Brandon Flowers
| Brandon Flowers | |
|---|---|
 Flowers in 2011 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brandon Richard Flowers |
| Born | June 21, 1981 |
| Origin | Henderson, Nevada, United States |
| Genres | Indie rock, alternative rock, heartland rock, post-punk revival |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, piano, bass, guitar |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Island, Vertigo, Marrakesh |
| Associated acts | The Killers |
| Website | brandonflowersmusic.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| microKORG XL Nord Lead 2 Fender Jazz Bass M-Audio Venom Moog Voyager Korg MS20 Roland MKS-80 |
|
Brandon Richard Flowers (born June 21, 1981) is an American musician, best known as the frontman of the Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers. He has also released a solo album titled Flamingo.
Contents |
Early life [edit]
Brandon Flowers, the youngest of six children, was born on June 21, 1981, in Henderson, Nevada, to Terry Flowers and Jean Flowers (née Barlow).[1] His older siblings are his brother Shane and four sisters April, Shelly, Amy and Stephanie.[1] His family lived in Henderson until Flowers was eight, when they moved to Payson, Utah, for two years before moving to Nephi, Utah, at which time he was in the 6th grade.[2] Flowers lived in Nephi until his junior year at Juab High School. He moved to Las Vegas to live with his aunt and graduated from Chaparral High School in 1999.[2][3][4]
Career [edit]
The Killers (2001–present) [edit]
Brandon Flowers responded to an ad that Dave Keuning had placed in the paper in late 2001 whereupon they became The Killers. After several short-lived bassists and drummers, Flowers and Keuning were joined by bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci and the line up became official in August 2002.[4] They have since sold more than 17 million albums worldwide.[5]
On July 4, 2010, The Killers headlined the "Salute to the Military" USO Concert at the White House. They performed 'God Bless America' and favorites from their catalogue.[6]
Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright wrote a song about Flowers called "Tulsa" for his fifth album Release the Stars. Wainwright has stated in numerous interviews that it was inspired by their first meeting in a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to Wainwright, Flowers was "very flattered and somewhat bashful" about this tribute.[7]
Flowers has performed with Coldplay, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Andy Summers (of The Police), Pet Shop Boys, Fran Healy (of Travis), New Order, Bright Eyes, and Richard Butler (of Psychedelic Furs) amongst others. Sir Elton John has listed Flowers as one of his top-five heroes while editing The Independent's World Aids Day special edition.[8][9] U2's Bono described Flowers' voice to The Globe and Mail saying, “We need him on the radio.”[10]
Flamingo (2010) [edit]
Flamingo was released worldwide in 2010 and charted in the top ten albums in ten countries including the UK where it charted at No. 1.[11][12] The first single from Flamingo, "Crossfire", was released on June 21 (Flowers' birthday). It became Flowers' fifth top ten single in the UK, including work by The Killers. The video for "Crossfire" featured actress Charlize Theron and was nominated for Best Video at the NME Awards. Flamingo was Flower's fourth consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the UK charts, including work by The Killers, who subsequently earned another consecutive UK No. 1.[13] It was certified gold by the BPI and IRMA in October 2010.
SPIN named Brandon Flowers one of "The 15 Best Shows of the Summer" in 2010 for his show at the Shimmer Showroom in Las Vegas.[14] SPIN also listed him as one of "The 25 Best Fall Tours"/"Must-See Fall Tours".[15] While on tour Flowers had special guests including Stuart Price, Andy Summers, and Fran Healy.
Personal life [edit]
Flowers married Tana Mundkowsky on August 2, 2005 on the island of O'ahu in Hawaii.[16][17] They have three sons, Ammon (named after a Book of Mormon missionary), born July 14, 2007;[18] Gunnar, born July 28, 2009; and Henry, born March 9, 2011.[19]
Flowers's grandmother hailed from Lithuania.[20]
Flowers is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[2][3][4] He and his family are featured on the church's website[21] in a promotional video.
Awards and accolades [edit]
| Year | Organization | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | NME Awards | Best Dressed Man | Won |
| Sexiest Man | Won | ||
| 2006 | Best Dressed Man | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Nominated | ||
| Sexiest Man | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | GQ Awards | Most Stylish Man | Won |
| 2009 | NME Awards | Best Dressed | Nominated |
| Hero of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Q Awards[22] | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| 2011 | NME Awards[23][24] | Most Stylish | Won |
| Best Video for "Crossfire" | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Q Awards[25] | Q Idol Award | Won |
In 2012, Flowers was named the #6 Greatest Frontman of All Time by Xfm.[26]
He was also interviewed by Q magazine on behalf of The Killers as one of the "Artists of the Century" (November 2009 issue), a second cover photo that year. Flowers was listed as one of "The 50 Most Stylish Musicians of the Last 50 Years" by Esquire in 2011.[27]
In 2013, Flowers was featured in an article for the men's magazine Man of The World.[28]
Discography [edit]
Studio albums [edit]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | CAN | GER | GRE | IRL | MX | NLD | NZ | SPN | UK | US | |||
| 2010 | Flamingo | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 8 | |
Singles [edit]
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [31] |
BEL (FL) |
CAN [32] |
GER [33] |
IRL [34] |
NLD [35] |
NZ [36] |
SWI [37] |
UK [11] |
US Alt. [32] |
US Rock [32] |
US Adult [32] |
|||||
| 2010 | "Crossfire" | 46 | 3 | 70 | 34 | 4 | 19 | 22 | 35 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 22 | Flamingo | ||
| "Only the Young" | — | 40 | — | — | — | 68 | — | — | 143 | — | — | — | ||||
| 2011 | "Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart | ||||||||||||||||
Tours [edit]
- Flamingo Road Tour (2010)
References [edit]
- ^ a b Jean Flowers Obituary, Las Vegas Review-Journal
- ^ a b c . "SPIN.com: The Lady Killer: An Interview with the Killers' Brandon Flowers". Spin.com. Published November 2004. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
- ^ a b Hiatt, Brian (December 25, 2008), "The Killers Inside". Rolling Stone (1068/1069):78-81
- ^ a b c Craig McLean talks to the Killers' singer Brandon Flowers. The Observer.
- ^ Craig McLean (2012-09-09). "On the road with The Killers: The return of America's greatest rock band - Features - Music". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
- ^ jbtrainor (July 5, 2010). "Watch: The Killers play The White House " Consequence of Sound". Consequenceofsound.net. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ "Rufus Wainwright gaily strikes gold". Herald Sun (Australia). August 30, 2007.
- ^ "World Aids Day special: Elton John to edit The Independent and i". The Independent (London). November 30, 2010.
- ^ Sturges, Fiona (December 1, 2010). "Elton's Heroes: No. 4 – Brandon Flowers". The Independent (London).
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/achtung-where-does-u2-go-from-here/article554956/
- ^ a b "Brandon Flowers | Artist". Official Charts. 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers .com.br Flamingo & Crossfire Official Dates". Brandonflowers.com.br. June 19, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Debuts at No. 1 in U.K.". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
- ^ 09.07.10 12:00 pm. "The 15 Best Shows of the Summer | BRANDON FLOWERS". SPIN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Plots Tour Dates". SPIN.com. September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ No byline (2005). "Killers Singer Brandon Flowers Marries Longtime Girlfriend" VH1.com (accessed Oct. 14, 2006)
- ^ ArjanWrites.com . Retrieved April 12, 2006.
- ^ Laudadio, Marisa (July 16, 2007). "The Killers Singer Brandon Flowers, Wife Have a Son". People. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
- ^ Sarah Michaud (April 5, 2011). "Brandon Flowers Welcomes Son Henryetta". People. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ ""THE KILLERS": BRANDON FLOWERS: "MY GRANDMA IS FROM LITHUANIA!"". MTV Europe. November 18, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^ "Hi I'm Brandon | Mormon | 5233". Mormon. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "Singer Paolo Nutini's delight as he picks up Q award from hero Ray Davies". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers voted 'Most Stylish' at Shockwaves NME Awards | News". Nme.Com. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "Shockwaves NME Awards 2011 - Tickets, Voting, Previous Winners, Pictures, Images". Nme.com. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "Q Awards 2012: the winners". Music.uk.msn.com. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
- ^ "artists | photos | Photo". Xfm. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "Most Stylish Musicians - 50 Best Dressed Male Musicians". Esquire. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ Rachel, T. Cole. "Brandon Flowers". Man of The World. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ "[1]
- ^ "2010 Certification Awards – Gold". IRMA. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ^ "Pandora Archive – Preserving and Accessing Networked DOcumentary Resources of Australia". Pandora.nla.gov.au. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Brandon Flowers Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. August 7, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ "German Charts (Singles) > Brandon Flowers" (in German). charts.de Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
- ^ ">> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >>". Irma.ie. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". charts.org.nz. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". hitparade.ch. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
External links [edit]
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Brandon Flowers |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Brandon Flowers |
- Brandon Flowers Official site, from Island Records
- Brandon Flowers Official facebook page
- Brandon Flowers (Fansite)
- Brandon Flowers.com.br (Fansite)
- Brandon Flowers at the Internet Movie Database
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
- 1981 births
- 21st-century American singers
- Alternative rock singers
- American indie rock musicians
- American Latter Day Saints
- American male singers
- American people of English descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American people of Lithuanian descent
- American rock keyboardists
- American rock singers
- Living people
- Musicians from Nevada
- NME Awards winners
- People from Henderson, Nevada
- Songwriters from Nevada
- The Killers members
