The Killers

USA, 2001–now

Las Vegas band led by Brandon Flowers, formed in 2001. Hot Fuss drew on British post-punk and new wave, and Sam's Town moved towards American heartland rock.

MusicRoots documents 8 artists who influenced The Killers and 0 artists The Killers influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Killers?

• New Order — The band took their name from the fictional group 'The Killers' in New Order's 'Crystal' video (2001); Flowers has named New Order the reason the band exists, its synth-and-guitar template.
• Duran Duran — Flowers has named Duran Duran a core influence — the new-romantic glamour and synth-pop craft beneath Hot Fuss.
• Bruce Springsteen — Sam's Town (2006) is an explicit Springsteen homage — Flowers reoriented the band toward heartland Americana in his image.
• U2 — U2's stadium anthem architecture was the model for the Killers' widescreen turn — the Edge's delay and Bono's scale beneath 'When You Were Young'.
• The Cure — The Cure was Brandon Flowers's conversion — his first-ever concert; he has said 'Push' 'baptized' him, and the band later covered it.
• The Smiths — Flowers is a devout Smiths fan who has named Morrissey one of his biggest influences — the melodic, literate side of the Killers.
• Depeche Mode — Depeche Mode's synth-pop was in the cassettes Flowers's brother passed down — part of the electronic DNA of Hot Fuss.
• Pet Shop Boys — The Pet Shop Boys' literate synth-pop was another of the formative acts Flowers absorbed — the arch electronic songcraft beneath the Killers' pop.