Kings of leon

It will be released on October 14

With Kings Of Leon’s sixth album, Mechanical Bull, set for release on September 23, we thought it would be time to take a trip through the archives into November 2010 (Take 162), when we joined the Followill clan on the road in America – we hear of uncanny robberies, an army of Kings lookalikes, whiskey-fuelled anxieties and a new power struggle within this most volatile of bands. Do they want to be rootsy outlaws or modern rock superstars? Words: Jaan Uhelszki

Kings Of Leon have debuted their new single "Supersoaker" - scroll down to the bottom of the page and click to listen. The track, which was broadcast on Zane Lowe's Radio One show yesterday evening (July 17), is the first track to be taken from the band's forthcoming new album Mechanical Bull. The single is also now available as a download.

Kings Of Leon's new album is "much more musically complicated" than previous effort according to bassist Jared Followill. Followill revealed a few details of the band's forthcoming sixth studio album, the follow up to Come Around Sundown, in a Q+A with fans on Twitter yesterday (May 27). Asked by one fan if the album will sound more like the "rookie" Kings Of Leon Followill replied: "Not really. There are definitely elements of it. Songs. Not as a whole though. It's a culmination of all of them."

Kings Of Leon bassist Jared Followill has confirmed the band's new album will be out in September. The record, the four-piece's sixth studio effort, is finished and is currently being sequenced. Speaking in this week's NME Followill said: "I thought we were going to make a really mature album but I'm amazed how youthful it sounds. It's like a mix of 'Youth & Young Manhood' and 'Because Of The Times'."

Kings Of Leon, members of The Black Keys and The Strokes joined forces for a Tom Petty tribute show in the US last night (November 14). The concert at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre also saw acts such as Har Mar Superstar, Eagles Of Death Metal and Hollywood star Johnny Depp performing tracks by Petty and his band the Heartbreakers, reports Rolling Stone.

Kings Of Leon have confirmed a run of UK arena tour dates for 2013. The band, expected to release a new album next year, will play shows in London, Manchester and Birmingham in June and July. Tickets for all dates go on sale this Friday (November 9) at 9am. Starting in London, the Nashville-based band will play the O2 Arena on June 12 and 13 before playing Manchester Arena on June 24 and 25. The short tour then runs to Birmingham's LG Arena on July 9/10.

Kings Of Leon bassist Jared Followill says a new album will be finished early next year. In an interview with BBC 6Music, he said: We are in the writing process right now and it's coming along pretty quickly. We'll definitely get into the studio but we you know we have no plans of finishing it this year but definitely early next year, so I think people should expect something from us sooner rather than later.

Kings Of Leon were joined by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder on stage in San Francisco last night (October 3). The singer, whose band were headlining the Oracle Appreciation Event at Treasure Island, jumped on stage to sing Kings Of Leon's 2004 hit "The Bucket" with the band - watch it above. Shortly after the gig, bassist Jared Followill tweeted: Great show in San Fran with Pearl Jam. Eddie came up and sang The Bucket with us. Always an honor to share the stage with them. #Heroes

Kings Of Leon's Jared Followill and his girlfriend Martha Patterson are engaged, according to reports. The bass player, 25, apparently proposed to Patterson, a 21 year old model, last month on April 11. Rolling Stone reports that the pair have only been dating a few months. Followill confirmed the news earlier today via his Twitter account, joking: It's true! I'm engaged! CANNOT wait to finally lose my virginity. Following his online revelation, The Strokes' Nikolai Fraiture responded: "Congrats man! You're gonna love it!"