1. The Killers is an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists using this name:
1. The Killers is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2001.
They got the name from the fictional band The Killers in the video for New Order's song Crystal.
As of 2021, the band has released six studio albums, which have sold 28 million records worldwide.
The Early Years
Initially, The Killers played at large clubs in Las Vegas. With the band's line-up stable and their repertoire of songs expanding, the band began to attract attention from talent bookers, local agents, major label, scouts — and a UK representative for Warner Bros. Though the Warner Bros representative passed on the band, he took the demo back with him, showing it to a friend who worked at UK (London-based) indie label Lizard King Records (now Marrakesh Records). The Killers then signed in the summer of 2002 to a British label.
Hot Fuss
They released their debut album Hot Fuss on June 2004 in the United Kingdom and US (on Island Records). Their first single was Somebody Told Me. The band also had chart success with their singles Mr. Brightside, which reached the Top 10 in the UK when released, and All These Things That I've Done.
Sam's Town
The band started recording its second album, Sam's Town, on February 15, 2006, at The Palms Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. It was released on October 2006.
The first single, When You Were Young debuted on radio stations in late July 2006. In late August 2006, it was offered as a downloadable track before the album's debut. The single then entered the chart on downloads alone at #5, and the following week on its official release went to #2 in the UK.
The video clip of the second single, Bones, was directed by Tim Burton.
The third single was Read My Mind. The video for it was filmed in Tokyo, Japan.
The last one was For Reasons Unknown, released in June, 2007.
The album sold over 700,000 copies worldwide in the first week of release, with a No. 2 debut on the United World chart.
Sawdust Compilation
The compilation album Sawdust, containing B-sides, rarities, and some new material, was released on November 12, 2007.
The album's first single Tranquilize, a collaboration with Lou Reed, was released on October 2007. The band also released their cover of Joy Division's song Shadowplay on the U.S. iTunes Store. The album contains songs Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town (a The First Edition cover), Romeo and Juliet (a Dire Straits cover), and a new version of Move Away (previously available on the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack). One of the tracks on Sawdust is Leave the Bourbon On The Shelf, the first but previously unreleased part of the so called Murder Trilogy, in which it is followed by Midnight Show then Jenny Was a Friend of Mine.
(Red) Christmas EP
In 2006 Songfacts reported that The Killers were recognized for their work with Bono's Product Red campaign, which is dedicated to fighting AIDS in Africa.
In the same year they have released their first Christmas themed song and music video, A Great Big Sled in aid of the charity, followed by Don't Shoot Me Santa on December 1, 2007.
Their festive tunes have subsequently became an annual event and (Red) Christmas EP intended to raise money for the Product Red campaign on November 29, 2011.
Day & Age
The third album Day & Age was released on 25th November 2008 (24th November for the UK).
The album's first single Human was debuted on 22nd September and on the 30th September, the single was made available on iTunes, with many radio DJ's suggesting it was the best single by The Killers yet.
Killers frontman Brandon Flowers said (in December 2008) that he thinks that his band "will be bigger than U2 eventually, and sooner than you might think". He told The Daily Telegraph that "U2 are unbelievable, but they're getting old. It feels like it's time".
The album was reviewed at Silent Soundwaves.
Battle Born
The band was on hiatus, but returned to the studio to record their fourth studio album in early 2011. Songfacts reported that Runaways, the first single from the new album, was released on July 10, 2012.
The Killers' fourth studio album, Battle Born, was released on 18 September 2012.
It took 15 months to record it. The band began working on it after they took a touring break for a little over a year. The album had five producers, with The Killers producing one song by themselves, The Rising Tide.
The debut single was Runaways, followed by Miss Atomic Bomb and Here with Me.
Wonderful Wonderful
In 2015, Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning began to discuss recording a fifth studio album. The band recorded the album between September 2016 and May 2017, with production by Jacknife Lee. Band members Dave Keuning and Mark Stoermer both announced that they would take a break from touring. The Killers' fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful, was released on September 22, 2017, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200. Stoermer
Imploding the Mirage
On November 15, 2019, the Killers announced their sixth studio album titled Imploding the Mirage for a Spring 2020 release. On March 12, 2020, the album's lead single "Caution" was released, featuring a guitar solo by former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. Buckingham said of the band, "There’s such a strong center to what they’re doing. Their material is so well crafted that it cuts across a lot of generational lines." Brandon Flowers also confirmed that guitarist Dave Keuning was still on hiatus and did not participate in recording the album. On April 25, 2020, "Caution" reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, setting a record of 13 years and 6 months since the band's last number-one song on the chart.
The Killers' sixth studio album, " Imploding the Mirage" was released on August 21, 2020. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200.
Influences
Much of The Killers' music is based on British influences and on the music of the 1980s, particularly New Wave. Flowers has also said in interviews that the larger-than-life sound of many of the band's songs is due to the influence of living in Las Vegas, a city where everything is about flash and who can top whom. They appreciate post-punk bands that sprang up during the 80's such as Joy Division, and they are also avowed fans of New Order (with whom Flowers has performed live), Pet Shop Boys, Dire Straits, David Bowie, The Smiths, Morrissey, Depeche Mode, U2, Queen, Oasis and The Beatles. Their second album was said to be greatly influenced by Bruce Springsteen's music and lyrics.
Their line-up is:
Brandon Flowers (vocals, keyboards),
Dave Keuning (guitar, backing vocals),
Mark Stoermer (bass guitar, backing vocals),
Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion).
2. The Killers was an Uruguayan rock band from the early 1970s which released an album Good Bye in 1972.
3. The Killers was an American hardcore band from Chicago, IL, from the 1990s founded by former members of Charles Bronson.
They released records on Hater of God and Gloom, and had split records with A.P.B. & 9 Shocks Terror.
Reminds of Behead The Prophet No Lord Shall Live meets The Oath.
4. The Killers (aka Insanity and The Killers) was an American band from Cleveland, Ohio. They released one 7″ on Huh? Oh? in 1981.
5. The Killers was a British punk rock band from England formed in 1977 (though released their first 7", I Don't Care, as Joe Cool & The Killers).
In 1978 they released their one and only album called Killer; by then they had dropped the Joe Cool and released the record under this name.
6. The Killers was a Brazilian garage rock band that released one album in 1964 titled The Killers. The band members were João Bosco (drums), Luiz Carlos (bass guitar), João Carlos (lead guitar), and Gustavo (rhythm guitar)
A Great Big Sled
The Killers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The robots awake to find that they've been taped down
Wondering when they break though these chains
But little boys have action toys for brains
I'm living proof, it can last a long time, now the girls up
The street are innocent and sweet while their all in bed
They got their makeup and dreams of wonderland
Sprinkled inside their heads soon they will change
But tonight Hollywood hills never seem so strange
Their mothers pray it will last a long time
I wanna roll around like a kid in the snow
I wanna relearn what I already know
Just let me take flight dressed in red
Through the night on a great big sled
I wanna wish you merry Christmas
Ho, ho, ho
Now the boys are all grown up
And there working their fingers to the bone
They go around chasing them girls on the weekend
You know they still can't be alone
I've been raking my brain
With thoughts of peace and love
How on earth did we get so mixed up
I pray to God, it don't last a long time
I wanna roll around like a kid in the snow
I wanna relearn what I already know
Just let me take flight dressed in red
Through the night on a great big sled
I hear the sound of bells
There's something on the roof
I wonder what this night will bring
I wanna roll around like a kid in the snow
I wanna relearn what I already know
Just let me take flight dressed in red
Through the night on a great big sled
I wanna wish you merry Christmas
Can't do that
I wanna wish you merry Christmas
Can't do that
The song "A Great Big Sled" by The Killers is an upbeat Christmas song that starts with a snowman shaping up to an eight but not out of ten. The lyrics then go on to talk about robots that awake from being taped down, wondering when they will break these chains. Despite having action toys for brains, the little boys around seem to be innocent and sweet. While the girls up the street have their makeup and dreams of wonderland sprinkled inside their heads. Although soon they will change, but tonight Hollywood hills never seem so strange. Their mothers pray that it will last a long time.
The chorus of the song is, "I wanna roll around like a kid in the snow, I wanna relearn what I already know, Just let me take flight dressed in red, through the night on a great big sled, I wanna wish you merry Christmas." The song goes on to talk about how now the boys are all grown up and they work their fingers to the bone but they still can't be alone. The song ends with the singer wanting to wish the listener a merry Christmas but seemingly, he/she can’t do that.
The song seems to be about wanting to experience the happiness and innocence of being a child again. The lyrics seem to evoke a sense of nostalgia of a simpler time when Christmas was less complicated, and people were less worried about life’s many problems.
Line by Line Meaning
This snowman is shaping up to be an eight but not out of ten
This snowman does not score a perfect 10, but it is still good.
The robots awake to find that they've been taped down
The robots were immobilized while they were sleeping.
Wondering when they break though these chains
The robots are curious when they can break free from their restraints.
But little boys have action toys for brains
Boys often have a vivid imagination and enjoy playing with toys.
I'm living proof, it can last a long time, now the girls up
The singer is an example that love can endure for a long time.
The street are innocent and sweet while their all in bed
The streets are quiet and peaceful when the girls are asleep.
They got their makeup and dreams of wonderland
The girls are innocent and have a fondness for fantasy and escapism.
Sprinkled inside their heads soon they will change
Girls will eventually grow up and lose their innocence.
But tonight Hollywood hills never seem so strange
The Hollywood hills are beautiful tonight.
Their mothers pray it will last a long time
Mothers hope that their children's innocence and sweetness will last.
Now the boys are all grown up
The boys have grown up and become adult men.
And there working their fingers to the bone
The men are working very hard.
They go around chasing them girls on the weekend
The men pursue women on weekends.
You know they still can't be alone
Men still crave companionship even when they are grown up.
I've been raking my brain
The singer has been thinking deeply.
With thoughts of peace and love
The singer is contemplating peace and love.
How on earth did we get so mixed up
The singer is wondering how society became so complicated and confusing.
I pray to God, it don't last a long time
The singer hopes that societal problems do not persist.
I wanna roll around like a kid in the snow
The singer wants to experience the pure joy of playing in the snow like a child.
I wanna relearn what I already know
The singer wants to revisit old memories and re-experience the past.
Just let me take flight dressed in red
The singer wants to feel like Santa Claus and fly on a sleigh.
Through the night on a great big sled
The singer imagines a fun, adventurous ride through the snow.
I hear the sound of bells
The singer hears the sound of sleigh bells ringing.
There's something on the roof
Something is on top of the house.
I wonder what this night will bring
The singer is curious about what the night will bring.
I wanna wish you merry Christmas
The singer wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
Can't do that
The singer is acknowledging that he cannot wish a Merry Christmas anymore.
I wanna wish you merry Christmas
The singer repeats his desire to wish a Merry Christmas.
Can't do that
The singer acknowledges once again that he cannot wish a Merry Christmas anymore.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandon Flowers, Dave Brent Keuning, Mark August Stoermer, Ronnie Jr. Vannucci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patty Theiss
on Mr. Brightside
Ed sharron