Dave Keuning
Dave Keuning | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | David Brent Keuning |
Born | March 28, 1976 |
Origin | Pella, Iowa, U.S. |
Genres | Alternative rock, post-punk revival |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 2001–present |
Website | www.thekillersmusic.com |
David Brent Keuning (born March 28, 1976) is an American guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band The Killers, with whom he has recorded five studio albums. In 2018, Keuning announced that he would release a solo album titled Prismism under his surname Keuning in 2019.[1]
Personal life
David Brent Keuning was born and brought up in Pella, Iowa. He started to play guitar just before entering Pella Community High School where he played in the jazz band. In 2000 Keuning moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.[2][3] He found work at the Banana Republic store in The Venetian Hotel and Casino on The Strip.
Keuning has one son and lives in San Diego, California.
Career
The Killers (2001–present)
The band began when Keuning placed an ad in the Las Vegas Weekly which read: "Seeking musicians for all original band. Influences: Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, Bowie, Radiohead."[4] Shortly, Brandon Flowers answered the ad and the two began practicing and writing together later to be joined by Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. The Killers' first demos included the future hit "Mr. Brightside" which Keuning wrote the guitar riff to before meeting Brandon Flowers.[5] The Killers have sold more than 25 million records worldwide including four consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the UK.
Keuning announced in August 2017 that he would not be joining the band to tour in support of their newest album, although he will remain a member of the group.[6]
Other appearances
Keuning has mentioned in interviews that he has some songs he has worked on that he has considered releasing solo or as a side project.[7] He joined Imagine Dragons alongside Wayne Sermon (of Imagine Dragons) during closing track "Nothing Left To Say" on the Into The Night Tour.[8]
Equipment
Guitars [9]
- Gibson ES-335
- Fender Starcaster
- Ibanez Destroyer
- Gibson Flying V
- Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Fender Stratocaster
- Gibson J45
- Ibanez AE Classical Guitar
Guitars are tuned down 1/2 step from standard. Drop-Db tuning for both versions of the song Sam's Town and the recorded version of Tranquilize.
Sound Equipment
- Furman AR15 Voltage Regulator
- Axess Electronics FX1+ expansion board, midi foot controllers w/ axess CFX4 control function switchers and custom made Axess Electronics Deville footswitch interfaces
- Lectrosonics Wireless Units
- Zaolla Artist and Zaolla Silverline series cables as cables and cable snakes
- (2) duplicate FX racks are wired up w/Mogami Cable
- Pedals, in Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher Loops: Keeley Mod Ibanez TS9 (phat mod and baked mod)(x2), Boss DD6 Digital Delay, MXR Phase 100 (x2), Electro Harmonix Keeley Mod Big Muff Pi, Ibanez AD99 Keeley Mod Delay, Ibanez AC99 Keeley Mod Chorus, Digitech Whammy, TRex RoommSpate Reverb, and Buff Puff Boost. And for the acoustic: Fishman Aura Classical Pedal, Fishman Aura Dreadnought Pedal
Picks: Dunlop Nylon – 0.60mm, 0.73mm, 1.00mm
Amplifiers
NOTE: Hiwatt currently are one of Keuning's sponsors.[10]
Playing style
Keuning is noted as a guitarist for playing anthemic and soaring solos in addition to sweetened and often percussive style playing frequently. He is also noted for his "unusual voicings" and "digit-distending, string-skipping" finger work on the guitar in similar fashion of Andy Summers of The Police.[3]
Keuning was featured in Guitarist magazine in May 2009[11] and Guitar World in February 2009,[12] Guitar Player in January 2008 and February 2010,[3] and Guitar Aficionado in January 2013.
In 2010, Keuning's guitar riff in "Mr. Brightside" was voted at number 9 in Total Guitar's 50 greatest riffs of the 21st Century so far.[13]
Influences
Keuning cites influences such as The Edge of U2, Robert Smith, Bernard Sumner, Billy Corgan, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, George Harrison, Angus Young, and Mick Mars.
Filmography
Television
Discography
As Keuning
- Prismism (2019)[1]
Other appearances
- "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" - Brandon Flowers (2010)[14]
- "Wander" - We Are Hyena (2012)[15]
- "This Is A Joke" (2014) - Bombay Heavy[16]
- "Clouds Pretend" - The Hunt (2014)[17]
- TBA - Blackout Balter (TBA 2016)
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ a b Krol, Charlotte (October 12, 2018). ""I regret not doing it a lot sooner": The Killers' Dave Keuning tells us about his debut solo album 'Prismism'". NME. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- ^ [1] Biographicon: Dave Keuning
- ^ a b c "The Killers' Dave Keuning" Guitar Player Magazine Feb 2010 Iss.
- ^ Longobardy, Joshua. "When he was young" Las Vegas Weekly. Feb 15, 2007.Third Page, First Paragraph.
- ^ [2] The Killers Bio VH1.com
- ^ "Killers Guitarist Dave Keuning Announces Touring Break". 28 August 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "The Killers - Tone Deaf". www.tonedeaf.com.au. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons - Nothing Left To Say w/ guest Dave Keuning of The Killers Feb 15, 2014 San Diego". YouTube.
- ^ http://www.thekillersfansite.com/article%20pics/guitarist%20magazine%20may2009/ggd3.jpg. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
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(help) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-25. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
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suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Hiwatt Website: Artists - ^ Crompton, Jamie. "Dave Keuning Interview: Serial Killer" Guitarist May 2009 Iss.
- ^ Bosso, Joe. "The Killers: All Killer No Filler" Guitar World Magazine. March 26, 2009.
- ^ "Muse Dominate Best Guitar Riff Poll". GIGWISE.com.
- ^ "Dave Keuning: 'The Killers Started Because I Lost My Job'". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Bombay Heavy - This Is A Joke, by BOMBAY HEAVY". Bombay Heavy. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Clouds Pretend (featuring Dave Keuning Of THE KILLERS)". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
External links
- The Killers official site, from Island Records
- The Killers official site (U.K.), from the Vertigo label
- Dave Keuning Facebook Fan Group
- Interview:Serial Killer from Guitarist Magazine May 2009 Iss.
- Interview: All Killer No Filler from Guitar World Magazine February 2009 Iss.
- Interview at Glastonbury Fest by NME
- Dave Keuning Pedalboard