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mitchellcprice

An Alternative Rock Icon: Who is Brandon Flowers?

Updated: Dec 7, 2020

Mr. Brightside

He came out of his cage, and he's been doing just fine.


Before he became the lead singer of The Killers and a world-renowned rock star, Brandon Flowers spent his time working as a bellhop at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas. Having been influenced by his older brother and by the big hit New Wave bands of his youth (U2, The Cars, Morrissey, etc.), Flowers decided that he not only wanted to listen to music, but make it as well.


He put out a newspaper ad and met a few of his future fellow bandmates. One of them, Dave Keuning, sent Flowers an audio recording of a guitar riff that he'd been working on. Brandon loved the sound of it, and decided that they could make something work. That riff became the driving force behind the multi-platinum hit "Mr. Brightside."


Since that breakout hit, The Killers have gone on to become a widely recognized Alternative Rock band, gathering fans from around the globe. This is who he is; Brandon Flowers or Mr. Brightside himself.

 

Brandon's Career

Since the release of Hot Fuss, The Killers' nearly-flawless debut album, the band has gone on to make 5 more full length LP's and one compilation album, with the latest release, "Imploding the Mirage," coming out earlier this year.


In addition to his work with the band, Brandon Flowers has also released two of his own solo albums: "Flamingo" and "The Desired Effect."


Each piece of work explores new territories, going back and forth between 80's style New Wave synths, Springsteen-esque heartland rock, country twangs, electronic dance, and bubblegum pop. Brandon is known for exploring different genres and gathering influence from different artists, both classic and contemporary. His work is recognized by many and he's grown to become a true "golden boy" from Las Vegas.

 

Brandon's Personal Life

Having been raised in the LDS Church (yet sometimes struggling with some of its ideals), Brandon still remains quite different from many other modern rockers. He's never seen at big parties, stays away from illegal drugs, and is a true family man.


His wife, Tana, is the influence behind much of Brandon's lyrics and art. She has struggled with PTSD and depression throughout her life, and Brandon even had to cancel a tour once so he could stay by her side through a particularly challenging time.


Currently, Flowers lives in Utah once again. He has grown a lot from the cocky boy he once was.

 

The Man

In the 2017 hit song "The Man," Flowers jokingly hypes himself up to be this grandiose godlike figure in modern music. While he might not actually "feel no pain," it could very well be true that he does have the promised "household name."


Brandon Flowers has become a true legend in the eyes of music fans everywhere, and his legacy will continue on throughout the rest of his career.

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