Kings of Leon 'unsure' on single

By Kev Geoghegan
Radio 1 music reporter

Kings Of Leon will play a string of Uk dates in December

Kings of Leon singer Caleb Followill has admitted he's a little embarrassed by the title of their latest song.

Radio 1's Zane Lowe had the first play of Sex On Fire on Monday night and he's made the track his Hottest Record In The World for the week.

The band's new album Only By the Night, is released on 22 September.

But with a UK tour coming up as well, Followill is a bit shy about performing it: "I thought it was ridiculous but the guys thought it was a hook."

He continued: "I was like, 'Come on man, I gotta be singing about someone's fiery sex for a year and half?'

"It's a bold title, y'know, we're getting old and we're trying to make people think we have still have the sex drive that we did."

Mature sound

Four albums into their career, and the track is further indication of Kings of Leon's growing maturity as a band.

The rawness of first album Youth And Young Manhood has been replaced by a much fuller, more polished stadium-rock sound.

The track is driven by Nathan Followill's drums, age and experience which has controlled brother Caleb's vocals and a typically catchy hook is provided on lead guitar by their cousin Matthew.

But the Tennessee four-piece also deliver again on their trademark sexy, bluesy sound.

And Caleb Followill insisted Only By The Night is a sexy album.

He said: "I think a lot of people expect a certain element of sex to our music and there's a tinge of sex throughout the record but this is the most blatant.

Only By The Night is due out on 22 September and Kings of Leon are playing the V Festivals in Chelmsford and Staffordshire on 16-17 August.

They are also touring the UK in December.