Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon planning live DVD, remix album and “Iron Chef” appearance

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Kings of Leon on last month on the “Today” show. (Associated Press photos)

Rockers Kings of Leon, who have Oklahoma ties, are working on several project this fall and starting to focus on the followup album to their 2008 platinum release “Only by the Night.”

In an interview with Billboard.com, drummer Nathan Followill said the band is planning to release a live DVD that was filmed in July at London’s O2 Arena. The show featured some “choice rarities” for the DVD.

“England is really the first place we broke…We figured what better place to make a live DVD than where the fans have been the craziest for the longest?” he told Billboard.com.

He also said the band is working on remix album, a project that started when the quartet learned other artists such as Justin Timberlake and Pharrell had started working on alternative versions of Kings of Leon songs.

Along with Pharrell and Timberlake, Mark Ronson, Kenna, Lykke Li and Linkin Park are contributing remixes to the forthcoming album, Followill told the trade publication.

“It’s neat to have these people who we would’ve jumped at the chance to work with ourselves…coming to us before we even get a chance to ask them,” he told Billboard.com. ”It’s amazing to hear your song played by these people who are so creative. Most of the time it takes me two or three listens to even wrap my head around, ‘Oh man, that’s our song…’”

kings-of-leon-nathan-followill-pitchFollowill said his brother, Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill will make an appearance as a guest judge on “Iron Chef” this fall. Nathan also has big plans for autumn: He’s getting married in November. (Nathan also got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball game against the Chicago Cubs earlier this month; see that photo at left.)

One big fall activity the band won’t be a part of: Contrary to the rumor, Followill says Kings of Leon won’t be contributing any music to the soundtrack for “New Moon,” the second film in the “Twilight” series. That’s a pity, since I think any contribution from the Followills would have instantly enhanced that soundtrack.

And while the quartet is considering releasing another single from “Only by the Night,” they also working on new material, particularly at sound checks. They don’t have a name or release date in mind yet for a new album, but Nathan Followill said the brainstorming phase is well under way.

“There’s stuff that sounds like Radiohead. There’s stuff that sounds like Thin Lizzy. There’s stuff that sounds like The Band. We’re pretty much to the point now where…we can be experimental and try stuff we would’ve been scared to death to try on the first couple of records. Now we find ourselves being a little more adventurous,” he told Billboard.com.

Kings of Leon is made up of four Followills: brothers Caleb, vocals, guitar; Nathan, drums; and Jared, bass; and cousin Matthew, lead guitar. Nathan and Matthew are Oklahoma City natives, and Caleb and Jared were born in Memphis.

The band will play its first show at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center at 8 p.m. Oct. 3. It will be the first event in the arena after its renovations.

For more information, go to www.okfordcenter.com.

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