Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Killers

The Killers are an American rock band that was formed in 2001, by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards) and Dave Keuning (guitar, backing vocals). Mark Stoermer (bass, backing vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion).
The name The Killers comes from the bass drum of a fictional band in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal"

The Killers have released three studio albums, Hot Fuss (2004), Sam's Town (2006) and Day & Age (2008). They have also released one compilation album, Sawdust (2007) containing B-sides, rarities, and unreleased material, and one live album and DVD titled Live From The Royal Albert Hall (2009). To date, the band has sold over 6 million albums in the United States, over 5 million albums in the United Kingdom and over 15 million worldwide.

On February 24, 2010,''Rolling Stone''magazine revealed that Ray Davies has chosen to contribute to the Killers album cover of The Kinks', which came out at the end of the year.

In April 2010, he announced that Ronnie Vannucci Jr. will join the Mt. Desolation, along with members of Keane and Mumford & Sons, which will release a country album in the near future. On April 29, Brandon Flowers said that he would release a solo album, titled Flamingo. With 10 songs, this album will be released on September 6 in the UK and 14 September in the United States. This album's first single, "Crossfire", released on June 21, 2010, through iTunes in the United States and Canada. The album was released in the UK on August 23, 2010.

The Killers also has a Battle Born Studios in which all members of record Day & Age and Flamingo. Other artists who recorded include, among others as a member of Motley Crue, Elton John, Third Eye Blind, Aerosmith, Kansas, etc.

The Killers have won four NME Awards: "Best International Band" in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and Best Video for "Bones" in 2006. They have also picked up two awards in the first NME Awards USA in 2008 for "Best Band" and "Best Track" for "Tranquilize". The Killers have also been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, but have yet to win. In 2006 the band won the BRIT Award for "Best International Band" and the album Sam's Town won "Best International Album".

Absolute Radio listeners also voted "Mr. Brightside" as the best song of the decade.
The readers of the American music magazine Rolling Stone, in December 2009, voted Sam's Town the "most underrated album of the decade". The magazine also ranked Hot Fuss as the 43rd best album in their "100 Best Albums of the Decade" list. and Mr. Brightside was ranked the 48th Best Song Of The Decade. In 2008, Rolling Stone readers voted Day & Age the "Album of the Year".

Spin voted The Killers among the 30 Biggest Concerts of 2009 for their January 19 show at Magness Arena in Denver, Colorado. Spin's Tim Dwenger wrote about the show saying, "The production quality of the show was top notch, and it was immediately clear why The Killers are on the arena circuit."

In October 2010, Mr. Brightside was voted at 9 in the Greatest Guitar Riffs of the 21st Century so far by Total Guitar magazine

The Killers have become recognized for their work with the Product Red campaign, headed by Bono and Bobby Shriver. To date they have released five Christmas themed songs and music videos, A Great Big Sled (2006), Don't Shoot Me Santa (2007), Joseph, Better You Than Me (2008), ¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe! (2009) and Boots (2010); all proceeds from which have been donated to Product Red campaign and the fight against AIDS in Africa. They have also enlisted the help of other acts including Elton John, Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys), Toni Halliday (Curve), Wild Light and Mariachi El Bronx. The songs have been released each year on World AIDS Day, December 1.

Additionally, their song "Goodnight, Travel Well" was used in an effort to promote awareness for sex trafficking headed by UNICEF, MTV EXIT (End Exploitation And Trafficking) and the US Agency for International Development. The song "Hotel California" was covered by the Killers and Rhythms del Mundo for climate crisis and natural disaster relief.

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