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The Killers

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Killers are an American rock band from Las Vegas, formed in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (vocals, keyboards, bass) and guitarist Dave Keuning. Flowers had been thrown out of his first band, a synth-pop trio, and after an Oasis concert decided that he wanted to play in a rock band. He answered an advertisement from Keuning. At their first meeting Keuning gave him a tape with an early riff of Mr. Brightside, and the next time Flowers came back with lyrics and melody. The name comes from a fictional band in the video for Crystal by New Order. In 2002 bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined.

Music and breakthrough

In Las Vegas, where punk, nu metal and rap dominated, the group stood out with a blend of British pop styles and lo-fi indie rock. The debut album Hot Fuss was released in 2004. Sam's Town followed in 2006, Day & Age in 2008, Battle Born in 2012, Wonderful Wonderful in 2017, Imploding the Mirage in 2020 and Pressure Machine in 2021. Each of those seven albums reached the top of the British album chart. They have performed in more than fifty countries, including at Madison Square Garden, Wembley and at Glastonbury in 2007 and 2019.

Influence

The Killers sound like a guitar band with a synthesizer at its heart: danceable rhythms, rousing choruses and a voice that is allowed to be theatrical. They show how the British post-punk and synth-pop of the 1980s came back in the rock of the twenty-first century. The group is seen as one of the biggest rock bands of our time.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mr. Brightside by The Killers. Notice the fast guitar riff that keeps returning, and how the chorus pushes the tempo and tension up even further.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: Artists