THE KILLERS: Vital Signs

If all this name dropping sounds like a dream come true, it’s important to remember that when they first paired up, Flowers worked as a hotel bellhop and Keuning schlepped clothes at Banana Republic. The pair met through a 2002 newspaper ad Keuning placed in The Las Vegas Sun, citing Oasis as an influence.

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“I remember Brandon had Clarks shoes on, like Oasis,” Keuning chuckles, thinking back on his first impression of his future singer. “And I remember opening the door and thinking immediately, he’s not like the others. I could pretty much tell in the first minute that he was going to work but we still had to go through the motions of meeting. And we didn’t really say anything. I had my keyboard in my room and he just kind of came over the next day with his keyboard.”

“And we kind of instantly went to work,” Flowers adds. “We started looking for people right away to join our band. So we kind of went through that process together. We’d call people from ads and they’d come over or we’d go to their houses. And it’s true, the moment they’d open the door we’d kind of know. It was a frustrating time, meeting all of those people. But it was kind of fun. You never knew who was going to be behind the door!”

Once their lineup was intact, The Killers came up with their biggest hit almost instantly. “We had our ups and downs writing together in the beginning,” Flowers remembers, “but we had ‘Mr. Brightside’ right away. And so that was always-even when we only played it to twenty people in a bar-obvious that it was different from other bands and different from our other songs. I went through this Saddle Creek phase, listening to all of that stuff [ on that label]. And we started writing these ‘indie rock pour-your-heart-out’ kind of songs, but it just never felt right. So we actually went through phases on the way to getting Ronnie and Mark. Once we were altogether, it was considerably stronger.”

And being able to work off of each other has continued to help the band through songwriting troubles. “Writers block hasn’t been a problem so far for us,” the guitarist says, “because the four of us write music. So even if one of us is struggling, we usually plow through it.”

However, Flowers admits he sometimes struggles with lyrics. “I was never a big reader, but because I want to improve as a writer, I’ve been forced to read more now,” he says. “And it really does help with lyrics, and it’s opened up my mind a little bit. Reading really does help me, plus it takes my mind off of the problem, because you can obsess over it.”

Keuning says they’ve had a number of incomplete songs that he’s been quite fond of, but because they were only “halfway there, we’ve had to abandon them.”

Still, Flowers acknowledges they have gone back to salvage a few of them, to tremendous effect. “With ‘Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine,’we had the verse forever,” he remembers, “and we knew in our hearts that it was good. But we wondered if we’d ever get past that verse. And then the day came where Mark started playing the chorus. And it could have been anybody. Because we’re able to work together like that it helps us to avoid being stuck a lot of the time.”

“Brandon might bring in a song he has on keyboards without giving any direction, and Mark will come in on bass and Ronnie will come in on drums,” Keuning explains. “And I’ll noodle around on the guitar until things sort of formulate. We have to spend time together, working through the songs, because what we start out with may not be what we end up with. And sometimes songs just spawn out of jamming together.”

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  1. What a great article, The Killers deserve the success they have achieved and will be around for a very long time. I have only heard a few songs off their new album and they are brilliant and Human is a particular favourite which I think is going to be as popular as their other great hits. You can also hear every word that Brandon Flowers sings and he is the perfect frontman.

  2. Aww i love The Killers! I’m so relieved to hear them talk about Day And Age, because i haven’t heard them say a word about it and it was making me think that they weren’t too satisfied with it. Like, for Sam’s Town and the whole “best album in the past 20 years”. I haven’t heard any of them say anything like that and it’s released next month. And if TK wasn’t feeling it, it would take the joy out of it for me. Because i want them to feel amazed by their work and not half-hearted about anything. But they finally commented on it! I’m even more excited now!! Can’t wait to hear some more new lyrics! The Killers are amazing. It’s just a pity that LOTS of Americans don’t know them, or any of the amazing things that The Killlers are capable of bringing to your life. 😀

  3. Aww i love The Killers! Can’t wait for the new album! I’m so glad that they’re finally commenting on their new album. I haven’t really heard them say anything about how pleased they were with it. Like, when Sam’s Town came out, there was the whole “best album in the past 20 years” thing. But this time, i haven’t heard andything, except things from fand and critics. And that kind of upset me, because if The Killers aren’t feeling Day And Age, then it will take away a lot of excitement from me when i listen to it. Because i want them to feel amazed by their work, not just half-hearted about it. And now, they’ve finally spoke about it, and i’m super psyched, even more than i already was. Can’t wait to hear some more new lyrics! The Killers are AMAZING!

  4. the killers are the best!
    i love brandon and dave…they’re so down to earth, thats why people appreciates them…keep it up boys! you rock!

    and I dont know why people criticize Sams Town so much, it is my favorite album!
    i think its great, coz they re invented themselves from Hot Fuss, and cant wait For Day and Age, its gonna be ace!

  5. the killers are one of my favorite bands, in my top 5 atleast. they’re work is all very spacey, but very good. The music can stand alone by itself, but brandons voice, and lyrics set it apart from anything out now on the radio, i just wish people would stop listening to bullshit like nickleback and start listening to real music. I just think the fact that i listen to allot of acoustic music, this stuff really gives me the breath of fresh air i need and the belief that great music and lyrics can compliment themselves instead of outshine one another.

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