4saturday review Saturday September 12012 | the times

TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER, JOHN ANGERSON coverstory

than being aparent and there’snot asong Do the Killers have alongfuture? “I youcould writethat would beat having don’tknow.I’m proud of what we have ‘Going thosekids. Ipreferbeingwith themthan on done. We’re likebrothers. It doesn’tmean solo would ‘Thereare so theroad,althoughIlovemyjob”. we’lllastforever,butwe havesomething.” He has been marriedtoTana, who he Herzog appears, bearishand with many certainlybe met in athriftstore (“she wasbraverthan assistants. Flowers and his bandmates me and handed me her number”), for seem agog that he has materialisedintheir easier.The seven years. Heartof aGirl onBattle Bornis anonymous studio.“Wewill makeitwork,” about meeting her.“We have our peaks Herzog declaresofthe shoot,asideas are four of us are and troughs, but Idon’t know what Iwould floated about Flowers danglinghis legs as differentas many crazy lies do if Iwasn’t marriedand had my kids.”He from acar window.Herzog’s eyes light up wantsmore,“butmywifehasto agree”,and when he seesthe ping-pongtable: it’s an peoplecan be’ relishesgettingolder:“TomPetty and obviousmeetingofminds. Stingdid some of their best stuffintheir TheKillers’new singleRunawaysisout aboutMormonism’ thirtiesandforties.” onSept9;BattleBornis outonSept17

TheKillers’ lead singerisrock’spremier Mormon: no wonder Mitt Romney wantshim on board. BrandonFlowers tells Tim Teeman aboutfaith,fatherhood, stardom andsin tisperhapsinevitablethattheworld’smost youngIread storiesofDavid Bowie and famous Mormon politician, locked in a LedZeppelinand knewwhat wasexpected tight race to become US President,would ofrocksingers.It’s upto mewhatIdowhen seek the supportofthe world’smost I’m exposedtosomething. It gets easier famous Mormon pop star to adda and easier”. Hashetaken drugs? “I’m not fashionableedgetoacampaign notablefor goingtosay.Idon’tadvocatedoingdrugs. its dad jeans and sensible khakis. With the Ican’t remember the last time Idrank. telegenic likes of George Clooney and I’m not preachyabout it. I’m justona Sarah JessicaParker puntingfor Barack different road.” Obama,MittRomneyisdesperatelytrying Excitement buzzesaround the studio — to amass some stardust. Clint Eastwood which is far from the city’s“Strip”where I madehis day. NowitPrince Harryrecently partiednaked,and emergesthat the former Governor of is hiddeninanonymous warehouses. Only Massachusetts is canvassingyounger fourKillersfans haveever managedtofind support, startingwith Brandon Flowers, it,astudio manager tells me. The film leadsingeroftheKillers. director, Werner Herzog, is expectedany At the band’sLas Vegasstudio,Battle moment to begin shootingthe Killers fora Born(the title of the band’sfifth album), special online film seriespairing Flowers reveals that Romney’s team have famous directors with pop bands (David asked forhis support. The 31-year-old Lynch with Duran Duran; Anton Corbijn Mormon rock star is “excited”bythe with Coldplay). “We’re excited,” Flowers prospectofaMormon president,but adds, says. Battle Born’srooms are amaze, with with alanguorous twang, “I said no. I flockwallpaper,old-fashionedlampsanda represent thisband. IfIsupportedhimthat ping-pongtable inthemainstudio. rock ’n’roll, full of people over 40 doing Recently there wasspeculation that the some men do,likeKennyRogers, who Mormonism) wasamazing. “The drinking would label the other guys. Acouple of “Battle Born” derivesnot justfromthe mum and dad dancing, thinkingthey’re it” band were about to split afteratwo-year went toofar.Mydad iscoollooking. Ithink stopped. He still likes to gamble though.” them would definitely not be happywith words on Nevada’s stateflag but “you can —which encapsulates the band’sgreat hiatus, duringwhich Flowers releaseda I’llbeall right.” GrowingupaMormon “wasn’t fire and that.We’restayingneutral.” apply it to yourself, this band. We’vehad to strength, and its weakness. The Killers’ bestsellingalbum, Flamingo.Are the Rufus Wainwright,who wroteasong, brimstone”.Though Flowers had to DoesFlowers want Romney to win? “I fight to get to where we are,”Flowers says. songs are not only good rock, they’re rumours true? “Not that Ican foresee,” Tulsa,inspiredbyFlowers, says: “Heisso wear special underclothesatchurch (a killer hits Main don’tfeel strongly either way. Idon’t see a the Killers, formed in 2001, were accepted excellent karaoke fodder,evenifsome of Flowers says. “Our guitar player [Keuning] sexyyet so unhappyand also somewhat whitescoop-necked T-shirtand white picture, theKillers, left difference, president to president. They in Britain quickly,but “westruggle in the the lyricsborder on the nonsensical. The wassayingsome ominous things in sane and crazyatthe same time. Ihaven’t underwear ending above the knee), “it was to right: Mark Stoermer justseem to be aface. I’vemet them both. US because we never stick to aparticular refrain “I’vegot soul, but I’m not asoldier” interviews, but it wasblown out of met anyone who quitefits the Brando agentle vibe”.At16hereturnedtoLas (bass), BrandonFlowers They have great smilesand lookgood in sound. Radio stations never know what we from AllThese Things That I’ve Done was proportion.”Has the band discussed mould as much as he does.There’sthis Vegas, workinginaclub,“obsessed” by (vocals),Ronnie Vannuc- suits.”There are differencesbetween aregoingtogivethem”. parodiedbythe comedian Bill Bailey as “I breakingup? “Yes,wealwaysthink about dark, moody,restless ...figure that’s golf. He hungaround with “shady people” ci Jr (drums) andDave them,Isay.Forexample,Romneysupports The latestalbum is not ahuge departure gotham, but I’m not ahamster”.Much as it. Everybody has their ups and downs, but suckingupall theenergyoutoftheroom.” in his lateteens, and recalls practising Keuning(guitar). Below, aban on gay marriage; Obama backs from the previous three: anthemic, one lovesthe plaintive,“Are we human, or there wasalwaysaplan to makeanother Some of Flowers’musical heroes, like music with drug dealers knockingatthe Flowersonstage marriage equality. Where does Flowers luxuriantly chorded,synthyand redolent are we dancer?” from Human,itproduces record.”The hiatus came from “a lot of DavidBowie, blurredlinesaround door:“Icould have gotten arrested or (who has awifeand three children) stand? of Flowers’own heroesfromearly Eighties morehead-scratching. touring. Even though it canbeexcitingand sexuality. But Flowers wasnever attracted worse.”Hecredits his introduction to “I can’tsay.It’sdifficult to explain. I’m in a Britishpop,includingthe Cure, the Smiths The Killers formed afterthe guitarist glamorous it’s not what you’re raisedto to men. “When Iwas little ...”hegrins, music to Trevor Gagner,his bandmateina pop band. Idon’t think Ishould be and the Human League. Flowers’brother Dave KeuningplacedanadvertinaLas experience,”Flowers says. Goingsolo “you’re gettingmetospill my guts ... I pre-Killers group,BlushResponse. “He preachingfromasoapbox.”Astarsincethe usedtopass him their tapeswhen they Vegaspaper in 2001 seekingmusicians for would “certainly be easier”, he laughs. instantly went to the women’s underwear wasavant-garde, Ilearnt everythingfrom Killers firststormed to fame in 2003after were young. “The sound wassoromantic.I aband: “Influences: Oasis, Smashing “The band’sademocracy.Wedon’t agree section of the J.C. Penney catalogue. Iwas him. He showed me chord progressions by the release of their hit Mr Brightside,he wasn’t arebel, Ididn’t want to wear Pumpkins, Bowie, Radiohead.”Their first on everything. The four of us are as alatebloomer,which wasablessing. If I’d takingapartDepeche Mode songs. I reveals that Elton John, pop’s most prolific make-up likeRobertSmith to piss offmy album, HotFuss (2004), sold more than different aspeoplecanbe.” had more charisma when Iwas 16 Iwould wouldn’tbehere withouthim.” loudmouth, has advisedhim to “shut up”. mother.Ijustlovedthemusic.” 7millioncopies,andtheband haswonfour Despitehis nice cheekbones, Flowers have marriedagirl and none of this would Flowers has alwaysloved Vegas: Which,he says,ishard,“becauseobviously The Britishembrace Flowers’yearning NME awards and been nominated for claims: “I still struggle with my looks. Iwas havehappened.” “Cadillacs ...Frank Sinatra. SometimesI Ihaveopinions”. standards, feather-accessorisedjackets, seven Grammys. In 2009,XFM listeners aheavy teenager.Ihave astrange Flowers livedfirstinNevada, where his see it forwhat it is, but Istill romanticise it. What would aRomney presidency sequins and guyliner.When David voted Mr Brightside the best songofthe interpretation of myself. Idon’t feel father converted to Mormonism, and later We have amazingsunsets, the desertisn’t mean forMormons? “There’ssomuch Cameron, along-avowedKillers fan, decade,and Amazon.co.uk namedthe comfortable in my own skin. Inever have. Utah. His mother “spoiledmeinwaysshe brown,it’s majestic.Ican’timaginebringing mud-slinging, so manycrazyliesand turneduptoone of their gigs at the Royal Killers the third bestsellingartist of the Physically Istillfeel heavy.” Wouldhehave shouldn’t have.Ididn’t know we were in our children up anywhere else.”But isn’t it weird perceptions,”Flowers says. “Itwould AlbertHall in 2008, afan told The Sun: decade,aftertheBeatlesandTake That. plastic surgery? “No. It’s atragedy what debt”. His father (and his grandfather) the cityofsin? “The Mormons settled give us achance to correctthem. The first “Surely that’s ablow to their coolness. He “Itwas an honour to be taken in by the worked in agrocerystore. His mother, Vegas,”hesaysstoutly.“There are alot of Mormon to runfor president wasJoseph should be bannedfromgigsfor life. people we were influencedby,” says sisterand Flowers worked in arestaurant, good Mormons here.”Wemay think there Smith. He wasshot dead. If he [Romney] Apartfrommaybe Il Divo.” At lastyear’s Flowers of the British(the band’sname ‘Romney as president Taco Time. He still goes to a“dingy,and is adisconnectbetween Mormonism and became president it would be atriumph, Tory Partyconference, Cameron was comesfromaNew Order video). Flowers’ that’s comfortable to me,”casino,the rock stardom; Flowersdoesnot.Whatishis justasitwas to have the firstblack accompaniedtothe podium by his father usedtoplayElton John’s music,soit wouldbeatriumph, Skyline, where as achild he recalls his vice, if not drinkingordrugs? He smiles: “I president.” favouriteKillers song: All These Things was“amazing” forFlowers to collaborate just as it wastohavea mother “driving up and down”lookingfor have fun. Igohiking.”Flowers’mother died Flowers’faith, includingdaily prayer, “is ThatI’veDone. with John and also Neil Tennant. “Every his father,who gambledand drank there. in 2010: “It’spartoflife. The saddest thingis very important,not justatradition. I ThefanwhobitchedaboutCameronsaid songhas been betterwith justhaving blackpresident’ “Togofromthat to never wondering my sons [Ammon, Gunner and Henry] believeit, Iunderstand it. When Iwas thatthe AlbertHallgig“wastheoppositeof talkedtoNeil fortenminutes.” where he was(afterheconverted to won’tmeet her.” There’s“nothingbetter