The First Time: The Killers
The Killers are currently in a bit of a limbo state as they await word on when they can reschedule their world tour and release their upcoming record, Imploding the Mirage. But earlier this year, before anyone knew the term “COVID-19,” they stepped by Rolling Stone‘s studio to share memories of key first time moments in their lives, including the first time they heard their music on the radio, the first time they performed in public and the first time they attended a live concert.
Brandon Flowers says that his first show was the Cure, most likely at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center on August 8th, 1996. “They played a song called ‘Push,’” he says. “I wasn’t familiar with The Head on the Door yet, which has become one of my favorite Cure records. But when they played ‘Push,’ the room changed and my life changed. I can still see the stage and the smoke and people’s hair. It really effected me, that song. And it still does.”
As Flowers and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. note at the top of the video, they are just “half of the Killers.” Bassist Mark Stoermer has been largely hiatus from the group over the past few years, though he plays a bit on the new record and hopes to join them for select gigs whenever they tour again. Guitarist Dave Keuning is another situation. Imploding the Mirage is the first Killers record not to feature him in any capacity, and he hasn’t played a show with them in several years even though the band says he’s technically still a member.
“I don’t want to spill too much dirty laundry, but it’s been years since he’s been really been a productive part of this band,” Vannucci recently told Rolling Stone. “And it sucks. We have to get used to it, and hopefully that will level out and we’ll figure out a way forward. He can come back if that’s what he wants. This is all his decision.”
In the meantime, Vannucci and Flowers have been doing their best to promote their new songs from quarantine. In recent weeks, they’ve done acoustic renditions of “Caution” and “Blowback” on various television shows live from their homes.
