The Killers
from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Brandon Flowers (vocals/keyboards), David Keuning (guitar), Mark Stoermer (bass), and Ronnie Vannucci (drums) formed The Killers on 2002 in Las Vegas. They took the fashionista world by storm in 2004 with their first hit single Somebody Told Me. They are now part of the bands that are included in the new wave / millenium post-punk genre.
Contents |
About
Singer Brandon Flowers got kicked out of his former synth-pop band, named Blush Response, in late 2002 after refusing to move to L.A. with them. He realised after seeing Oasis perform in Vegas, that life needed more guitars. At the same time, guitarist David Keuning, placed an add in a local Vegas Weekly looking for a singer who was into Oasis and David Bowie. Flowers was the only person to reply to the ad. Mark Stoermer (Bass) and Ronnie Vannucci (Drums) then met the duo at a gig they were doing with a different rhythms section. Then after being tried out for the band, they joined.
The band became more well-known when they released their album Hot Fuss on June 7, 2004 in the United Kingdom (on London-based indie record label Lizard King Records, now re-named Marrakesh Records) and June 15 in the United States on Island Records. Their first single Mr. Brightside garnered success and brought fame to the band instantly. Their following hit Somebody Told Me was later released that same year.
Both singles scored highly on the UK Singles Chart consecutively. The album was a massive success, and it went Platinum after months of release.
Much of The Killers' music is based on British influences and on the music of the 1980s, particularly New Wave music. Brandon Flowers' idol are New Order. He had the oppurtunity to perform with them with his favorite song Crystal at the 2005 T in the Park Festival. They had also said in interviews that the larger than life sound of many of the band's songs is due to the influence of living in Las Vegas, a city where everything is about flash and who can top whom. Their other influences are David Bowie, Morrissey, Queen, Saves, The Day, and U2.
The Killers will debut their second album, Sam's Town' in October 3rd, 2006. Toggling alongside their first single, When You Were Young which was shot in Mexico City. The album has received rave reviews, and Billboard.com says that the album's sound stays fairly true to that which made the Killers famous worldwide, while incorporating new sounds reminiscent of the Verve, David Bowie, and Peter Gabriel.
BAND LINEUP:
- Brandon Flowers - Vocals, keyboards
- David Keuning - Guitar
- Mark Stoermer - Bass
- Ronnie Vanucci - Drums
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grammy Awards | Best Rock Album for Hot Fuss |
| Best Rock Song for Somebody Told Me | ||
| Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for Somebody Told Me | ||
| Billboard Music Awards | Breakthrough Artist & Favorite New Artist | |
| Digital song of the year for Mr. Brightside | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | Best Group Video for Mr. Brightside | |
| Best Rock Videofor Mr. Brightside | ||
| Best New Artist | ||
| 2006 | Grammy Awards | Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for Mr. Brightside |
| Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for All These Things That I've Done |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | US Hot 100 | UK Singles | AUS Singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Somebody Told Me | 1 | 1 | 1 | Hot Fuss |
| Mr. Brightside | 1 | 1 | 1 | Hot Fuss | |
| 2005 | All These Things That I've Done | 1 | 1 | 1 | Hot Fuss |
| Smile Like You Mean It | - | 1 | 1 | Hot Fuss | |
| Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll | - | - | 1 | Hot Fuss | |
| 2006 | When You Were Young | 1 | - | - | Sam's Town |
News
Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for the group.
Announcements
There are no announcements for the artist.
Discography
Albums
 |
 |
Singles
| Album | Information |
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Compilations & Live Releases
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Actor Eric Roberts (brother of Julia Roberts) plays the so called "pimp" in the American versison of the video for Mr. Brightside.
- The Killers contributed Smile Like You Mean It to The OC Mix 2 (also know as Mix 2), the second album in the long line of soundtracks for the teen-drama show The OC.
- The Killers played to their largest audience to date in Toronto on May 31, 2005 at the Molson Amphitheatre.
- The Killers seem to have a penchant for attracting natural disasters. The band was shaken by an earthquake during the recording of their song Believe Me Natalie at Lizard King, which caused Vannucci to fall from his stool. They encountered fires in Simi Valley, California when they recorded their song Change Your Mind for the American version of their album Hot Fuss. And finally, the band thought they were going to die when their private jet hit an downdraft in December 2003 when flying from Texas to the U.K..
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | Rock | Alternative
