Kings of Leon abandon U.S. concert due to pigeon poop

Caleb Followill, lead singer for ''Kings of Leon,'' appears with his band on NBC's 'Today' show in New York, July 31, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - American rock band Kings of Leon said they were forced to abandon a concert in St. Louis at the weekend after three songs because pigeons kept pooping on them from the rafters.

The band left the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday after bass player Jared Followill was hit in the face by one dropping.

"Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't deal any longer," the Nashville band's publicist, Any Mendelsohn, said in a statement.

"It's not only disgusting - it's a toxic hazard. They really tried to hang in there."

Drummer Nathan Followill apologized on Twitter to fans of the Grammy-winning band which is made up of three Followill brothers and their cousin Matthew who plays lead guitar.

"So sorry St Louis. We had to bail, pigeons s***ing in Jared's mouth and it was too unsanitary to continue," he wrote.

"Don't take it out on Jared ... Sorry for all who (traveled) many miles."

The band was to continue its U.S. tour in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday to promote its fourth album "Only By The Night" before heading to Canada and Britain.

The country duo Sugarland was scheduled to play the venue on Sunday night.

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Dean Goodman)