Brandon Flowers and The Killers kick started their careers in Las Vegas, in 2002, but had begun gathering buzz internationally before their native US.
As a result, The Killers signed to a British label, toured Europe and had earned rave reviews from music journos. Not long after, The U.S caught on and they were signed to Island Def Jam, home of Rihanna.
It wasn’t until 2004 that they managed to release their debut single “Somebody Told Me”. The single received positive reviews and vast radio play worldwide, but The Killers needed an anthem – An epic song that best epitomised the sound of The Killers. That track was “Mr.Brightside.”
A masterpiece on its own, reaching the US Top 10 Singles, the song became a crossover classic through many recognised remixes, and reached dance-floors globally. Later singles off debut album Hot Fuss “All These Things That I’ve Done” and “Smile Like You Mean It” maintained the first-class status, but to many, “Mr Brightside” was the best of a very good bunch. In 2006, The Killers released the follow-up Sam’s Town, immediately dividing fans.
Some praised the move to U2-stlye stadium rock, while others were frustrated – There were certainly no decent dance remixes to any songs off the album. Sam’s Town also divided critics but went on to sell over four million copies thanks to tracks like “When You Were Young” and “Bones”. Day & Age, their third studio album, was released at the end of 2008 and signified another direction for The Killers.
Many expected a genre adjustment but not many guessed the producer would be Stuart Price (Madonna’s Confessions). In retrospect this makes perfect sense, Stuart Price is also known as Jacque Lu Cont, the genius behind the “Mr Brightside” remix above! The consequence of that working relationship was first single “Human”, a track that took radio stations hostage with its infectious nature.
When lead singer Brandon Flowers ponders, “Are we human, or are we dancers,” listeners were transfixed. Then the inconceivable happens - The beat kicks in and The Killers have their first Euro-dance song.
When Chris Martin, lead singer of one of the world’s most popular bands, calls your song “The best single of 2008,” you know something has gone right. Day & Age provided possibly the best album reviews thus far and it went on to sell roughly three million copies.
On the surface they are a rock band from Las Vegas. Look closer and you have a genre-challenging group of anthem makers that will surely get the Good Vibes crowd gyrating!