the Killers: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

The Killers welded Las Vegas neon to Manchester synth-pop, then swerved into heartland Americana — a band built from Dave Keuning's Oasis-and-Smiths want ad and Brandon Flowers' conversion experience watching Oasis at the Hard Rock. This mix traces the British new wave scaffolding, the Mormon-Nevada hinterland that produced Pressure Machine, and the stadium-emo descendants who grew up on Hot Fuss.

The Kynda mix for the Killers

• Key Influence · Definitely Maybe by Oasis (1994). Brandon Flowers has repeatedly described seeing Oasis perform in Las Vegas as the moment he decided to form a band; Dave Keuning's newspaper ad seeking bandmates named Oasis among his touchstones, which is how the two met in 2001. The swaggering, unembarrassed scale of these songs — the belief that a bar band should sound like it is playing an arena — shaped the Killers' refusal to adopt the ironic cool of their New York contemporaries.
• Influencia Obscura · Hats by The Blue Nile (1989). Flowers is an evangelist for this cult Glasgow trio, whose expensive-sounding synthesizer ballads about rain-slicked city streets inform the Killers' quieter register — the widescreen loneliness of songs like Goodnight, Travel Well. Paul Buchanan's method of letting a single vocal line hang over vast electronic space is the template for how Flowers writes melancholy, as opposed to the Springsteen mode he uses for uplift.
• Local Roots · A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco (2005). Four Las Vegas teenagers who formed their band as a Blink-182 cover act and then, by their own account, rebuilt themselves around the theatrical synth-pop the Killers had just made commercially viable. Their early demos circulated in the same small Vegas scene, and both bands proved that a city built on spectacle and transience could export rock music rather than merely host touring acts in its casinos.
• Beyond the Medium · Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders (1984). Wenders' study of an amnesiac drifting back through the American southwest supplies the visual and emotional grammar of the Killers' second act — the desert highways, motel signage and wrecked families that fill Sam's Town and Pressure Machine. The band's videos and album art lean on this tradition of European directors photographing America as myth, which is precisely how a Las Vegas native sees his own country.
• Peer · Turn On the Bright Lights by Interpol (2002). Released as the Killers were cutting their first demos, Interpol's debut drew on the same Joy Division and New Order lineage from the opposite coast, and critics bracketed the two bands constantly during the early-2000s post-punk revival. Where Interpol went monochrome and funereal, the Killers went chrome and euphoric — the comparison clarifies exactly what Flowers' pop instinct added to the shared source material.
• From the Canon · Hot Fuss by The Killers (2004). Recorded cheaply in Las Vegas after the band were rejected by American labels and signed instead to Britain's Lizard King, the debut fused Keuning's Marr-derived guitar to Flowers' synthesizers and produced Mr. Brightside — a song that has spent an extraordinary number of cumulative weeks on the UK chart. It remains the clearest statement of the band's founding idea: English new wave melody delivered with American scale.
• Key Collaborator · Violator by Depeche Mode (1990). Flood produced Sam's Town with Alan Moulder and returned for later Killers work, bringing the exact craft heard here: synthesizers given the weight of rock instruments, drums treated as architecture, pop songs made enormous without losing their menace. Hiring the man behind Depeche Mode's masterpiece was the Killers announcing they intended to sound like a stadium band rather than a club band.
• Legacy · Night Visions by Imagine Dragons (2012). The second great Las Vegas rock export, formed in the city a decade after the Killers and openly indebted to them for proving a Vegas band could sell records worldwide. Dan Reynolds, like Flowers, is a Latter-day Saint writing anthemic songs about doubt and belonging, and the group's fusion of stadium percussion with synthesizer hooks extends the template Hot Fuss and Day & Age established.

What influenced the Killers

• New Order. Band members cited New Order as an influence. (also via Power, Corruption & Lies, Crystal) “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• U2 (1976). Band members cited U2 as an influence. (also via Sam's Town, Ultraviolet (Light My Way)) “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• Oasis. Keuning's ad named Oasis as an influence for the band he wanted to form. (also via Definitely Maybe) “Keuning's original newspaper ad sought to assemble a band influenced by Oasis , the Smashing Pumpkins , David Bowie , and Radiohead .” (Wikipedia)
• The Smiths. Band members cited the Smiths as an influence. (also via The Queen Is Dead) “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• Bruce Springsteen (1949). Band members cited Bruce Springsteen as an influence. “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• the Strokes. The Killers are identified as a band influenced by the Strokes. (also via Is This It) “The Strokes have heavily influenced bands like The Killers , Arctic Monkeys , and Franz Ferdinand .” (Wikipedia)
• Depeche Mode (1980). Band members cited Depeche Mode as an influence. (also via Violator) “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• Pet Shop Boys. Band members cited Pet Shop Boys as an influence. “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• The Cars. Band members cited the Cars as an influence. “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• Casino by Martin Scorsese (1995). Casino (Martin Scorsese) — culture for The Killers “He worked with both De Niro and DiCaprio on Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1978). Band members cited OMD as an influence. “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• The Cure. Band members cited the Cure as an influence. “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• Power, Corruption & Lies by New Order. Power, Corruption & Lies (New Order) — titan for The Killers “The group's name comes from a fictional band in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal", which Flowers was a fan of.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Crystal by New Order. A fictional band in the video for New Order's song supplied the Killers' name. “The group's name comes from a fictional band in the music video for the New Order song " Crystal ", which Flowers was a fan of.” (Wikipedia)
• Duran Duran. Band members cited Duran Duran as an influence. “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen , U2 , the Cure , the Cars , and the Smiths , along with more synth -based acts like Duran Duran , Depeche Mode , Pet Shop Boys , New Order , and OMD .” (Wikipedia)
• David Bowie (1947). Keuning's ad named David Bowie as an influence. “Keuning's original newspaper ad sought to assemble a band influenced by Oasis , the Smashing Pumpkins , David Bowie , and Radiohead .” (Wikipedia)
• Definitely Maybe by Oasis (1994). Definitely Maybe (Oasis) — titan for The Killers “After attending an Oasis concert at the Hard Rock Hotel during The Tour of Brotherly Love, Flowers realized his calling was to be in a rock band and began searching for like-minded musicians.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Radiohead (1985). Keuning's ad named Radiohead as an influence. “Keuning's original newspaper ad sought to assemble a band influenced by Oasis , the Smashing Pumpkins , David Bowie , and Radiohead .” (Wikipedia)
• The Smashing Pumpkins. Keuning's ad named the Smashing Pumpkins as an influence. “Keuning's original newspaper ad sought to assemble a band influenced by Oasis , the Smashing Pumpkins , David Bowie , and Radiohead .” (Wikipedia)
• The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths (1986). The Queen Is Dead (The Smiths) — titan for The Killers “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen, U2, the Cure, the Cars, and the Smiths, along with more synth-based acts like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, and OMD.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• ELV1S: 30 No. 1 Hits by Elvis Presley. The compilation's artwork inspired the band's logo motif. “Flowers noticed the album artwork on the then-new Elvis Presley compilation album ELV1S: 30 No. 1 Hits . Inspired to use a marquee sign motif as the band's logo” (Wikipedia)
• Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985). Psychocandy (The Jesus and Mary Chain) — ghost for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)
• Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders (1984). Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders) — culture for The Killers (themoviedb.org)
• Hats by The Blue Nile (1989). Hats (The Blue Nile) — ghost for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)
• The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon (Joseph Smith) — culture for The Killers (openlibrary.org)

Peers and kindred spirits

• Jimmy Kimmel. The discography credits Kimmel with The Killers on the song. “Joining forces with fellow Vegas child Jimmy Kimmel, this year the band recorded a tune called “Joel the Lump of Coal,” an equal parts sweet and sardonic story about a rock who does not want to be a gift for naughty children.” (SPIN)
• Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna (2005). Confessions on a Dance Floor (Madonna) — collaborator for The Killers “=== Madonna === Price is perhaps best known for his work with Madonna's tenth studio album Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Eyes Open by Snow Patrol (2006). Eyes Open (Snow Patrol) — collaborator for The Killers “He has worked with a variety of artists, including the Cars, U2, R.E.M., the Killers, Robbie Williams, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, AFI, the Hives, Weezer, One Direction, Silversun Pickups, Editors, Modest Mouse, Lonnie…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Phoebe Bridgers. Bridgers appeared on The Killers' album. “Bridgers would appear on The Killers ' album Pressure Machine on the track "Runaway Horses"” (Wikipedia)
• Hotel California by Eagles. The Killers and Rhythms del Mundo covered the song. “" Hotel California " was covered by the Killers and Rhythms del Mundo with proceeds benefiting climate crisis and natural disaster relief.” (Wikipedia)
• Is This It by The Strokes (2001). Is This It (The Strokes) — peer for The Killers “They had first approached him when they were considering turning the band into a five-piece, "possibly more like the Strokes, with a keyboard".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Robbie Williams. The Killers co-wrote and performed on a Robbie Williams song. “The band co-wrote and performed on the song " Mixed Signals " from Robbie Williams ' eleventh studio album, The Heavy Entertainment Show , released in November 2016” (Wikipedia)
• Violator by Depeche Mode (1990). Violator (Depeche Mode) — collaborator for The Killers “Band members have also cited artists such as Bruce Springsteen, U2, the Cure, the Cars, and the Smiths, along with more synth-based acts like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, and OMD.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Shadowplay by Joy Division. The Killers recorded a cover of Joy Division's song. “The album's first single, a cover of " Shadowplay " by Joy Division which was recorded for the soundtrack to the Anton Corbijn directed biopic Control , was released in October 2007.” (Wikipedia)
• Ultraviolet (Light My Way) by U2. The Killers covered a U2 song. “The U2 song " Ultraviolet (Light My Way) " was covered by the Killers with proceeds benefiting famine-stricken areas.” (Wikipedia)
• Lou Reed. Lou Reed collaborated with the band on Tranquilize. “" Tranquilize ", a collaboration with Lou Reed , was released four days later as the second single from Sawdust .” (Wikipedia)
• Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley (1964). Viva Las Vegas (Elvis Presley) — geography for The Killers “What Ronnie did — he was the discipline — and Mark was just a solid musician." While walking through a Virgin Megastore in Las Vegas in 2002, Flowers noticed the album artwork on the then-new Elvis Presley compilation album ELV1S: 30 No.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits. The band performed a rendition of the Dire Straits song. “They performed an almost totally unplugged set, which included stripped back versions of the album's title track "Sam's Town", "When You Were Young" and a rendition of the Dire Straits song " Romeo and Juliet ".” (Wikipedia)
• Jeff Saltzman. Saltzman worked with the band on the album's recording. (via Hot Fuss) “The band finished recording Hot Fuss in November 2003 with Jeff Saltzman.” (Wikipedia)
• Alan Moulder. Moulder produced the band's second studio album. (via Sam's Town) “the Killers headed back into the studio to start recording their second studio album with producers Alan Moulder and Flood , who were working together for the first time in a decade.” (Wikipedia)
• Flood. Flood produced the band's second studio album. (via Sam's Town) “the Killers headed back into the studio to start recording their second studio album with producers Alan Moulder and Flood , who were working together for the first time in a decade.” (Wikipedia)
• A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco (2005). A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (Panic! at the Disco) — geography for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)
• Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand (2004). Franz Ferdinand (Franz Ferdinand) — peer for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)
• Vegas by The Crystal Method (1997). Vegas (The Crystal Method) — geography for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)
• Turn On the Bright Lights by Interpol (2002). Turn On the Bright Lights (Interpol) — peer for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)

Who the Killers influenced

• Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender (2021). Seventeen Going Under (Sam Fender) — legacy for The Killers “He supported The Killers on 5 and 6 June at Emirates Stadium.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Night Visions by Imagine Dragons. Night Visions (Imagine Dragons) — legacy for The Killers (musicbrainz.org)