More about: The Killers
Guitarist's claims fuel split rumours
The Killers' guitarist Dave Keuning has fuelled fears of a split after admitting that he is 'sick' of touring with the band.
The news comes as frontman Brandon Flowers admits that he will be 'putting his heart and soul' into his new solo record after their current tour - which bassist Mark Stoermer is absent from due to 'exhaustion'.
"I am sick of this. I'm done," Keuning tells NME. "The end is in sight. Some people might go, 'Why are you complaining?' But you haven't done what I have done, so you can't relate. We just toured a shitload."
Meanwhile drummer Ronnie Vanucci commented added: "I don't want to blow the top on it. Being part of this machine is physical and mentally exhausting."
When asked if the band could continue if Stoermer quit, Vanucci replied: "I'd hope we'd keep trucking on. But at the same time, it isn't the same band."
Watch the video for 'Shot At The Night' below
Currently touring China without bassist Mark Stoermer, Brandon opened up to the NME about his absence.
"I hear different stories all the time," said Flowers. "He's tired... something physical, something mental. I can't force him to come here. But it's fine we are getting through."
Elaborating, Flowers said that he wanted to have new solo material out before the next Killers record, with an early 2015 release date in mind.
"Whatever's happening now [with Stoermer] is going to be fine by the time we make another record, he said. "I'm just going to put my heart and soul into my solo record."
Brandon released his sophomore solo effort 'Flamingo' back in 2010 amidst later confirmed rumours of a Killers hiatus. With Mark Stroemer opting out of the Asian leg of the tour and guitarist dave Keuning saying he is 'sick' of touring, the question is whether another break for the Killers could be on the horizon.
Below: The 20 defining moments of The Killers' career so far
1. In July 2003, Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr sign to UK label Lizard King Records after disinterest from American labels.
2. Zane Lowe plays ‘Mr Brightside’ on BBC Radio 1 in August 2003. The band begin performing shows in London.
3. ‘Mr Brightside’, a song in inspired by an unfaithful ex-girlfriend of Flowers, has a limited release in September 2003.
4. Autumn 2003: A level of buzz now surrounds the band and Island Def Jam signs them in the US.
5. Hot Fuss is released in the UK in June 2004 and is a huge success. The album reaches No.1 and goes seven times Platinum.
6. Singles from the album ‘Somebody Told Me’, ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ and ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ are further hits.
7. The band are nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2005, with Hot Fuss up for Best Rock Album and ‘Somebody Told Me’ nominated for two awards including Best Rock Song.
8. Brandon Flowers promises second album Sam's Town will become of the best albums of the past 20 years. However, it receives a mixed response from fans and critics when it is released in October 2006.
9. Late 2006: The lead single from Sam's Town, 'When You Were Young', goes Platinum in the United States.
10. The band win two Brit awards in February 2007 for Best International Act and Best International Album.
11. They headline Madison Square Garden and Glastonbury Festival for the first time in April and June 2007 respectively.
12. The band release a collaboration with their hero Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground, called %u2018Tranquilize%u2019. The song is taken from, Sawdust, a compilation of B-sides and rarities and is released in November 2007.
13. Day & Age, the band’s third studio album, is released in November 2008, with the lead single, ‘Human’ going Platinum, although the album sells disappointingly compared to previous releases.
14. In the summer of 2009, they headline American festivals Lollapalooza and Coachella for the first time. In July, they perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall over two days. A live concert DVD, Live from Royal Albert Hall, is released and goes Platinum.
15. After two years of taking the Day & Age tour worldwide, the band announce a hiatus.
16. During this time, lead singer Brandon Flowers releases a solo album, Flamingo, which reaches No.1. Lead single Crossfire enters the top 10.
17. In June 2011, the band headline Lollapalooza and Hard Rock Calling in London for the second time after a year-and-a-half%u2019s break.
18. In June 2012, fourth studio album Battle Born is released and goes straight to No.1.
19. June 2013: Following on from the success of Battle Born, the band play to their biggest crowd yet, the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium at a critically-acclaimed headline show.
20. A picture containing six lines of morse code is tweeted by the band. Fans translated the code to 'The Killers Shot At The Night' - suggesting a new track or album is on the way. Brandon Flowers is due to appear on BBC Radio 1 on 16 September, and will premiere the new single.
21: On September 16, 2013, exactly ten years after their first ever show in London, the Killers released "Shot At The Night", the first single off their first greatest hits compilation, Direct Hits
22. The Killers release their greatest hits album Direct Hits in November 2013. Of the album, Brandon Flowers said: "This record feels like a great way to clean everything up and move onto the next thing." Watch this space.
More about: The Killers
