The Killers

The Killers formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. Lead singer Brandon Flowers dropped out of college and left his last band, Blush Response, to start a new musical project. Wanting to combine the keyboard-driven synth-pop music of Blush Response with the sound of classic post-punk bands like Joy Division and The Smiths, Flowers - then working as a bellman at a Las Vegas hotel - put out a "band members wanted" ad... More >

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The Killers formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. Lead singer Brandon Flowers dropped out of college and left his last band, Blush Response, to start a new musical project. Wanting to combine the keyboard-driven synth-pop music of Blush Response with the sound of classic post-punk bands like Joy Division and The Smiths, Flowers - then working as a bellman at a Las Vegas hotel - put out a "band members wanted" ad in the classifieds section of the newspaper.

Guitarist Dave Keuning was the first to join after meeting Flowers and finding they had similar musical interests. Though Keuning's roommate and another friend filled in the empty bass and guitar slots for a time, they were eventually replaced by current drummer Ronnie Vannucci and bassist Mark Stoermer. Naming themselves "The Killers" after the text on a bass drum during New Order's music video Crystal, the band began covertly practicing in recital rooms at The University of Nevada Las Vegas, where Vannucci was studying professional percussion.

The band, now with a clear direction and a stable lineup, began playing extensively in Las Vegas clubs. A representative for Warner Brothers UK took an interest in the band, but seeing no place for them in the current WB UK lineup, sent their demo to a friend at English independent record label Lizard King. They signed to Lizard King in early 2004, before releasing their first full-length album Hot Fuss. The Killers' astute blend of moody post-punk (much like contemporaries The Strokes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) and towering arena-rock sensibilities (U2 and Oasis were two of their greatest influences) went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide, launching the independent band to international superstardom with hits like Somebody Told Me and Mr. Brightside.

Their second album, 2006's Sam's Town, has been equally successful, selling over 4,000,000 units worldwide. Due to their contract with an English record label, the bands distinct Britrock influences, and Flowers' distorted, ambiguously accented vocals, The Killers had long been thought by many to be a British band. Sam's Town addressed the issue by having a decidedly more American slant, with the band naming Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen as top influences. Standout tracks include Read My Mind, When You Were Young, and For Reasons Unknown.

After releasing two Christmas songs for AIDS-awareness brand Product RED (Don't Shoot Me Santa, A Great Big Sled) and Sawdust, a compilation of one-offs, covers, b-sides and unreleased material in 2007, The Killers are hard at work on their fourth full-length album, to be released in late 2008.

From Lastfm:

There are at least five artists which use this name 1. The Killers are a rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, formed in 2001 and consist of Brandon Flowers (vocals, keyboards), Dave Keuning (guitar, backing vocals), Mark Stoermer (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion). The band's four studio albums to date have sold in excess of 18 million copies worldwide combined.

Read more about The Killers on Last.fm.

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From Wikipedia:

The Killers are an American Indie band from Las Vegas, Nevada, which formed in 2002. The band consists of Brandon Flowers (vocals, keyboards), Dave Keuning (guitar, backing vocals), Mark Stoermer (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion).

An alternative rock band, The Killers draw some of their influences from the music styles of the 1980s. The group's debut album, Hot Fuss (2004) brought the band mainstream success. The Killers' second album, Sam's Town, was released in 2006, and compilation album Sawdust containing B-sides, rarities, and new material, was released in 2007. Their third studio album, Day & Age, produced by Stuart Price, was released in 2008.

The band has sold over 5 million albums in the United States, over 4.5 million albums in the United Kingdom and over 15 million worldwide.

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