Katie Goldsmith interviews Caleb Followill

"Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill … formed the rock band Kings of Leon … [Q] Is it true your Grammy-winning track 'Sex on Fire' was almost cut from the album? [A] When it comes time to put an album together, you try all different song sequences, and one or two usually have to go. My choices of songs to take off have become our biggest hits. … [Q] You’ve been criticized for abandoning the dirtier southern sound of your first three albums for something slicker. Do you think that’s fair? [A] No, absolutely not. You grow as a band, and you want to spread your wings. Whenever we get going to write another album, people will realize that our goal is always to do something different. [Q] When headlining a festival in Scotland in July, you got angry about the sound quality and ended up smashing your Gibson ES 325. … What exactly happened? [A] I don’t know—I think I just made a bad decision. … [Q] What are your plans while you’re in New York? [A] My girl [model Lily Aldridge] lives here, so I visit quite a bit. … I prefer the scene in New York much more than in L.A. or other cities because you can be yourself. I don’t like going out and getting my picture taken" ("Holy Roller: Caleb Followill," New York, 9/14/09).