Biography
Brandon Flowers emerged as the leading vocalist during the new wave resurgence that dominated both the United States and Britain in the first years of the 2000s. Serving as the singer for the Killers, he revived interest in a style dormant for almost twenty years by incorporating elements from numerous 1980s synth-pop acts such as New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, and the Psychedelic Furs, while composing the tracks for the band’s multi-platinum first release, Hot Fuss. He further distinguished himself through an outsized public presence, drawing attention with his wardrobe selections—from sharply fitted suits to oddly adorned feathered shoulder pads—and candid critiques of competing acts. Even as the Killers altered their approach on successive records without following standard patterns, Flowers, who started a solo path in 2010, embraced his role as the most distinctive member.
Raised in the Southwest, he spent his initial eight years in the Las Vegas area before relocating to Utah alongside his family. Several years afterward he moved back to Las Vegas, completed secondary school, and took a position as a bellhop at the Gold Coast Hotel. During his off hours he played keyboards in a synth-pop outfit, yet he was dropped from the lineup once the other members all moved to Los Angeles in 2001. Staying behind in Las Vegas, he began collaborating with local guitarist Dave Keuning to assemble a new group that balanced guitars and keyboards equally. The Killers’ roster was finalized in August 2002 upon the addition of bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci, after which their polished debut album—issued on both sides of the Atlantic in 2004—elevated the band to one of the decade’s major pop acts.
Because of their embrace of synthesizers, cool textures, and additional 1980s hallmarks, the Killers were grouped with retro-leaning peers such as Franz Ferdinand and the Rapture. For the second album, however, the members redirected attention toward Bruce Springsteen’s heartland rock & roll. Issued in October 2006, Sam’s Town featured Brandon Flowers shaping his delivery after the Boss and Bono, and although the record did not match Hot Fuss commercially it still achieved platinum status worldwide. While touring the next summer, Flowers welcomed his first son with wife Tana Mundkowsky, whom he had wed two years earlier.
Following the late-2007 release of the rarities collection Sawdust, the Killers turned to a third album. Day & Age appeared in November 2008 and achieved another global success, highlighted by “Human” reaching the Top Ten across multiple territories. Flowers’ second son arrived during the subsequent tour supporting Day & Age, and his mother died in early 2010. These events prompted continued songwriting, leading him to begin a solo career later that year while the rest of the Killers took a brief break. Flamingo, his debut solo album, came out that autumn. Flowers rejoined the Killers for 2012’s Battle Born yet restarted his independent work in 2015 with The Desired Effect, an album produced by Ariel Rechtshaid.
Raised in the Southwest, he spent his initial eight years in the Las Vegas area before relocating to Utah alongside his family. Several years afterward he moved back to Las Vegas, completed secondary school, and took a position as a bellhop at the Gold Coast Hotel. During his off hours he played keyboards in a synth-pop outfit, yet he was dropped from the lineup once the other members all moved to Los Angeles in 2001. Staying behind in Las Vegas, he began collaborating with local guitarist Dave Keuning to assemble a new group that balanced guitars and keyboards equally. The Killers’ roster was finalized in August 2002 upon the addition of bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci, after which their polished debut album—issued on both sides of the Atlantic in 2004—elevated the band to one of the decade’s major pop acts.
Because of their embrace of synthesizers, cool textures, and additional 1980s hallmarks, the Killers were grouped with retro-leaning peers such as Franz Ferdinand and the Rapture. For the second album, however, the members redirected attention toward Bruce Springsteen’s heartland rock & roll. Issued in October 2006, Sam’s Town featured Brandon Flowers shaping his delivery after the Boss and Bono, and although the record did not match Hot Fuss commercially it still achieved platinum status worldwide. While touring the next summer, Flowers welcomed his first son with wife Tana Mundkowsky, whom he had wed two years earlier.
Following the late-2007 release of the rarities collection Sawdust, the Killers turned to a third album. Day & Age appeared in November 2008 and achieved another global success, highlighted by “Human” reaching the Top Ten across multiple territories. Flowers’ second son arrived during the subsequent tour supporting Day & Age, and his mother died in early 2010. These events prompted continued songwriting, leading him to begin a solo career later that year while the rest of the Killers took a brief break. Flamingo, his debut solo album, came out that autumn. Flowers rejoined the Killers for 2012’s Battle Born yet restarted his independent work in 2015 with The Desired Effect, an album produced by Ariel Rechtshaid.
Albums
Singles
