Caleb Followill Cites Ben E. King As Early Influence

Caleb Followill was knocked out of his socks by Ben E. King’s Stand By Me.

The Kings of Leon rocker found fame with his band in 2003, when they released debut album Youth & Young Manhood.

The group’s subsequent records have topped charts the world over, with their rocky sound still in demand.

As a kid, Caleb was inspired by different music genres, but none more so than American soul star Ben.

“The first song that knocked me out of my socks was Stand By Me by Ben E. King. I first heard it in the movie of the same name,” Caleb told Q magazine. “When we were kids we weren’t allowed to watch TV. But we’d be staying in motels and when my parents went to the sleep, I took the blanket off the bed and wrapped it round the TV, and sat and watched the movie. It was kind of quiet but I got the gist.

“And then, when we went back home, I got a tape recorder and recorded oldies from the radio all day while I was at school. And when I came home, I fast forwarded through the tape and I heard it. So I just stopped there, played it, rewound it, pressed play… Great!”

60s’ band Tommy James & the Shondells also had a profound effect on the 33-year-old.

And proving how diverse his musical tastes are, Caleb also names Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard as one of his all-time favourite albums.

“Another record that killed me was The Bodyguard soundtrack. I was ten years old and in love with a girl, and I Will Always Love You – hell yeah! Then I heard the whole LP and I was like, ‘F**k, this is the greatest ever!'” he recalled.