The Killers

The Best British Band to Come out of America

Getting their name from the faux band in New Order’s “Crystal” music video, the Killers have combined one part nostalgia and one part pop song to make a true success story. Whether they’re a Post-Punk band influenced by Classic and Alternative Rock or an Indie Rock band with a New Wave sound, the Killers are unique and refreshing.

It only gets more confusing when the band cites its influences like Dire Straits, David Bowie, Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran and The Cure. The Killers’ real influence, however, comes from the mesh of British gloom and Las Vegas glamour that dominates their music. Channeling misery in the form of The Cure and stories that only could’ve originated in sin city, The Killers have turned “Somebody Told Me,” “Mr. Brightside” and “When You Were Young” into hits.
Before the success of Hot Fuss (2004) and Sam’s Town (2006) though, The Killers were just a couple of guys trying to get by. Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, and Ronnie Vannucci all come from working class families and had blue-collar jobs until they made it big. (See Meet the Killers on the next page.) It’s no wonder they have a thing for British music too. They were turned down by many labels in the U.S. including one that saw them 10 times. When a representative from London’s Lizard King Records got a hold of their demo tape, he signed them immediately.

Since then, The Killers have appeared on Saturday Night Live and the OC, performed on the Live 8 charity concert, and toured with U2. Friday, April 13 they arrive at The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center ready to rock out.

Meet The Killers

Brandon Flowers– Vocalist & Keyboardist
Flowers was raised in Nephi, Utah where he swears he was the only fan of The Smiths, a 1980s indie label band from the UK. It was a defining moment in the car after his first college class that he realized he wanted to be a part of the music industry. The song that started it all for Flowers - “Changes” by David Bowie. To pursue his dream, Flowers taught himself keyboards while working odd jobs in Vegas. After his first band gave him the boot when he refused to move to Los Angeles, Flowers took a job as a bellhop while searching the want ads for another band.

Dave Keuning– Guitarist
Keuning grew up in Pella, Iowa. Inspired by consistently listening to U2’s albums, The Unforgettable Fire and Achtung Baby, Keuning learned to play the guitar and joined his high school jazz band and a local Christian rock band. Keuning made his way from the Midwest to Vegas to get more into the music scene. While sending out ads to find a band influenced by The Beatles, Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins and U2, Keuning worked at Banana Republic, mainly for the discount. After months of interviewing, Keuning was about to give up when he finally received a call from Flowers.

Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. – Drummer
Born and raised in Vegas, Vannucci has had a passion for music, specifically the drums, since he learned to walk. He remembers banging on everything in the house and at the age of six became the youngest artist to perform in a Las Vegas band when he played the drums for “Play That Funky Music White Boy” in a casino lounge. As a starving student of classical percussion at UNLV, Vannucci made ends meet by working as a photographer at a chapel and as a pedicab driver on the strip in Vegas. Hesitant to join the group in the beginning, Vannucci eventually caved in to Keuning and Flowers.

Mark Stoermer– Bassist
Stoermer was an unlikely band member given that he hadn’t really listened to rock music while growing up in Vegas. This former marching band trumpet player found plenty of time to catch up, however, when he found himself in a medical courier job that consisted of driving around all day listening to music. His CD collection consisted of The Cure, U2 and New Order in addition to the works of bassists Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who’s, John Entwistle and Paul McCartney. Stoermer soon found himself in a band playing bass and was later approached by Flowers and Keuning. He was the last to join the band in 2002.