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These Killers Are Sexy
The British pop charts have been a hot bed of some of the summer's most popular new gems. Franz Ferdinand, Grand National, Snow Patrol, Keane and Scissor Sisters are some of the bands that are vying to be this season's breakthrough act.
The Killers are one of the bands that stick out from the pack. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, this band has been smoldering the British airwaves with their catchy synth rock.
It often seems that gays have no interest in rock music. They tend to change stations for the genre's crunchy sounds, sexist lyrics and smelly lead singers.
But The Killers' debut album "Hot Fuss" (iTunes link) is an exception to the unwritten "not-intended-for-gays" rule. Their gay-friendly '80s inspired sounds are reminiscent of New Order, The Smiths and the gayest straight band in history, Duran Duran (who are prepping a comeback in October).
The band gladly incorporates these influences in its music. In fact, the group name was taken from an old New Order video.
The Killers got their start in their hometown Las Vegas in 2002. After 22 year-old singer Brandon Flowers (how gay can a last name get?) was dropped from his previous band, he grouped up with David Keuning (guitars), Mark Stoermer (bass) and Ronnie Vannucci (drums).
The guys started writing and rehearsing songs in a small desert garage. In 120 degree temperatures heat, the group cooked up some of its catchy tunes that are now the basis of "Hot Fuss."
The album has an old school, rock glam quality with grand choruses ("Mr. Brightside"), sweeping intros ("Natalie) and infectious guitar riffs ("Somebody Told Me").
The single "Somebody Told Me" has an unexpected gay twist to it. Singer Flowers croons about an androgynous girlfriend, "Well somebody told me, You had a boyfriend. Who looks like a girlfriend. That I had in February of last year."
"Hot Fuss" is a refreshing debut from an energetic new band that is more pop than it initially looks.
August 4, 2004 in Music Reviews | Permalink
Comments
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A woman listener to Queer Radio emailed requesting that we play the Killers single saying she thought it was "such androgynous fun". I didn't know the band - and I didn't realise that I'd heard the song until I found your site (using Google with "killers gay CD").
Your comments give a concise and gay-relevant perspective which we can read to air (with full credit to you of course) as we play "Somebody Told Me" for Betti this week.
PS: When I first heard "Somebody Told Me" on our host station, community radio 4ZZZfm, I'd assumed that they were a local Brisbane band. They've got that style of sound.
best regards,
John.
Posted by: John Frame at Aug 29, 2004 8:58:02 AM
I'm surprised your review didn't mention the extremeley homoerotic song "Andy" in which Flowers sings what is basically a love song to a highschool athlete named Andy.
Posted by: Emily at Sep 26, 2004 10:15:50 PM
sexy 21 year old seeking sexy 22 year old male with the name of Brandon Flowers!! NOT a gay name! just plane SEXY!!!!!
Posted by: Evyon at Oct 16, 2004 11:36:18 PM
die
Posted by: vampire princess at Nov 14, 2004 4:34:54 AM
so... are they gay or not?
Posted by: at Nov 20, 2004 6:13:33 AM
yeah... are they gay or what?
Posted by: kimell at Nov 27, 2004 9:25:53 AM
Nope, they're not. The drummer is married, the lead singer is engaged, and the other two are in serious relationships, all with girls.
Posted by: jessica at Dec 8, 2004 3:39:09 PM
they are gay but there still cool bands know one can't stop them for being there selfs. there awsome bands why wouldn't you love them.
Posted by: at Dec 23, 2004 1:52:36 PM
i'm trying to figure out if Brandon Flowers is gay or not.. maybe hes bi?... but "kimell" said hes engaged... :S the killers are my favoreite band. Does anyone know if hes actually gay or not?
Posted by: el at Dec 29, 2004 1:13:01 AM
made a mistake, it was "jessica" that said there not gay... but who knows the lyrics to some of the songs make it sound like they are and ive heard they are.
Posted by: el at Dec 29, 2004 1:15:01 AM
sorry but it's true, brandon is engaged to a girl named tana who used to be the manager at the urban outfitters in vegas, she is also a model. the drummer is married but i got the chance to meet him and believe he doesn't act like it.
Posted by: melissa at Jan 2, 2005 11:10:42 PM
yep. so true. her name is Tana Munbkowski and she sucks ass. i hate her.
Posted by: kayle at Jan 6, 2005 4:57:44 PM
The Killers are a really great band, i dont think any of them are gay, they could be bizexual though, which aint a really bad thing, its the 21st century and 26% of the American population is gay anyway which proabably means that the total bisexual and agy population of America stands at about 35%.
Anyway their great and both the song itself and the video for someone told me looks cool
Support the olympic bid for London and New York (whichever wins, im happy, just as long as paris does not get it)
Posted by: Jonathan at Jan 14, 2005 4:59:36 AM
I would like to know where someone came up with the idea that more than one forth of America is gay. I think that you should porbably research that again
Posted by: Jack at Jan 16, 2005 12:06:18 PM
I luv Brandon FLowers! I think that he is SO hot! I hope that he isn't gay because I still want a chance to have him! The Killers are my FAVORITE BAND! And I accept them whether they are gay or not! Even though they all are in good relationships with girls. Including Tana...o i wish i was her!
Posted by: Vanessa at Jan 17, 2005 8:12:24 AM
i luv the killers.i know i'm gonna sound like every toher girl out there but i love brandon flowers.yes, he has a gay name, but oh well.i think he's bisexual because he claims he's engaged ( i hope he wouldn't lie!) but he talks about guys like in and y you're a star. i ACTUALLY wept when i found out he was gay ( i thought) but i feel ok now he's probs bi. nevada xxx
Posted by: nevada at Jan 27, 2005 9:49:07 AM
hey if anybody reads NME magazine, check out last week's edition with the killers on the cover, i read the interview and brandon says he is getting married in march while the band records some new memos. he is going to get married in vegas.
Posted by: mel at Jan 28, 2005 8:32:05 PM
you guys are beyond fucked up. you seem to feel that objects and titles are "gay". sorry to burst your bubble but: objects and titles can't have sexual prefrences. deal.
Posted by: Hyperballad at Feb 1, 2005 4:23:41 PM
I also think Brandon Flowers is sooo hot an i luv his name its cool an if e is gay so wat that dunt mean u cant like im just e wont like u bk if not even beta!
Posted by: jade at Feb 2, 2005 8:59:34 AM
Im so pissed to find out hes engaged,and even as i write that i feel like a stupid teenage girl,i could have delt with it better if he was gay, o well theres always divorce...
Posted by: kate at Feb 8, 2005 12:52:06 PM
Hes soo gay or bi, how can he not be. he dresses nice, he sings good, and he gestures like a gay man
i love himm soooooo much and he should just come out of the closet cause all of his fans would support him. the only reason hes probly engaged is because hes mormon and his religion pressures him to not be gay. being gay is not a choice your born gay. hes here hes queer , get over it.
Posted by: lycan at Feb 19, 2005 6:57:21 AM
to Kate,
Dont be so foolish and patronising,
"Hes soo gay or bi, how can he not be. he dresses nice, he sings good, and he gestures like a gay man". His an American artist, obviously he dress's nice, nearly all American artists have designers and choreograpehrs and stylists and those crap, if i was to judge someones sexuality on thier clothes then i would INCORECTLY label Nelly, Justin Timberlake, George Clooney, Jake Glyhannal and etc.
And you call him guy cause he sings good, i mean where do you live in the middle of red neck America or somewhere, idiot, and about the gesturing thing, now that may be an indicator but i think its just the bands style, we shouldnt base our presumtion on such idiot stuff, would it be intelligent of me to label The Killers as British just because they sing in a English accent or they have that slick Biritish stlye, no.
"because hes mormon and his religion pressures him to not be gay. being gay is not a choice your born gay. hes here hes queer , get over it." - Kate, really your so stupid
Posted by: David at Feb 23, 2005 7:38:34 AM
lmao @ jade person.yeah I'm pissed upon hearing that he's engaged.Stupid Tana banana.I wanna plot something against her.I *so* would've dealt with it better knowing he was gay..
Let's all pray for a 56 hr marriage to say the least
Posted by: shibbytch at Mar 6, 2005 3:17:28 AM
I LOVE BRANDON FLOWERS!!!! I DO NOT THINK HE IS GAY OR BI AT ALL AND EVEN IF HE WAS I WOULDN;T CARE! I LOVE THE KILLERS AND THEIR MUSIC IS GREAT! BRANDON IS SOOOOO HOT TOO BAD HE'S GETTING MARRIED BUT HE WILL STILL BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE SINGERS.
Posted by: betsy at Mar 8, 2005 3:59:39 PM
I LOVE BRANDON!!!!!!
Posted by: betsy at Mar 8, 2005 4:00:42 PM
