Kings of Leon have cancelled their US tour after singer Caleb Followill was hit by vocal problems and exhaustion.
The cancellation comes three days after Followill left the stage mid-show in Dallas, Texas, due to what he called “excessive” and “unbearable” heat.
But other members of the family band said over the weekend that its problems went beyond dehydration, something that was not addressed in a statement yesterday.
“Thanks to all our true fans for understanding and helping us through this hard time,” Followill said on Twitter.
His exit led to vows to replay the show by his brothers, drummer Nathan and bassist Jared, and cousin guitarist Matthew, on Twitter.
But Jared Followill also acknowledged the band had “internal sicknesses & problems” that go beyond dehydration.
A statement says the band are “devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break”.
They will return to the road in Vancouver, Canada on September 28th. The cancelled shows will not be rescheduled.
After years of buzz, the Nashville, Tennessee, band named after the brothers' father stormed the international scene with the singles Sex On Fire and Use Somebody from their breakthrough album, the multi-platinum Only By The Night, in 2008. They released their fifth album, Come Around Sundown, earlier this year and headlined Slane.
They have been bankable touring stars, though not without a few notable problems. They had to postpone some dates earlier this year when Nathan Followill injured an arm while working out.
The band also walked off stage in St Louis last year because of pigeon droppings falling from the rafters, but returned a few months later to make it up to fans.
Caleb Followill told the crowd repeatedly last Friday that he was too hot and that his voice was suffering for it. At one point he said he was ill and would be back after taking a few minutes to recover, but he never returned.
The Followills, known for their sense of humour and willingness to circle the wagons when criticised, took to Twitter to apologise. Matthew Followill even went so far as to apologise to individual followers.
Jared Followill tweeted yesterday that he was “utterly depressed” and that “family has to come 1st”. But then he tried to lighten the mood.
“Don’t jump to conclusions guys,” he wrote in a subsequent tweet. “We’re not breaking up. BRB. Just got a text from Nathan..... Ummm.... Eesh. So about what I just said....... ”
Then he posted: “Kidding! Kidding! Not breaking up.”
AP