The music of Kings of Leon has to be viewed within the socio-political context of America.
Kings of Leon are from a poor, rural, Oklahoma background.
Their father Leon was a travelling Preacher in the Pentecostal church. They grew up in poverty travelling from church to church across the Southern states.
Their only roots were in the annual extended family gathering in Talihina Oklahoma.
In American society they are from an underclass: the poor Southern whites.
“Being poor isn’t fun. It’s embarrassing. It’s one of those things you strive to get out of. We were living in the worst of the worst ghetto in Oklahoma City. We literally had two pairs of pants, me and Nathan. Every day mom would wash them. Hungry. All three of us sleeping in the same bed.
I knew then, my kids will not live their lives with this shame and humiliation. If we live our whole lives for god why are we living here?”
Caleb Followill: Documentary film 'Talihina Sky' directed by Stephen C Mitchell (Revolver 2011)I knew then, my kids will not live their lives with this shame and humiliation. If we live our whole lives for god why are we living here?”
The Followill Brothers started out as country songwriters. Even when they formed a rock band with their younger brother and cousin there was a juxtaposition between their style and musical roots.
This video recreates an early gig experience the band had:
KoL are keen to distance themselves from the racism that taints Southern 'rednecks':
"We're not that 'Southern'. We're not racist........we grew up preaching and singing in churches in which we were the only white people in the room. Morally we were raised the right way. We are good guys."
KOL started out as "Country Punk"
They had a British producer and they were initially only successful in the UK.
Watch this early documentary:
