The Killers (band)
The Killers are an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada who have combined music styles from the 70s and 80s and 90s with modern synthetic music.
Formed in 2002 and made up of Brandon Flowers (vocals, keyboards), Dave Keuning (guitar, vocals), Mark Stoermer (bass guitar, vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr., (drums, percussion), they released their debut album, Hot Fuss, in 2004. Their second album, Sam's Town, was released in 2006. The compilation album Sawdust, containing B-sides, rarities, and some new material, was released in 2007. Their first two albums to date have sold in excess of 12 million copies worldwide combined.
[edit] History
[edit] Formation and early success (2001–2003)
In 2001, Brandon Flowers was abandoned by the first band that he was in, a synthpop band known as Blush Response,[2] after he declined to move with the rest of them to Los Angeles, California. He then met David Keuning after responding to an ad that Keuning had placed in the newspaper.[2] Ronnie Vannucci Jr. and Mark Stoermer were approached by Flowers and Keuning with an offer to join "The Killers", a name which comes from the bass drummer of a band in a New Order video for their song "Crystal".[2]
Initially, The Killers played at large clubs in Las Vegas, Nevada. With the band's lineup stable and their repertoire of songs expanding, the band began to attract attention from talent bookers, local agents, major label, scouts — and a UK representative for Warner Bros. Though the Warner Bros representative passed on the band, he took the demo back with him, showing it to a friend who worked at UK indie label Lizard King. The Killers then signed that summer to a British label.[3]
[edit] Hot Fuss (2003–2005)
They released their album Hot Fuss on June 7, 2004 in the United Kingdom on London-based indie record label Lizard King Records (now Marrakesh Records), and June 15 in the United States on Island Records.[4] Hot Fuss has been classified 4x Platinum by the BPI[5] and 3x Platinum by RIAA.[6] The band also had chart success with their singles "Mr. Brightside", which reached the Top 10 in the UK when released,[7] and "All These Things That I've Done".[8] However, their main mainstream success came when they scored a number three chart position with their re-release of "Somebody Told Me".[4]
[edit] Sam's Town (2005–2007)
The Killers' second album, Sam's Town, was released on October 2, 2006, in the UK, and October 3 in the USA, under Island Def Jam Music Group.[9] Brandon Flowers said that Sam's Town will be "one of the best albums of the past twenty years,"[10] though the album has received a mixed response from critics and fans,[11] it has still remained popular and sold over a million copies as of January 2007.[12] The first single from Sam's Town, "When You Were Young", debuted on radio stations on July 25, 2006.[13] The single then entered the chart on downloads alone at #5, and the following week on its official release went to #2 on the UK Singles Chart.[14] It was unable to knock Scissor Sisters off the top spot.[14] Their single, "Bones", was the second video from the band, and was directed by Tim Burton.[15]
Promoting Sam's Town, the band returned as a musical guest for the 32nd season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 30, 2006.[16] They performed "When You Were Young" and "Bones". The album sold over 315,000 copies worldwide in the first week of release, with a number two debut on the Billboard chart.[17] The album has produced four singles in the United Kingdom and United States: "When You Were Young", "Bones", "Read My Mind", and "For Reasons Unknown".[18]
[edit] Sawdust (2007–2008)
The compilation album called Sawdust, containing B-sides, rarities, and some new material, was released on November 12, 2007.
Since then, Sawdust has been classified Gold by the BPI.[19] The album's first single "Tranquilize", a collaboration with Lou Reed, was released October 12, 2007, in the UK, and on October 22, 2007, in the U.S.[19] The band also released their cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" on the U.S. iTunes Store on October 9, 2007.[20] The band released the video for "Tranquilize" at Yahoo Music. Lou Reed also makes an appearance on the video.[21] The album also contains the songs "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", (a The First Edition cover), "Romeo and Juliet", (a Dire Straits cover), and a new version of "Move Away", (previously available on the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack).[22] One of the tracks on Sawdust is "Leave the Bourbon On The Shelf", the first but previously unreleased part of the so called "The Killers murder trilogy", in which it is followed by "Midnight Show", then "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine". "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf" is about the motive and planning of the crime which, according to Flowers, involves water, but the victim (Jenny) does not drown. "Midnight Show" is the act and attempted escape, and "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" is the capture and interrogation of the perpetrator. In 2005-2006 the band informally announced a 'music videoesc' mini movie (considering none of the trilogy became singles) to tide fans over between the release of "Hot Fuss" and "Sam's Town". This was at the very least postponed considering no further statement has been released regarding the project.[23] The Killers released a Christmas song called "Don't Shoot Me Santa", on December 1, 2007. The song, like "A Great Big Sled", benefits Bono's Product Red campaign to fight AIDS in Africa. The recording was not included on Sawdust.[24]
[edit] Third studio album (2008–present)
Currently, the album is stated to be recorded before the band plays Reading and Leeds in August 2008.[25] Flowers has stated that there is no concept for the third album yet.[26] He did say the band should be heading in the studio in June and it would be produced by Stuart Price. Flowers also stated in an interview with Q Magazine that he was excited to play a new song called "Tidal Wave", influenced by David Bowie's Drive-In Saturday and I Drove All Night by Roy Orbison.
[edit] Influences
Much of The Killers' music is based on British influences (indeed, the band is often described as the "Best British band to have come out of America") and on the music of the 1980s. They appreciate post-punk bands that sprang up in the late 70s and early 80s, such as Joy Division (having recorded a cover of the song "Shadowplay"), and they are also avowed fans of New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, Dire Straits, David Bowie, The Smiths, Morrissey, Depeche Mode, U2,[27] Queen, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Oasis, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Eagles, The Strokes, The Cars and Smashing Pumpkins.[28]
[edit] Notable appearances
The Killers appeared as themselves in 2004, in the popular teen drama The OC. They were playing in a concert at The Bait Shop, attended by the main teen characters, making reference to the band. They played the songs Smile Like You Mean It, which appeared on The OC Mix 2 Album, and Mr Brightside from the album Hot Fuss.[29]
The Killers performed on the London stage of the Live 8 concert on July 2, 2005. They performed "All These Things That I've Done". To their surprise, Robbie Williams (who performed after them) incorporated the song's refrain "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier" into his own performance. Coldplay and U2 followed suit, and at their separate concerts played in Las Vegas, with The Killers in the crowd, they incorporated that famous line into the songs "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" and "Beautiful Day", respectively.[30]
The Killers recorded a live session at Abbey Road Studios for Live from Abbey Road on November 29 2006.[31] They performed an almost totally unplugged set which included a rendition of the Dire Straits hit "Romeo and Juliet". On February 14, 2007, Valentines Day, The Killers attended The BRIT Awards in the UK, and performed "When You Were Young". The band were also up for 2 awards- International Group & International Album. The band won both awards, defeating Scissor Sisters and Gnarls Barkley, respectively.[32]
[edit] Controversy
Since going platinum, the band (and principally Flowers) has incited a few rivalries - most notably with The Bravery and Fall Out Boy, who are both labelmates (Island Records). Flowers has said that these bands, especially The Bravery, are riding on the coattails of the success of The Killers.[33] Additionally, in an article of NME, Flowers claimed Fall Out Boy was hogging the A&R man both bands share, setting off Fall Out Boy's bassist Pete Wentz.[34] However, after Wentz made a couple of rants on his blog in September 2005, he offered a virtual cease-fire.[34] Flowers has since apologized to The Bravery, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! at the Disco, saying "I'd like to take it all back - these people are just doing what they want to do, just like I am," and said that he was "not proud of" his occasional jealousy.[35]
In February 2006, The Killers' former manager, Braden Merrick, filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract when he was fired in May 2005. Merrick's contract was to have run through 2007, and the two sides had been negotiating a settlement before the lawsuit was filed.[36] The Killers are currently fighting a lawsuit against ex-manager Braden Merrick under the California State Labor Commissioner. Merrick is suing The Killers for $3 million for unpaid commissions. The band claims that Merrick booked employment without a license, and thus are seeking to void their management contract. Flowers was seen on camera outside the court with Keuning on TMZ.com on December 19 2007, saying "Well, we like people to be honest."[37]
[edit] Discography
-
Studio Albums:
Compilation Albums:
[edit] Awards and nominations
-
[edit] External links
|
