Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill has said the group's foreign fans, including those in the United Kingdom, have helped sustain their career.

Followill told Billboard that the American group would probably have been dropped had they not achieved international success.

Despite selling over 600,000 copies of their three albums in the UK, Kings of Leon have failed to capture the same level of recognition in their native country.

Speaking about their foreign fans, Followill said: "In a way I think they're proud of themselves for discovering us and they're not going to give that up.

“It's almost like they're holding onto us as long as they can. They've made our career. If it weren't for them, I'm sure we would have been dropped by the label years ago and we might be painting houses again.”

Followill added that he hoped the group's new album 'Only By The Night', which is out this month, would appeal to an American audience.

“I just want it to work over here without losing our fan base over there. I don't want to lose one side of the pond because the other side likes us,” he added.

(by Jason Gregory)