The Killers

The Killers, a Las Vegas-based rock quartet, evolved from their initial indie dance-rock foundations into leading exponents of anthems shaped by new wave and Americana sensibilities, establishing themselves as international headliners and one of the most cherished American bands during the opening decades of the twenty-first century. Their 2004 debut Hot Fuss blended '80s-styled synth pop with fashion-forward appeal to become one of the era's standout releases, yielding four hit singles that included the enduring favorite "Mr. Brightside" and propelling the group onto the global stage. Following the sharp stylistic pivot on their 2006 sophomore album Sam's Town—which moved away from new wave revivalism toward heartland rock in the vein of Bruce Springsteen and Rattle and Hum-era U2—the band achieved equilibrium across a string of Top Ten releases that reached its peak with the chart-topping Wonderful Wonderful in 2017. Their sixth album, Imploding the Mirage, arrived in 2020 to widespread critical acclaim and delivered a U.S. alternative chart-topper via the single "Caution." Just months afterward they issued the introspective Pressure Machine, and in 2023 they marked two decades together with the greatest-hits collection Rebel Diamonds.

The original lineup of Brandon Flowers on vocals and keyboards, guitarist David Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer, and drummer Ronnie Vannucci formed in late 2001. After leaving his prior synth pop outfit Blush Response rather than relocate to Los Angeles with his bandmates, Flowers stayed in Las Vegas and soon connected with local guitarist and Oasis devotee Keuning. Within weeks the pair had written the future radio staple "Mr. Brightside." Stoermer, previously a medical courier, and Vannucci, a classical percussion student at UNLV, completed the group, and the Killers began performing in hometown clubs.

A Warner Bros. representative in the U.K. heard early buzz surrounding the band and, though he passed on signing them, forwarded their demo to London indie label Lizard King. That imprint quickly brought the Killers aboard, prompting a temporary move to the U.K. and the release of a limited-edition single for "Mr. Brightside." By fall 2003 the group's profile had crossed back to the United States, earning them a high-profile slot at New York's annual CMJ Music Marathon. A worldwide contract with Island soon followed, placing the Killers alongside fellow indie and post-punk revival acts such as Interpol, the Rapture, and the Strokes.

Co-headlining U.K. shows with British Sea Power and stellastarr* in 2004 allowed the Killers to preview material from their debut Hot Fuss, which appeared that June. "Somebody Told Me," "Mr. Brightside," "Smile Like You Mean It," and "All These Things That I've Done" all registered as international hits, while Hot Fuss climbed to number seven on the Billboard 200. Capitalizing on the momentum, Flowers emerged as a prominent media figure and frequently criticized acts such as the Bravery for emulating his band's path to mainstream success. His assurance proved justified: by 2006 Hot Fuss had received five Grammy nominations and surpassed five million copies sold.

Rather than pause after an intensive touring schedule, the Killers immediately began recording a follow-up. They converted a newly constructed space at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas into their studio and recruited producers Flood and Alan Moulder, whose prior credits included U2 and the Smashing Pumpkins. Turning from the glamour of their hometown that had informed Hot Fuss, the band explored themes of nostalgia and the erosion of traditional American ideals, citing Bruce Springsteen as a primary inspiration. Leadoff single "When You Were Young" built anticipation for Sam's Town, released in early October 2006. Although the album did not replicate the debut's commercial reach, it sold 700,000 copies worldwide in its first week, produced three U.S. singles, and earned two further Grammy nominations. The following year Sawdust appeared, compiling B-sides, rarities, and remixes as an interim release.

The Killers resurfaced in 2008 with Day & Age, which abandoned the Americana leanings of Sam's Town in favor of pop-oriented pastiches and sleek, Bowie-inflected dance-rock. Producer Stuart Price, previously associated with Madonna and Gwen Stefani, reinforced the return to the dancefloor, and the Top 40 single "Human" sustained their commercial momentum. An extensive tour extended into 2009, which also brought the concert album Live from the Royal Albert Hall. Solo projects occupied much of the ensuing period, including Brandon Flowers' Flamingo, Ronnie Vannucci's Big Talk, and Mark Stoermer's Another Life.

Reconvening in early 2011, the band recorded its fourth studio album with producers Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, Damian Taylor, Stuart Price, and Brendan O'Brien. Battle Born appeared in September 2012, reaching number three on the Billboard 200, while lead single "Runaways" entered the Hot 100. In early 2013 the Killers revealed plans for their first greatest-hits set; Direct Hits arrived in November and included two new tracks, "Shot at Night" produced by M83 and "Just Another Girl" produced by Stuart Price.

In 2015 the Killers began writing material for a fifth album and enlisted Jacknife Lee as primary producer. The resulting Wonderful Wonderful, issued in 2017, featured contributions from Mark Knopfler and Brian Eno along with the radio hit "The Man." It entered at number one in the U.K., Australia, and the United States. Prior to touring, the band announced that Mark Stoermer and David Keuning would sit out the road dates without formally departing. Flowers and Vannucci continued with touring musicians Jake Blanton, Ted Sablay, Robbie Connolly, and Taylor Milne.

By decade's end the original lineup had effectively contracted to a flexible trio, with Keuning absent from the next album and Stoermer contributing bass to only select tracks. That 2020 release, Imploding the Mirage, opened a new chapter. Flowers and Vannucci were joined by multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Rado of Foxygen and guests Adam Granduciel of War on Drugs, k.d. lang, Natalie Mering of Weyes Blood, Stuart Price, Blake Mills, Lucius, and Lindsey Buckingham. The critically praised album topped charts in Australia and the U.K. and reached the U.S. Top Ten on the strength of Alternative singles "Caution" and "My Own Soul's Warning." A deluxe edition followed in early 2021, adding the previously unreleased "C'est La Vie" and reworked versions of "Caution" and "Blowback." Plans for another album involving Keuning and Stoermer were already underway when the band collaborated with Bruce Springsteen on a reimagined Day & Age track retitled "Dustland," released as a one-off single shortly before the seventh album was announced.

Pressure Machine, unveiled less than a year after Imploding the Mirage, represented a pronounced departure. This restrained concept album centered on Flowers' hometown of Nephi, Utah, shedding the group's customary anthemic scale and Vegas sheen to probe the hardships of small-town existence. The contemplative record reached number nine on the Billboard 200 and included appearances by Phoebe Bridgers on "Runaway Horses" and Dawes on "The Getting By." A year later the anthemic "Boy" signaled a return to the band's signature '80s-inflected sound, echoed by the synth-driven follow-up "Your Side of Town." Both tracks appeared on Rebel Diamonds, the 2023 greatest-hits compilation commemorating twenty years together.