, everyone who was in bands picked up synths and started making music in their bedroom because thats the way the tide was turning.

[@iliketrains3495]

There's a few other examples of that. The Killers, Alter Bridge, Gossip, Orson and the Scissor Sisters come to mind

[@rkid727]

@@OngoGablogian487 nowhere close to the 90’s. Only the big big bands were around. Hardly any left.

[@Sky-jq4xs]

It's unreal how much I LOVE these guys. Amazing life-changing music.. each album. I've Yet to be disappointed ❤

[@TheDallboi]

Fantastic video! Good to hear a bit of context around the sound changes

[@dr.revenue3636]

Aha Shake is an incredible record start to finish - I do love that raw southern sound but I don't think they have a BAD record, yet.

[@danielmunarriz998]

Thank you so so much for making a video on kings of leon. Such a good band who are just known as the sex on fire guys and deserve so much more

[@ligmaballs2022]

I discovered WALLS and Kings of Leon on an interview in a KrisWorld magazine on a Singapore Airlines flight to Thailand for vacation in Dec 2016. The band name and album cover imagery stuck with me so hard that I was able to remember them years later when I finally had Spotify around 2018. Walls became one of my favourite albums, especially with 'Reverend', 'Over' and 'Waste a Moment'.

[@GuitarShad0w]

I genuinely like this band, I saw them about three times between 2010 and 2015 at major festivals and they just never lived up to it live. The setlist was constructed in weird ways that made it seem so long for fans that don't know every song and with energy spikes at weird points it never really builded up to anything... They seemed so unbothered, so hard as a new fan to connect...

[@drumtracksdirect]

I was a "meh, they're alright" fan from the beginning until about 2010. I only saw them the once as well, at the O2 in 2009, one of the other nights on which they're weren't filmed for the DVD. I don't like arenas or arena shows, so it wasn't the best place to see them, but yeah, I felt the same. To me they're a "playlist band" - by that I mean, they're solid sixes and sevens out of 10 across the board with nothing that particularly stands out. I appreciate though how basically what they put on the record is pretty much the same as what they play live.

[@RSanchez111]

I love Kings of Leon, they are still my favorite band. Use Somebody is what got me into them, but I still love all their old stuff and get really excited when they release new stuff. I've seen them in concert more than any other band, I love them.

[@IWNDWYT1996]

God they put on an amazing show.

[@RSanchez111]

@@IWNDWYT1996 they really do, I go anytime they're in a nearby city.

[@bigvibes69]

This band will always have a place in my heart one of my favorites love all their music

[@jacko250]

I’m in a unique position to comment on this video as I was actually in the crowd at that infamous Reading headline slot! I was 19 years old and Kings of Leon were one of my favourite bands and admittedly I was one of the people who really disliked ‘Only by the Night’, I felt frustrated having to explain the fact that KOL already had a trilogy of brilliant albums out and this annoyed me because I didn’t want to be a gatekeeper but I also really hated the fact all the newcomers were so reluctant to listen to these 3 superior albums due to the lack of mainstream exposure. Anyway at that Reading 2009 gig, from my POV (I was in the centre but nearer the stage than the back) I didn’t realise the band were being hostile to the crowd from what he was saying it sounded like he was talking about other people ie those who hadn’t turned up, from where I was standing the reception was great, but it became very clear near the end of the set that the verbal abuse from Caleb was being directed at us as a collective audience. It got quite awkward from this moment onwards, the crowd were no longer putting up with their antics and were being equally combative, I remember hearing chants of “we want Kaiser Chiefs” who were in just before, very ironic because the Kaiser Chiefs really had to win a crowd over desperate to see KOL and not interested in them initially making Kings of Leon chants at them but they did a really great performance. Anyway I found out afterwards from a friend at the campsite who was near the back of the crowd that after they played ‘Sex on Fire’ a huge number of the audience just left and this incident is really what triggered Caleb. But yeah that’s how it appeared to me from my firsthand perspective, at the time I thought it was a dire show, but 14 years on I guess I’m glad I witnessed a legendary live music moment! Also worth pointing out is that 2009 was a transformative year for Reading Festival. For those not from the UK you won’t know that Reading now has a reputation for being a festival which only people ages roughly 16-22 go too, it went from being a serious music lovers festival to one where kids go to celebrate the fact they’ve just finished school or exams. That 2009 fest was the first time I noticed that demographic I’ve just explained become the majority of Reading. I think KOL were very taken aback by this as they always got a great reception there. Just to stress I don’t want to sound like a music snob (well I am…) but yeah Reading no longer has a crowd that cares about the music, it’s really now an excuse for a weekend away, KOL were victims of that new crowd mentality. I really mean it when I say this but poor Kings of Leon, they really had it all and lost it. I always compare them to Biffy Clyro, both bands had a devoted fan base and both of them in 2009 released albums that broke them into the mainstream, the big difference being that when BC put out ‘Only Revolutions’ it didn’t alienate the original fans and they had an easier relationship with the newcomers. An opposite example is MGMT achieving mainstream success with their debut album then going far more experimental with follow up ‘Congratulations’ but still maintaining a steady cult following. I’m not sure what the future is for Kings of Leon, I haven’t listened to any of their new music since 2010, which is a shame as there’s so many indie bands from the 2000s whose discographies I’ve kept up with - The Strokes, The Cribs, Arcade Fire, The National etc. I do wonder where they would be now if they didn’t go mainstream with that one album and were still a cult band, but alas Thanks for coming to my Tedtalk…

[@rainbowunicorn709]

So the dude was a petulant child.

[@sweetwillow]

I doubt they’d be married to models 😅

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

​@@rainbowunicorn709 they should rename to Karens of Leon 😀

[@robinchatterjee1519]

great video, learnt a lot about kings of leon!

[@Demosthenses]

Last year I heard Kings of Leon on a german based festival as the main headliner. I was looking forward to that because I enjoy their music and have never seen them before. But the thing that struck me during the performance was the lack of interaction with the crowd. Normally artists say things about how happy they are to be there or if everybody has a good time, small things like that (bare minimum imo). But they did not interact in any way like that. They just straight played their two hour show, basically no interruption. I get, that it is a different setting on a festival in comparison to your own concert, but I‘ve never seen as much indifference on a stage before. They are big names and play big venues so they know how to handle their emotions infront of many people, but still. That sadly left me with a cold feeling about the band though I still enjoy their music.

[@KristalPalas]

Thats Rock‘n‘Roll, they don‘t give a F***!😂😂

[@rainbowunicorn709]

They've reached the point where they no longer feel like they have to pretend to care about the "little people." Never fall for the illusions and manipulations.

[@crowkid5553]

To the recent comment, no, not if I saw them a year or 2 ago they were absolutely awesome there, that's not how manipulation and illusions work, as for the main comment I guess it depends on their mood, and it's not just them who could be like that

[@sagichnicht2305]

Southside/hurricane 22? 😀

[@theguynamedgio]

As a person who performs onstage I gotta say. Language barriers can be scary. Sometimes I'd rather say nothing than say something that is misunderstood

[@crowkid5553]

Because of the times did a great job of giving us a variety of songs in just one album, Wether it's alternative rock, garage rock, southern rock, post punk revival, pop rock or even progressive rock

[@52BLUE]

I recently revisited this album after nearly a decade and what a wave of nostalgia that was. Crazy to think how much time has passed between now and then. Closer is just an amazing track to drive at night with.

[@christophejergales7852]

I really like watching videos like this about bands that I never liked in the first place. This was fun.

[@michaeliniga7958]

Middle 8, this could be a series! A look at bands that supposedly sell out, interspersed with interview footage from said band. Hope you do more 'Sellout' videos

[@user-IMPALA]

saw kol at Wrexham a while back they were phenomenal and played some obscure songs yet the audience reciprocated.

[@sholonator92]

I freaking love your content! Thank u

[@KuuchWizard]

Saw these guys live in Gulf Shores in 2013, I was at the front of a big crowd to see them. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, absolutely explosive and I’ll never forget the warm, orange glow of the stage as they turned the place out.

[@andreasimpson1018]

My husband and I got to see them before they went mainstream. I was not a fan of their new stuff but I will always love who they started out as. The show we saw was beyond amazing. There was just this vibe connecting everyone and the energy was incredible, especially during Molly’s Chambers and Taper Jean Girl. And I have to say, they were one of the best bands I heard live. I can totally understand why they were bummed going from that sort of crowd to a lackluster one with their newer stuff.

[@johnnysolano1025]

So basically... You are the problem.

[@goldkats]

They were so good at the beginning, so much talent and grit. I still like them but they did change.

[@chloemchll3774]

I’ve been a fan of theirs since before the breakthroughs with Use Somebody and Sex on Fire. Saw them live at festival before that and was impressed by their energy on stage, so I checked out their albums. Only By the Night is their best album by a mile. It takes all the promise shown in the early albums but has the polish and confidence of a band that has figured it all out after being a band for years. It is sonically diverse, with songs that are moody like Closer (dark and moody) and Cold Desert (my personal favorite track on that record, with its aura of desperation) bookending the album while you have a great mix of ballads and rockers sprinkled through the album and really no weak songs. People call this selling out but personally every band I really like evolves with time because the music you want to make at 20 is probably not the same as the music you make at 30 because you’re always growing as a musician and expanding your influences and polishing your technique and so on. I think the problem Kings have had is that they stopped evolving, possibly because of their own uncertainty about the backlash from their original fans (something I always think is made worse by a handful of obnoxious idiots who think they own someone else’s creative talent and output), possibly because of the internal pressures in the band… I don’t think they are in the “AC/DC” phase where the band just keeps recording the same album over and over ad nauseam and never take any risks, but rather they seem very uncertain when they take the risks in comparison to Only By the Night where they seemed to revel in that risk and find some of their most creative and interesting work by doing so. I’m reminded of a song from another favorite band of mine. In the song, the singer has been confronted by an angry fan who is claiming that he’s an original fan and is accusing the band of selling out as they gained commercial success. The singer responds: “All you know about me is what I sold you, dumb f$&@/I sold out before you ever even heard my name/I sold my soul to make a record, dip s&$@/Then you bought one.” The point is the only people who are ever in any position to really judge if an artist “sold out” is the artist themselves, and that any fan who thinks an artist has “sold out” almost certainly never knew of the band before they actually did.

[@kenbrunet6120]

I'm curious as to which song the quote comes from? The real problem is Caleb's own attitude towards that whole theme. Not understanding that most people could care less what a song's lyrics and ideas are about. If music moves people from how it sounds. It'll explode. The most telling part was his reaction to the crowd at reading. His feelings were hurt that the crowd weren't losing consciousness from amazement. You're job is to put on the best show you can. Rock the place and move on. That's what makes me dislike them. "Selling out" is a myth imo.

[@chloemchll3774]

@@kenbrunet6120 The quote I had was from the Tool song “Hooker w a Penis” off their album Aenema. They were confronted with allegations of selling out between releasing their first EP and first full album and the singer got fed up with fans who feel like they have a sort of ownership over the band. If you like the music, great. If not, move on to something you like and let the people who enjoy the thing you don’t like enjoy the thing they do like. As for Caleb… I think it is hard for an artist to do new work they are proud of and have their audience reject it because they just want to hear the stuff they know. I’m reminded to this end of a story John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin liked to tell about the very first time they played Stairway to Heaven for a live audience. People always ask him “what was it like? Was it magical, people hearing this amazing new song for the first time?” His response “no. They were bored to tears waiting to hear a song they know like Whole Lotta Love.” Not that I want to compare Sex on Fire to Stairway, and I suspect substances had a lot to do with Caleb’s on stage moodiness and the unevenness of shows from night to night as much as the feeling of having his work rejected. I don’t mean to make excuses for him (and to be fair, I’m conjecturing anyway) and I do agree that as a performer, you have an obligation to do as good a show as you can muster for your audience so it was definitely a bad look on his part to do things like refuse to finish shows or berate the audience because he doesn’t like their energy. I’ve seen them live 3 times and each time they were good, but uneven. I’d see them again despite being largely indifferent to a lot of their most recent music. But I’d be lying if I said I think they will ever match the quality of the first 4 albums, and especially Only By the Night, again. Hopefully they prove me wrong.

[@chloemchll3774]

@@kenbrunet6120 and I generally agree- “selling out” is something people complain about an artist doing because they wish they could do it but deep down know no one will ever care about their creative endeavors enough for them to get the opportunity. Very few artists, even pop artists commonly thought of as manufactured, ultimately choose to do material they don’t believe in just because they think it will sell, and when that happens, the product usually suffers so much that it doesn’t. This isn’t to say that I think (to pick a specific example) that Justin Bieber is anything other than awful personally, but rather that I think he believes his music is good and it expresses what he wants it to as a performer. Obviously, some people agree with him even if I don’t see it, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m happy he found his audience and his audience enjoy his material.

[@stmn346]

Everything after Aha Shake was overproduced. I seen em at a small club in Austin around ‘03 for Youth and Young Manhood, and was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. They were raw.

[@pringlescan81]

Aha is my personal favorite but I admire them for pushing themselves artistically. They have arena rockers. They have some indie oddball tracks that sonically remind me of some of the Pixies later works. But by far KoL has some of the most underrated best bass lines across every single album

[@wyant4]

Actually. Yes. great point about the bass lines.

[@LegendaryRock10]

In my opinion they don't even have a single bad song. I like the old stuff aswell as the new. And I don't really get why people say they distanced themselfes from their southern roots only judging by listening to only by the night (which has great tracks too, cold desert is underrated imo). And even if they did- In the last two albums you can clearly hear them coming back to it.

[@danielplainview2584]

This kind of happened with Arcade Fire as well (though I think EN is an excellent and underrated gem with incredible production and creativity, some people thought it was a big sellout moment).

[@maryannappiagyei4277]

And mumford & sons happen drop album delta music critic not like. This album.

[@sat.ellite]

idk if EN is a sellout record. if you want to say arcade fire "sold" then I think that starts at reflektor. I don't really think they ever have personally. :p

[@Victorcolongarcia]

I preferred the 1 st two albums. I never understood the hype for the suburbs. Boringest album ever apart from 3 tracks. The 4 th album was good too. EN was quite a disaster apart from 3 tracks and the last one was ok, I liked it more than the previous. 🤣 I never thought they sold out, just lacked energy or epic moments like the best tracks from the first two slbums.

[@sebadrum16]

That Grammy win was both the best, and the worst thing, that happened to Arcade Fire. When they emerged back after the Reflektor sessions in 2013, they were a different band, and you could tell. Despite their albums since having a mixed reception, I’m just happy they’re still the best “live” band out of all the indie bands from 20 years ago.

[@Victorcolongarcia]

@@sebadrum16 live they are unbelievable. I’ve seen them an it was a MAGICAL ENERGY. For me Arcade Fire and The Killers have been the best 2 concerts I’ve experienced

[@thefirepenguins74]

the 1st albums are so good,, I totally understand the hate when they sold out because you know they will never record that kind of 70s songs again and its sad

[@monicarodriguez1194]

Their new album is amazing Can We please have fun!! Can't wait until they come to New York to tour!

[@NihilisticOrgasm]

Only by the night will always mean a lot to me. I got sober in 2009 and this album was the first thing I had purchased in a long time that I couldn’t put in my body.

[@wonderboytroy7484]

And what a damn good album for it to be

[@sopranofan6118]

Third album was class

[@Christopher_175]

Here in the UK they've always been a mainstream band - 6 no.1 albums, two top 3 - so its interesting to see this different perspective and how comments calling them 'sell outs' don't really make sense

[@rustyxof]

It’s moving how as an artist you want so much and as viewer you only need so little.

[@thr0waway925]

thanks for the post punk revival video that was a banger

[@thapthoptheep2076]

Me and some people were driving to London for a wedding, we had plenty of green, suppies and a few CD's that we went through fairly quickly. At some point we stopped off at a service station and it was like 6 in the morning, went into this place and it was dead, we all separated and started purchasing junk food, etc, and I started browsing CD's in this shop and only by the night was the only thing that looked like it was worth buying, so I did. We had it on repeat, it was great...the so-called anthems off that album aren't the best tracks on the album, the whole album is great but 17 and notion were standout tracks - album brings back a lot of really fond memories of that trip, what an adventure.

[@fernandoquintana2476]

I always enjoyed the opening to the album with Closer and Crawl. Revelry is great also.

[@thapthoptheep2076]

@@ghost_mall You talk as though that is the only time I ever smoked it...if what you said was true I'd be typing up a series of very chunky novels describing every time I smoked weed. But I'll spare you the details I mentioned it here because it's kinda relevant to the story - stoned people on a long journey need music and will appreciate it if it's good.

[@user-ci5yy3cc6s]

Great stuff Middle 8.

[@WorkerBeeSupply]

Couldn’t believe that you dropped this video yesterday, because out of nowhere over the weekend, I thought to myself “huh, I wouldn’t mind listening to some Kings of Leon” ie. Use Somebody. 😅 But now I’d like to dig deeper into their discography. I definitely listened to ASH and BOTT in the past but could use a refresher. Folks in the comments also seem to enjoy Come Around Sundown, so I’ll have to give that a listen, too. Love your videos!

[@vhr505515]

When we review the trajectory of this bands, it’s when I appreciate Arctic Monkeys more. They’re one of a kind band, AM was the definition of mainstream, but they threw all that away and reinvented themselves to reach a different status, even if his latest records are controversial with the audience.

[@stevenc6969]

Their last 2 albums were pretentious garbage. The quality of their music gradually declined after their spectacular first album. A case of Alex Turner believing his own hype and disappearing up his behind.

[@bluberrykush3912]

True, I gotta say their new albums are not controversial with me. They are great. I don't get people who want Bands to play the same thing over and over again. I really like that they did what they wanted and not let expectations pressure them. AM is great as well, just different and that happened to become a hit. Both sounds fit the band though.

[@vhr505515]

@@stevenc6969 I completely disagree. His latest records are really good, you can even find a few videos on this channel, explaining why. And Alex it’s the greatest lyricist of this generation, no one writes like him.

[@vhr505515]

@@bluberrykush3912 TBHC it’s top 2 for me, alongside with Humbug. And yeah, I agree that every sound they had, matches with them, even if they’re so different from each other. They don’t have a bad album, imo.

[@mintybadgerproductions]

@@stevenc6969 Ah yes "pretentious," the classic reductive adjective for dismissing non-mainstream art that you happen not to like. Do you even know the definition of pretentious? Is the lounge music of Dean Martin pretentious? Is the psychedelic pop of Pet Sounds pretentious? Tranquillity Base is a tongue in cheek concept album about a hotel on the moon. It has a song on it called the Ultra-Cheese. It is the opposite of self-important, self-serious "pretentious" art.

[@paulsheridan6320]

Great video as always. Kings of Leon will always have a place in my heart. Their first 3 albums are enough to make them one of my favourite bands. While it was amazing to see them shoot to fame and having everyone know this band that I adore, it equally deflated and depressed me when I heard people talk shit about them. It was really bittersweet. I'll always be fascinated by them and will continue to follow them. While their albums posts-OnlyByTheNight have been lackluster, there are still a lot of hidden gems to be found, with some absolutely beautiful lyrics. I would just hope that everyone gives them a proper chance, before following the crowd and knocking them down.

[@kbuttstadt]

You need to learn to love what you love and realize other people's opinions are MEANINGLESS.

[@gwemula]

2:52 The pause was subtle and epic! I see what you did there ;)

[@adamhadfield5831]

Some bands sell out yes, but most just evolve and they’re style changes with time and life experiences , each of kols first 5 albums are different and each absolutely brilliant.

[@williamgalloway4798]

My ex's mum used to live with the kings of leon back when she was modelling, said they were nice people

[@yerickmtz2265]

Nice video, Im telling as a fan, but I think you could talked about their growing on their 2 last records, they got a discreet evolution. WYSY is a great album

[@charlottecomfort2446]

I love Four Kicks, full sentences rolled into one word, magic. Love the video too! 🤜🏻😮

[@laufmin]

This blows my mind. I still have this Rolling Stone Kings of Leon cover issue when Only By the Night came out. It’s a great article, but there is a point, Caleb admits they sold out because…look where it got them.

[@jonathanjoukhadar1629]

KOL are my favourite band. This video is true. I love every album they make. But there’s this feeling of just missing. I love them so much Even if they re recorded their new albums with Because of the times sounds and energy that would be amazing.

[@giniibb4605]

I was introduced to KOL through Sex On Fire when it came on either VH1 or MTV late one night. I never really stuck with the band but dudes vocals really sounded unique to me. Cause up till then I don’t think I’d heard anyone sing like that. As a 13yo it was really captivating. The songs that came after, I enjoyed too. But knowing now that they had a different sound and look I’m definitely gonna give those earlier albums a listen

[@jackbeswick4662]

The first three albums are some of the best albums ever made.

[@iangordon8078]

I got lucky and discovered them a bit before Youth and Young Manhood came out and really liked them. But Calebs voice really was reborn on Only by the Night and its on a whole new level, so much more mature and unique. Good on them for allowing themselves to explore what sounds good. Really good stuff in my opinion.

[@jasonosborne9063]

Opening for U2 has to be the best slot in rock. KOL owe us nothing, they can do what they want.

[@71sk8erdude]

I liked Sex on Fire, but then I stumbled upon and fell in love with Holy Roller Novocaine and their first album and was mindblown that it was even the same band. I kinda wish they never changed that original sound.

[@w0ngky]

I literally only know the two hit singles but maybe one day I will listen to their older shit. If it wasnt for Sex on Fire, who knows... you might not have discovered the band at all so I see it as a good thing :)

[@daveonezero6258]

Its like the great Maynard said Paraphrasing If you like the old shit go listen to that. Bands and people change. I think depth and changing sounds makes them better.

[@replynotificationsdisabled]

​@@w0ngky song makes me visualize gay butt sex

[@thecoderofyoutube]

If they hadn't, you'd have never heard of them.

[@nathonso_edits]

Yeah but if they never did you never would have heard of them so I think it's good that bands change

[@MikeLaundry]

I once really liked this girl and I was trying to get to know her, she told me she loves Kings of Leon so I tried to get in to them. I hated them so much that I couldn't even lie to her and we barely talked after that.

[@MegaNancyLover]

Man there's so many bands that have dramatically changed their sounds that you can make a video on!

[@bapitz1987]

KoL was already that big in the UK, the issue is being that big in the US. When you’re mainstream in the US, then your popular amongst a lot of boring/surface level people who are just following a trend and aren’t passionate about the band but are only passionate about what’s popular at the time. Started listening to KoL in 2005 after Aha Shake Heartbreak came out and I caught “Four Kicks” on MTV2. Can’t tell you how many people I told to about KoL and only a few of my friends listened. Use Somebody and Sex on Fire came out and I remember people asking me if I’ve heard of this band called Kings of Leon. Now all those people have completely forgot about the band I’m still here listening to them. One of the greatest rock bands of all time! Another thing I want to mention is that I like the song Sex on Fire but it’s also a dumb song. And one way to connect with a large swath of Americans is not having them use a whole lot of brain cells to process something and that’s exactly what that song did.

[@MAVJ]

My sister had "Sex on fire" as a ring tone for texts when it first came out and would never turn it off (even if she was already on it). Her being like 17 at the time that, that thing went off CONSTANTLY....I know Hate that song more than anything 😂

[@itz_premium]

I personally fell in love with Closer and Revelry before any of their other stuff. That prompted me to listen to their other stuff and their darker and more ambient/slower stuff is my favorite. I never much cared for their southern rock sound (live in the Southeast USA 20+ years now and im not a huge country guy either) but their more indie sounding side to me is where they really shine.

[@aaronpeteres]

I started KOL with 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' , but 'Come Around Sundown' is my favorite album. Probably in multiple hundreds of times I have had that album on repeat. Enjoy all their work. New album is awesome.

[@cammosesSH]

"this album's really good, but before that, you guys were great." ... what a backhanded compliment. I would've walked out of that interview. Musicians grow, change, acquire tastes, just like the rest of us do. Imagine someone basically saying you aren't great anymore because you're trying new things..

[@daviebananas1735]

Yeah, that was insane. I mean, I fully agree with her, but to bring someone down like that, to their face, when you don’t know them is wild behaviour.