The Killers are an American rock band, formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (guitar, backing vocals). The band currently consists of Flowers and Keuning alongside drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. and bassist Mark Stoermer.
Flowers and Keuning first connected when Flowers responded to an ad that Keuning left in a local newspaper. After writing songs in Keuning's apartment, the band recorded demo's with drummer Matt Norcross in November 2001.[1] The band were joined by Dell Neal on bass for further demo's the next month. The new four piece played shows around Las Vegas in 2002.[2] Norcross was fired in Summer 2002, he was briefly replaced by Brian Havens before he was fired. Dell Neal also left soon after for personal reasons.
Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined as the band's new drummer soon Havens departure, playing his first show on August 30, 2002.[3] For that show the band were joined by Mark Stoermer on bass,[4] initially as a stand in while the band tried out other bassists, although Stoermer became permanent bassist soon after, having previously been invited to be second guitarist.
In 2006 for the Sam's Town tour, the band were joined by touring musicians Ted Sablay on keyboards, guitar,[5] and drum tech Rob Whited on percussion.[6] In 2008, for the Day & Age tour, Sablay was replaced by Ray Suen.[7] The band were joined by Tommy Marth on saxophone,[8] and guitar tech Bobby Lee Parker on acoustic guitar. Suen and Marth both departed after the tour in 2010. Sablay returned for the Battle Born World Tour, alongside Jake Blanton also on keyboards and guitar.[9] During the Asia part of the tour, Stoermer had to depart due to an illness, Blanton played bass in his absence.[10] After the tour Parker and Whited both stopped performing.
For a North American tour in 2016, the band were joined by Brian Karscig on guitar/keyboards,[11] while Blanton played bass instead of Stoermer.[12] Blanton continued to play bass for the Wonderful Wonderful World Tour in 2017, where the band were joined by Robbie Connolly[13] and Taylor Milne on keyboards/guitar, while Sablay replaced Keuning who retired from touring.[14] [15] The band were also joined by backing vocalists Erica Canales,[16] Amanda Brown,[17] and Danielle Withers.[18]
For the Imploding the Mirage Tour Starting in April 2022, Keuning returned and Sablay moved to rhythm guitar/keyboards. Withers and Brown were also replaced by Melissa Mcmillan and Tori Allen.[19] [20] Keuning left the tour in May and Sablay moved back to lead guitar. Keuning returned in July. Allen and Mcmillan were replaced by Nicky Egan and Miranda Joan in 2023.[21]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Flowers | 2001–present | all releases | |||
| Dave Keuning | all releases, except Imploding the Mirage (2020) | ||||
| 2002–present | all releases | ||||
| Mark Stoermer | 2002–present | all releases, except Pressure Machine (2021) |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Neal | 2001–2002 | early demos and live shows | ||
| Matt Norcross | drums | |||
| Brian Havens | 2002 | live shows |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Sablay | ||||
| Jake Blanton | 2011–present | none | ||
| Robbie Connolly | 2017–present | |||
| Erica Canales | 2018–present | backing vocals | ||
| Nicky Egan | 2023–present | |||
| Miranda Joan | backing vocals |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Whited | 2006–2014 | Live from the Royal Albert Hall (2009) | ||
| Bobby Lee Parker | 2008–2014 | acoustic guitar | ||
| Ray Suen | 2008–2010 | |||
| Tommy Marth | 2008–2010 | |||
| Brian Karscig | 2016 | none | ||
| Taylor Milne | ||||
| Amanda Brown | 2017–2018 | backing vocals | ||
| Danielle Withers | ||||
| Melissa McMillan | 2021–2023 | |||
| Tori Allen |
| Period | Members | Releases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid 2001 |
| none | |
| November – December 2001 |
| ||
| December 2001 – summer 2002 |
| none | |
| summer 2002 |
| ||
| August 2002 – August 2017 |
|
| |
| August 2017 – January 2021 |
|
| |
| January – August 2021 |
|
| |
| August 2021 – present |
| none to date |