The Kings of Leon are pulling the plug on their cross-country tour, saying that their lead singer, Caleb Followill, was “suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion.”
The band’s publicist, Ken Weinstein, released a statement apologizing for the disappointment.
“We are so sorry to say Kings of Leon are canceling their entire U.S. tour due to Caleb Followill suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion,” Weinstein said. “The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break. Unfortunately, the U.S. dates cannot be rescheduled due to the band’s international tour schedule.”
The trouble started for the Southern rock band midway through a concert in Dallas this weekend when Caleb had to retreat backstage after complaining it was too hot and nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
“I’m going to go backstage and I’m going to vomit, I’m going to drink a beer and I’m going to come back out and play three more songs,” he said. When Caleb never came back onstage, the band of brothers had to cancel the gig to the dismay of a booing audience.
“My voice is completely 100 percent gone,” the singer said.
The other band members later took to Twitter to apologize to their fans.
“Dallas, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am,” Bassist Jared Followill tweeted. “There are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be addressed. No words.”
“Not so good morning 4 me today,” Nathan Followill tweeted. “Ashamed & embarrassed by last night’s fiasco. Can’t apologize enough, utterly gutted. A million I’m sorrys.”
Weinstein made a point that the band had been touring continuously since 2003. “These guys do not stop and I think they are seriously exhausted,” he said.
The tour, covering 26 concerts across the United States, will resume on September 28 in Vancouver.
The band said they will refund all remaining tickets.