The Killers' 2004 debut Hot Fuss immediately propelled the Las Vegas synth-infused indie rockers into the mainstream. Celebrating multiple platinum status across much of the globe and hitting the No.1 spot on the UK album chart, the record spawned a quartet of huge singles, not least the timeless 'Mr Brightside'. For years following the release, the track would continue to dominate streaming and downloading platforms, and quickly established itself as a staple on dance-floors around the world.
Hot Fuss arrived just two years after The Killers' formation, when vocalist Brandon Flowers responded to an advert penned by guitarist David Kuening. The first track they wrote together was 'Mr Brightside'. Soon after bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci joined – and Flowers' former group Blush Response disbanded – the band began playing local Las Vegas venues.
Among its many accolades, their debut album secured The Killers five Grammy nominations. The record's four singles – 'Somebody Told Me', 'Smile Like You Mean It', 'All These Things That I've Done' and 'Mr Brightside' – became global smash hits, and after touring the record across the world, The Killers quickly began work on their follow-up. Setting up shop in Las Vegas' brand new Studio At The Palms with prolific producers Flood and Alan Moulder, the group began to inject Americana influences into their sound for 2006's Sam's Town.
Citing Bruce Springsteen as a major influence, Flowers and his bandmates secured another two Grammy nominations before dropping Sawdust - a relatively early B-side and rarity collection. It laid the path for 2008's Day & Age, a record that mixed more overt pop influences with the Americana of Sam's Town and the glitz of Hot Fuss. Lead single 'Human' immediately showcased this new refined sound, crafted with the help of Madonna and Gwen Stefani producer Stuart Price.
Following Day & Age, the band took a break to focus on individual projects. It would be three years until they teamed up again, reuniting with Price and a veritable who's-who of top producers for 2012's Battle Born. The album became the band's fourth consecutive UK No.1 record, led by the single 'Runaways'. A greatest hits compilation followed a year later, including new tracks 'Shot At Night' and 'Just Another Girl'.
Thirteen years after the release of their Hot Fuss debut, The Killers would hit the No.1 spot on the US chart for the first time with 2017's Wonderful Wonderful. The record also continued their feat of topping the UK chart with each release. Following the album, founding members Stoermer and Keuning took a step back, with Flowers and Vannucci teaming up with touring musicians for the subsequent global run.
By their sixth album, 2020's Imploding The Mirage, The Killers had become a loose duo. After initially scrapping six months worth of material, the pair enlisted a plethora of special guests, including k.d. lang, Foxygen's Jonathan Rado, War On Drugs' Adam Granduciel, Natalie Mering of Weyes Blood and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham.
In early March 2021, The Killers announced the UK dates of their huge Imploding The Mirage Tour were being rescheduled to summer 2022, with an extra show added at Falkirk Stadium.
Almost exactly a year after releasing Imploding The Mirage, they unveiled their seventh album, Pressure Machine, in August 2021 featuring the collaborative track 'Runaway Horses' with Phoebe Bridgers.
In December 2023, ahead of the release of new compilation album Rebel Diamonds, The Killers announced shows for summer 2024 in Dublin, Manchester, Glasgow and London.
