Flowers & sympathy for victims in Vegas
HE’S the Caesar’s Palace busboy who took a gamble on fame and became the frontman of one of the world’s biggest bands.
When Brandon Flowers heard that 58 concertgoers had been shot dead in his hometown, it hit him hard.
“It happened at the Bataclan and I gasped,” he says.
“It happened at Manchester and I prayed. Then it happened in Las Vegas – and I cried.
“Vegas is where I grew up and some of the greatest moments of my life have happened at concerts. It’s a place of joy.”
Brandon, 36, reveals that The Killers are trying to organise a benefit show for the victims of deranged gunman Stephen Paddock and their families.
Next year marks 15 years since the band landed a record deal. Since then, they’ve had five UK No1 albums and given us some iconic tracks – from Mr Brightside to Human.
Now Wonderful, Wonderful – their first album in five years, thanks to some recent band relationship counselling – has finally topped the US charts.
“It’s nice they’re coming around,” jokes Brandon. “We’ve been lucky enough to have success without having that box checked but it’s nice to have one. I just can’t believe it’s been 15 years. I feel like we’ve just started.”
The new album includes deeply personal tracks about his wife Tana’s battle with post traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts, triggered by a private moment in her past. Brandon hopes it will help others.
He adds: “I love the idea of that becoming something positive for many more people.”
He says the songs will be an “ice-breaker” when they decide to talk about Tana’s illness to their sons, Ammon, nine, Gunnar, seven, and Henry, six.
Brandon has had struggles himself, but he got help from his very own guru – U2’s Bono. He says: “I have feelings of inadequacies almost as much as I have feelings of being some kind of conqueror.
”I was having feelings of inadequacies when I was seeking wisdom from him. I walked away feeling a lot better.”
Brandon might soon be hearing from Mike Tyson after penning the track Tyson v Douglas about his hero’s downfall.
He says: “We have a mutual friend Jimmy Kimmel. If Mike hasn’t heard it by the time Jimmy sees him, Jimmy says he’ll play it to him.” ● Wonderful, Wonderful is out now. The Killers play SSE Hydro, Glasgow, on November 20.