Kings of Leon and the Pigeon Poop: An Update [Updated With Response]

By Annie Zaleski Mon., Jul. 26 2010 at 6:41 PM

Categories: Following Up, News

Erin Kinsella

Kings of Leon at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, St. Louis, July 23, 2010

[Update, Monday, July 27, 9 p.m. Kings of Leon's publicist tells us that the story is "absolutely untrue."]

Three days after pigeon poop shut down Kings of Leon's show at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis, the story continues to be the talk of the town. Naturally, the local rumor mill has swirled into high gear with plenty of conspiracy theories -- and conflicting stories.

Favazz, the long-time DJ on KSHE 95 FM, was discussing the concert over the air today during his afternoon shift. During the show, he received a phone call from a listener who claims he was working backstage at the venue on Friday night - and saw something very different.

According to the caller, who wished to remain anonymous and didn't want the conversation broadcast on air, it was drinking - not pigeons - that caused the concert to end early.

"He said that the band got there at 11 o'clock, drank all day - and I don't think I said this on the air - but each of them took an IV to try to sober up," Favazz told A to Z. "And that they were just wasted. They went out there and just couldn't play, [and] blamed it on the pigeons."

Favazz added that this conversation corroborated what he read on Facebook over the weekend. (In fact, he said the caller told him that whoever had posted about the band drinking had already been fired.)

The local Live Nation office referred me to the Vice President of Communications in the company's Beverly Hills office for comment; a voicemail left hasn't yet been returned. I also have an email into Kings of Leon's publicist for comment.

In their statement on Saturday, Kings of Leon mentioned that both opening bands, the Stills and the Postelles, were also pooped on. I have questions sent to both bands for clarification/comment and am waiting on responses.

We'll update the story once we have more information.

Tags:

2010, cancels, kings of leon, pigeon poop, st. louis, verizon wireless amphitheater

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Poop Somebody!!! http://www.facebook.com/SomebodyPoop
Yeah, that's right people, shit on the band. Don't question or even pursue the crap hole Verizon management or their pos overpriced and undermaintained shed with a hill. Ask most any employee at the Verizon who is getting shit on DAILY by the corporate aholes and you will get an alternate albeit more accurate perception of the real story. the local media tools (Close, Favazz are too enamored with their corporate buddies and free backstage access to step on toes. Don't fall for the BS folks, Verizon and LiveNation so far have shifted the blame away from their legal and pr departments and us rock loving paying customers are left to backbite each other and our favorite acts. think for once damnit. trust the band, not the corporate aholes.
If they did leave because they weren't happy about something other than getting shit on, they ended up looking like a bunch of pussies regardless. Seriously, you fled the stage because of some bird shit? Wusses.
zepplyn- i saw the video and heard the remark about 'not writing songs for americans' that is bs on their part. i was at the show friday night, and it seemed to me like they all walked off stage in unison as well. seemed orchestrated. i was in the pit, right in front of them. they did NOT seem drunk. the songs sounded very tight. in my opinion they cheated the people out of what they paid for and came to see...
My last post should have read "Knocked Up"....nevermind...you all knew what I meant
Hey, I was there and have been a fan since Youth and Young manhood and own all 4 albums. But their personal antics are getting pretty hard to take, even for a fan. I suggest any American fans go to You Tube and check out Jared's statement before they played "Kocked Up" at Leeds,England last summer and tell me how great they still are.
it made the onion: http://www.theonion.com/articles/defecating-birds-stop-kings-of-leon,17808/
I have a hard time believing it was due to drunkenness. The 3 songs they played were tight as I have ever heard them. They seemed to have it together on stage as individuals as well, nothing seemed out of sorts. At the same time though, they all dropped their instruments and walked offstage after that 3rd song as if it was their last song and they all knew it. If just 1 of them had been shat on and wanted to stop, there would have been some sort of conversation between them onstage after that 3rd song. They all dropped their gear and left the stage as if it had been orchestrated. Regardless, everyone is getting their refund so quit bitching. I agree it was not a professional move on their part but you're all getting your money back so shut it. Bands have personal problems from time to time, I know, I play in a group that has spent extensive time on the road. If you ask me, this whole incident is separating their true fans from all the idiots that were there to hear "Sex On Fire" and "Use Somebody" (which are still both awesome songs).
Man, I sure am happy I like REAL music and some Kings of Leon popstar garbage. All you idiots deserved it.
analysis of the performance contact would be pretty interesting. Also would be interesting to know if KOL got paid in full, and whos taking the loss for the refund. I suspect liveNation but who knows
The venue was fairly empty when I got there at 7:30. However, by the time KOL came on stage, it was pretty full, so the claim that they were angry about the number of people is B.S.
I know how we can get to the bottom of this. Look at their contract they signed with the venue. If there is a clause about how many songs the band has to play in order to be compensated, we know it's true. Also while you are at it, check it to see if there is a "no pigeon poop" clause. I took a business of music class at Bradley University, so I know a bit about concert contracts and rider clauses.
I'll believe it when I see the pictures of bird poop on the bands. surely somewhere there exists proof in a picture.
I have info that may be helpful, wish to remain anonymous - please email me with the email I left or give me an email I can reach you at
Wow, Chris - your post is interesting to me. I say this because even though I don't know you, But I get the vibe that you have A. Not ever been in a band that has performed live, in the elements before, and B. You may be jerking the boys in the band off as I type. Bottom line is this. If you are as huge as they have become now (I remember seeing them at Mississippi Nights years ago when they were actually humble and had to load in and load out all by themselves), the heat, shit of all sorts (theirs happened to be bird shit, which sucks, but man up, wipe it off and think of the people and how many doll-hairs they spent to be there) and being drunk comes with the whole shebang. I've done it myself. It's rock and roll, dude. If you're that fucking pretentious, money hungry and overall careless enough to not give a shit (Pun? Maybe) about what even brought you there in the first place, then I'm so sorry. They can go fuck themselves with their apparently 8 inch dongs they are packing in their little girl jeans.
like i said earlier i heard a vwa employee say they were pissed that there was about 8000 fans at a 22000 venue, and that the contract required 3 songs and they set the whole thing up. they had private security hired and everything.
"My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious."
A friend of mine that works at VWA said that the bus was never shut down. Now, I'm around after shows quite a bit and most of the time the bus plugs in somewhere rather than idle off all it's fuel. I find that a bit odd, don't you?
How fucking dare anyone out there make fun of Kings of Leon after all they have been through.! They got pooped on, they were hot, they were drunk. They don't know how many fuckin' kids they have. Their fans turned out to be users, cheaters, and now they're going through a publicity battle. All you people care about is�.. readers and making money off of them. They are HUMANS! (ah! ooh!) What you don�t realize is that Kings Of Leon is making you all this money and all you do is write a bunch of crap about them. They haven�t performed in bird poop in years. Their song is called �Be Somebody� for a reason because all you people want is them to Be Somebody! Be Somebody! Be Somebody! in bird poop! LEAVE THEM ALONE! You are lucky they even perform for you BASTARDS! LEAVE KINGS OF LEON ALONE!�..Please. Annie Zaleski talked about professionalism and said if KINGS OF LEON was a professional they would�ve pulled it off no matter what. Speaking of professionalism, when is it professional to publicly bash someone who is going through a hard time. Leave Kings of Leon Alone Please�. ! Leave Kings of Leon alone!�right now!�.I mean it.! Anyone that has a problem with them you deal with me, because they are not well right now. LEAVE THEM ALONE!
I know you'll get to the bottom of this story and bring us the straight poop, Annie. :)
"each of them took an IV to try to sober up" seriously? was that on the rider?
I love that the banner ad on this page is for Happy Hour!
Openers the Stills have commented and said they too were crapped on. You can read some quotes at the end of this article here: http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=145&csid2=844&fid1=48418