Kings Of Leon ditch the US and keep their Aussie promise

ONE of the hottest live bands in the world has added an intimate Gold Coast show to its Australian arena tour.


The city's sizzling summer schedule of live music has been bolstered by news Jupiters Hotel & Casino, in conjunction with Frontier Touring, has secured Grammy-winning US rock group Kings of Leon for a show at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on November 9.


The chart-topping group, which has endured a dramatic year that saw it cancel a string of shows in the US, regularly sells out stadiums around the world.


Kings of Leon's Coast concert -- for just 5000 people -- is a rare chance for fans to see them in an intimate setting.


Tickets go on sale on Wednesday via Ticketek.


Best known for the hits Use Somebody and Sex on Fire, tickets for the band's last Australian tour, in 2009, sold out within minutes.


Jupiters Hotel & Casino managing director Frederic Luvisutto said the concert is another major coup for the Coast and part of plans by Jupiters' parent company, Echo Entertainment, to become a leader in A-list entertainment.


"As part of Jupiters' major renovations and expansion, we'll be bringing more acts of this calibre to the Gold Coast as we seek to take entertainment to a whole new level," he said.


The show follows other Jupiters one-offs by Robin Williams and Rihanna and Rod Stewart's upcoming Coast show in February.


Despite postponing their 2011 Australian tour from March to November before cancelling shows in the US in August, Kings of Leon -- brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew -- are ready to rock again and have assured fans they will make it Down Under.


If recent reviews from their latest show are an indicator, the quartet is set to do more than just preheat this summer's festival season.
"While it might be a stretch to call it a religious experience, it wasn't far off," Canada's The Globe and Mail reported.
The revised tour schedule follows erratic behaviour the band's frontman, Caleb Followill, at a July 29 concert in Dallas where he left the stage and never returned.
According to Rolling Stone he told the crowd, "I'm gonna go backstage and I'm gonna vomit, I'm gonna drink a beer and I'm gonna come back out and play three more songs."
He never returned, leaving the rest of the band to wrap up the show.
The Tennessee indie rockers were part way through a tour of the US which could not be rescheduled due to their international tour commitments.
A statement blamed exhaustion and vocal issues however reports of a internal rift and addiction were fuelled by Followill's bandmate's and family members taking to Twitter to apologise to fans.
"Dallas, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. There are internal sicknesses and problems that have needed to be addressed. No words," guitarist Jared posted.
"I love our fans so much. I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band are bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade.
"Don't jump to conclusions guys. We're not breaking up. BRB," he added.