The Killers – Rebel Diamonds Tour

A newspaper classified ad united two musicians; their name borrowed from a fictional band in a New Order video.

Brandon Flowers responded to a classified ad placed by guitarist Dave Keuning in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The two began writing songs together, drawing on a shared love of British new wave and synth-pop. They recruited bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. shortly after, and The Killers were born. The name came from a fictional band in the music video for New Order's 'Crystal'.

Over 260 weeks on the UK Singles Chart; some songs simply refuse to leave.

Their debut album Hot Fuss, released in June 2004 on Island Records, was a seismic arrival. 'Mr. Brightside' became one of the defining singles of the decade, eventually spending over 260 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. The album sold over seven million copies worldwide and earned the band Grammy nominations. Critically, it broke in the UK first; British audiences took to The Killers before America fully caught on.

Flowers called it one of the greatest albums in twenty years before anyone had heard a note.

Rather than repeat the synth-pop formula, The Killers pivoted sharply with Sam's Town, a Springsteen-influenced record rooted in Americana and the Nevada desert. Brandon Flowers famously declared it one of the best albums of the past twenty years before its release. Critics were divided; fans were not. 'When You Were Young' became a stadium staple, and the album debuted at number one in the UK.

'Human' topped charts worldwide; Day & Age turned The Killers from cult favourites into genuine arena giants.

The third album, Day & Age, arrived in November 2008 and leaned into world music influences, with horns, African rhythms, and a looser, more playful energy. 'Human' became a worldwide hit, topping charts in multiple countries. The subsequent world tour cemented The Killers as a genuine arena-level act, selling out venues from Wembley to Madison Square Garden.

One of Glastonbury's largest-ever Pyramid Stage crowds, and it took an American band to draw it.

The Killers headlined the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in June 2009, delivering a set widely regarded as one of the festival's finest. It was a full-circle moment for a band that had always found a warmer reception in Britain than at home. The performance drew one of the largest crowds in Glastonbury history and featured a guest appearance from the Pet Shop Boys.

Battle Born debuted at number one in the UK; Nevada's favourite sons had very much returned.

After a period where members pursued solo projects, The Killers regrouped for Battle Born, released in September 2012. Named after the motto on the Nevada state flag, the album was their most personal yet. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one in the UK. The band embarked on a massive world tour, including a memorable headline set at V Festival.

Five years away, then straight to number one on both sides of the Atlantic.

Their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful, became The Killers' first US number one, while also topping the charts in the UK and Australia. It was a triumphant return after a five-year gap between records. The album dealt with heavier themes, including Flowers' wife's struggles with PTSD, lending the songs a raw emotional weight that translated powerfully in the live setting.

A pandemic-era number-one in the UK, shaped in part by Lindsey Buckingham and k.d. lang; not bad for a band reinventing itself.

Released in August 2020, Imploding the Mirage was produced with contributions from Lindsey Buckingham, k.d. lang, and Weyes Blood's Natalie Mering. It was their most sonically ambitious record, layering synths with sweeping orchestration. Despite arriving during the pandemic, it debuted at number one in the UK and received some of the strongest reviews of the band's career.

Where better to come home than the city that made them; Las Vegas finally welcomed The Killers back on their own terms.

In 2024, The Killers launched a residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, returning to the city where it all began. The shows blended deep cuts with the anthems, offering a more intimate setting than their usual stadium tours. It was a fitting homecoming for a band that had always worn its Las Vegas roots on its sleeve, from the neon imagery of Hot Fuss to the desert landscapes of Pressure Machine.