MAKING MUSIC Many people dream of finding fame as a pop star either as a solo artist or in a band It can be a glamorous life and there’s the satisfaction of performing songs that please huge audiences but it’s hard work too It wasn’t about how good you could play your instrument it was about how much you enjoyed playing your instrument NATHAN Leon is the name of Nathan Caleb and Jared’s father Fact KINGS OF LEON
Celeb bio Dates of birth Nathan Followill June 26 1979 Caleb Followill January 14 1982 Matthew Followill September 10 1984 Jared Followill November 20 1986 Origins Nashville Tennessee Musical style Alternative rock Influences Led Zeppelin Rolling Stones Neil Young Johnny Cash Albums Youth and Young Manhood 2003 Aha Shake Heartbreak 2005 Because of the Times 2007 Only by the Night 2008 Achievements Two BRIT Awards and one Grammy Award Making Pop Music Pop bands appeared in the 1950s As well as a singer there would be a guitarist bass player drummer and sometimes a piano player Today synthesizers drum machines sequencers and samplers allow new ways of making music Grunge and Guitars Real instruments are still essential for an authentic rock sound Kings of Leon use not one but three guitars for their energetic brand of grungy rock Lead guitar is played by Matthew rhythm guitar by Caleb and bass by Jared Nathan accompanies on the drums A Musical Childhood Nathan Caleb and Jared are brothers raised on the road because their father was a traveling preacher The boys learned to sing and play along to gospel songs Music has always been part of their lives Steps to Fame Nathan and Caleb started the band and soon Jared and cousin Matthew joined them The band signed to record label RCA in 2002 Kings of Leon found instant success in the UK but fame was slower to come in their native United States Performing as a support to such big names as U2 and Bob Dylan helped bring them to a wider audience www kingsofleon com And if you like this check out The Strokes www thestrokes com and the Arctic Monkeys www arcticmonkeys com 5
