The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2001. The group was founded by vocalist and keyboard player Brandon Flowers and guitarist Dave Keuning, later joined by bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. This lineup established the band's core identity and powered its rise from the Las Vegas club circuit to international arena stages.
The Killers took their name from the fictional band shown in the music video for New Order's "Crystal." Their early sound combined post-punk and new wave influences with polished pop songwriting, dramatic keyboards, sharp guitar lines and Brandon Flowers' theatrical vocal presence. The group stood apart from the heavier punk, nu metal and rap acts that dominated much of the local Las Vegas scene at the time.
Their debut album, Hot Fuss, was released in 2004 and became one of the defining rock records of the decade. Produced primarily by Jeff Saltzman, the album balanced dance-rock energy with darker lyrical themes. Its singles "Somebody Told Me," "All These Things That I've Done," "Smile Like You Mean It" and "Mr. Brightside" made the band a major commercial force. "Mr. Brightside," in particular, developed into one of the most enduring songs of the 2000s, supported by a memorable black-and-white music video inspired by the visual style of classic cinema.
The Killers changed direction on their second album, Sam's Town (2006). Drawing more openly on American rock traditions and the grand scale of Bruce Springsteen and U2, the record replaced some of the debut's sleek synth-pop with bigger guitars, earnest storytelling and heartland-rock ambition. Although its initial critical reception was mixed, songs such as "When You Were Young" and "Read My Mind" became important parts of the band's catalog. The album's imagery also helped establish the Killers as a group interested in theatrical, narrative-driven music videos rather than straightforward performance clips.
With Sawdust (2007), a collection of B-sides, rarities and new material, the band explored material that did not fit neatly on its studio albums. Day & Age followed in 2008, with producer Stuart Price helping the group return to a brighter, more electronic sound. The international hit "Human" and the singles "Spaceman" and "A Dustland Fairytale" showed the band expanding its pop range without abandoning its arena-sized choruses.
Battle Born (2012) continued the group's interest in expansive American rock, while Wonderful Wonderful (2017) became the band's first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200. The later records were shaped by changes in the group's working arrangements. Keuning took an extended break from regular activity, and Stoermer reduced his touring role, although both remained associated with the band.
The Killers returned with Imploding the Mirage in 2020 and Pressure Machine in 2021. The former emphasized widescreen, celebratory rock, while the latter was a more restrained and reflective album inspired by Flowers' memories of small-town Nevada. As of September 2026, Pressure Machine remains the band's most recent studio album. Their career has also been represented by the compilations Direct Hits (2013) and Rebel Diamonds (2023), while their reputation continues to rest on a rare combination of electronic pop craft, classic rock grandeur and highly visual songwriting.