Why Kings of Leon will always love High Wycombe

Kings of Leon say they would love to go back to the pub where they played their first ever UK gig - in High Wycombe.

In hindsight, it's an unusual spot for a US band who now enjoy headlining festivals and playing stadiums.

They played the White Horse pub when they were starting out in 2003.

"I've always wanted to go back and play there one last time. It was the birth of the Kings of Leon," says Nathan Followill.

At the time, they shared their night with a bunch of lap dancers.

The White Horse in High Wycombe where Kings of Leon played their first ever UK gig

"It was absolutely insane. We weren't allowed in our dressing room because the girls were finishing their dances.

"We're high-fiving each other because we're all young and we're playing at the same place as strippers."

Their set, in February 2003, lasted five songs. It was back in the days when you could smoke inside pubs.

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"We had an EP out and this guy came up to us - obviously drunk - and said that we were the next great thing.

"It was the first show we'd ever played, we told him to pump the brakes a little bit.

"But now we've got Jimmy Page on speed dial," smiles Nathan.

It's no joke. The Led Zeppelin legend is a friend of the band and came to see the guys at a secret gig in London this week.

"Jimmy told me he loved my tone and I thought 'I can die now.'

"He walked backstage and bowed to us. We've hung out with him four or five times. It's awesome to have him as a fan. We call him Uncle Jimmy."

Nathan says it's the best Kings of Leon show he's ever played.

Kings of Leon played a special Radio 1 Live Lounge session at Maida Vale

The gig, to celebrate the release of their seventh album Walls, saw the group perform some tracks for the first time in years.

Trani, from Youth & Young Manhood, Slow Night So Long and Arizona were all on the set list.

Walls is on course to be a number one album in the UK, as well as their first album in the US to top the Billboard 200 chart.

Focusing on the struggles of music venues in the UK, the band say they prefer small club and pub shows to arenas.

"It's where you hone your craft," says Nathan.

"Some of my favourite gigs were the ones where you break a guitar string and have to stop halfway through a song.

"I liked the imperfections of small gigs. You're flying by the seat of your pants and you're at the mercy of the venue. You get butterflies."

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