The Killers

Guide Note:

Las Vegas modern rock quartet The Killers have sold 12 million albums worldwide to date. They have been called the "best British band to have come out of America."

Fast Facts:

1. Formed in 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Studio Albums: 2
3. Members: Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
4. Song "When You Were Young" appeared on both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band
5. Heavily influenced by the glam rock of the 1970s
6. Name "The Killers" references a fictional band in the New Order video "Crystal"
7. Flowers sparked controversy by stating that The Bravery and Fall Out Boy were riding the Killer's coattails

1. Hot Fuss (2004)
2. Sam's Town (2006)
3. Sawdust B-Side Collection (2007)

Killers frontman Brandon Flowers was kicked out of the synthpop group Blush Response in 2001 after refusing to move with the other band members to Los Angeles. He put an ad in a newspaper for new bandmates, and thereby met up with David Keuning. Together with Ronnie Vannucci and Mark Stoermer, they formed The Killers in 2002 and started playing clubs throughout Las Vegas.

Through a representative of Warner Bros. Records, The Killers signed with UK indie label Lizard King that same year. Their first studio album, Hot Fuss, was released in 2004 in both the United Kingdom and the U.S. On the strength of the singles "Mr. Brightside," "All These Things That I've Done" and "Somebody Told Me," the album became a significant success, reaching #1 on the American charts and remaining in the nation's Top 50 albums for fifty straight weeks.

Follow-up Sam's Town followed in 2006, now distributed by Island Def Jam Music Group. The album was a success as well, buoyed by the hit single "When You Were Young" and three other popular radio hits, but received a more mixed response from critics and fans, some of whom criticized the album's allegedly "conservative" politics.

The band's third studio album is anticipated for a 2008 release.