Huge US band forced to cancel shows after ‘freak accident'
Kings of Leon have been forced to cancel their UK and European shows after frontman Caleb Followill suffered a 'freak accident' while playing with his kids.
The Grammy-winning group had been due to perform across several countries this summer, including stops in Spain, Germany, Wales, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Belgium and Portugal.
But Caleb, 43, has been sidelined after breaking his foot and requiring emergency surgery, giving the band no choice but to pull out of all appearances in June and July.
In a video posted to the band's Instagram account, he explained: 'Hello to everyone out there, especially our European fans that are coming to see us this summer.
'Unfortunately I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day.'
'I broke my foot pretty bad just playing with my kids… It's pretty gnarly and I'll spare all the details.'
'But we're fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery.'
Caleb, who shares daughter Dixie Pearl, 14, and son Winston Roy, six, with model Lily Aldridge, 39, revealed that he's been told to stay off his feet for around two months.
He added: 'I'm on the mend, but they've told me that I can't be on my feet, travelling, or anything for the next eight weeks or so. That's a big bummer.'
The singer looked visibly frustrated as he continued: 'We were so excited. We've been preparing for this tour for a long time, we've been preparing for a lot of things.'
'We've been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run. We had a lot of exciting things planned and now we're going to have to pivot and find a new way to continue the work that we've started.'
Despite the disappointment, Caleb ended the message on a more hopeful note.
He said: 'I'm very excited for when we do get to show you the stuff we're doing, and in the meantime we're going to do whatever work we can while I have these limitations.'
'Exciting stuff is coming, I know this isn't the message anyone wants to hear, and it's certainly not the message I want to be sending, but it's going to be alright. Everything is going to be good. Hopefully, we will see y'all soon.'
The clip ended with a shot of Caleb's foot in a cast.
His bandmates, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill, issued a separate statement, confirming the necessary recovery time.
They said: 'Kings of Leon are updating fans that Caleb Followill has recently sustained a serious injury, shattering his heel and requiring a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from travelling and performing.
'The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopaedic specialists.'
'The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming UK and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year.'
The tour had been set to include a high-profile headline slot at Lytham Festival in Lancashire, where they were billed alongside Justin Timberlake and Alanis Morissette.
Organisers have since confirmed the festival will be reduced from five days to four, as it's too late in the day to book a replacement act.
They also wished Caleb a 'speedy recovery'.
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