Alternative-Pop Band Makes a Fuss About Creating Memorable Music
By Sandra Carr
Accent Magazine

Forming in August 2002, the alternative-pop quartet, the Killers, which are vocalist and keyboardist Brandon Flowers, lead guitarist Dave Keuning, bass guitarist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci, made a mark in the local Vegas scene before hitting the big-time.

After Flowers' departure from the group Blush Response, he responded to a classified band ad placed by Keuning in a local newspaper. Keuning was seeking band mates who shared similar musical tastes as he did. Flowers and Keuning's musical relationship blossomed into a kinship and of course, a band. Later, Vannucci and Stoermer came on board.

As the group started to compose material, there was one ingredient missing - a name. The band decided to take its name from the "Crystal" video by New Order. The band's namesake appeared on the fictional group's bass drum in the video - then the rest was history.

After the band's buzz traveled overseas, the foursome was signed by the small London-based indie label Lizard King. The label released a limited edition single for "Mr. Brightside" in fall 2003. Shortly thereafter, the band was signed by Island/Def Jam Records. In June 2004, the band released its debut album, Hot Fuss. So far, the album has sold two million copies.

One of the album's key selling points was the Killers' nostalgic riffs which stem from its influences - Oasis, New Order, the Cure and Duran Duran. The band's musical flavors churned a melting pot of melodies which transformed into its latest release, Hot Fuss.

Experiencing a whirlwind tour for over nineteen months now, including performances during the Coachella Valley music and arts festival, Live 8 and Lollapalloza, 29-year-old Ronnie Vannucci took time out of his schedule before the group's Red Rock amphitheater performance in Morrison, Colorado to chat with Accent Magazine about what actually makes Killers tick.

Why did you decide to become a drummer?
I basically was just a weird kid. Instead of riding bikes and shit, I would go to the garage and beat on the fridge, washer and dryer and sink. My parents broke down and they said, "Shit, we need to buy the kid a drum set." Somebody had a drum set. So they bought me this cheap set. I started playing it and took some lessons.

How long have you been playing drums?
Since 1984 or 1985.

Were you a photographer at a wedding chapel in Las Vegas and if so, where?
Yes, at the Little Chapel of Flowers. It was getting me through school. I wouldn't call myself a photographer. I knew somebody who owned the chapel. I had a good eye and it worked out.

Were you able to seek your classical percussion degree at UNLV before the Killers got signed?
I still have to do a recital. I think they're [UNLV] going to waive that. I'm still going to do it because I want to earn it [classical percussion music degree].

Are you from Las Vegas originally?
Yep. Three of us are.

Why did you become the Killers drummer and how did it happen?
I was at one of their [the Killers] first shows. I was filling in. It was the last day of school and I got a call from my roommate. She said, "We have a gig tonight. We need a drummer. Our drummer is MIA. Can you do it?" I said, "Well, yes I'll wing it." I didn't know the songs or anything, so I kind of made it up as I went along. It was aright. We were playing with the Killers and it was one of their first gigs. It was at some slimy bar across from the university. We kind of struck up a friendship. They liked my drumming. We just kind of hit it off. I got a call from the band one night saying, "Hey, we want you to play drums." I said, "Let's see how it works out first because I'm in school."

What was the name of the band you filled in for?
Daphne Major. They're not around anymore.

What is your favorite Killers' song and why - from a drummer's perspective?
I really like "On Top." I like the way that things are phrased around. And "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine."

When did you know that the Killers finally made it?
From the minute I asked Brandon to come over. I had this old upright piano in my house in the garage. We just played. Dave wasn't able to make it but we just started playing together for three hours or something like that and it just clicked. I just knew that it was special. After Mark joined the band, we all made a commitment that we were going to do this and not get off until it was done. And it's still not done yet.

In your opinion, how do the Killers differ from other alternative-pop and indie bands?
I just think we have goals. Everybody has goals. We just want to be an important band. I think we have the raw materials and the know-how to do it. We stumble along the way, but I think we just want to be one of those bands that are important and recognized. The whole commercial success is just kind of an afterthought. We never got into this to have fucking cool videos and be known to millions. We wanted to be just important enough to have people recognize that we write great songs and play great music.

How do you actually stay grounded?
My wife keeps me in check, man. Nothing phases that chick. Whenever I am even just a little bit out of line or whenever I try to pipe up, she's just like, "What the fuck, who are you?"

How does the rest of the band stay grounded?
Oh man, they're fucked! There's no turning back! [Laughs]

What was it like to perform during Live 8 in London?
It was a pinnacle in my musical career. That as huge. I always said once that after I got to meet Paul McCartney, that would be good enough. I could say that I met a Beatle. I can die a happy man now. It was really, really cool to meet everybody. Just seeing Pink Floyd and meeting those guys. Everybody was in a really positive mood. Because how bad taste it would have been to have a shitty rock star attitude with an event like that? It was great all around.

What about playing Lollapalooza in Chicago recently?
That was a great show! It was really good! I think it was one of hardest working shows in awhile. It was so hot and humid. It was really, really tough to be up there. We just gave it our all. We were really winded to the point of almost being sick afterwards.

What about the Lollapalooza crowd?
They were really, really great. Chicago has always been really nice to us.

What has been the Killers' best performance and why?
I have seen some Glastonbury footage recently. It's on DVD. I watched it and I couldn't believe it. Some of the songs were a little fast and sloppy in some areas, but it was really, really good. It comes to a point where the crowd almost plays it for you. You're up there onstage and you're playing, but the crowd is really doing all the work. And when you make that type of connection, then you just kind of share that energy. When you are sharing that experience, it's a really cool thing. I guess I was really into it because it was a really great performance.

How has the tour been going so far?
Really, really well. We just had some time off and that means everything to us. We have been touring for over nineteen months now.

What did the band think about Rolling Stone magazine stating in its June 16th issue that the Killers are the biggest new band of the year?
I'm happy to accept that, I guess. I'm not sure if I agree with it. The biggest new band of the year? Maybe, I don't know. Fuck, man that's Rolling Stone. It means something to the music world, our peers and fans of music really. We enjoyed it.

Why did the band name its debut Hot Fuss?
It was when we were making the demos which essentially became Hot Fuss. It's a little bit of a secret. It made sense at the time and it was perfect.

What was the band's reaction to being nominated for four MTV video awards for best group video for "Mr. Brightside"?
It's really cool. I'm not saying that we don't have a reaction. I don't mean to sound unappreciative. We didn't become a band to get awards or anything like that. We became a band just to make good music and be important. So the awards are the cherry on top, I guess.

Where did the idea come from for the "Mr. Brightside" video - especially since it has an eighteenth-century French theme?
We liked the way the movie Moulin Rouge looked and so we blatantly took a lot of aesthetic from that. And the storyline actually was similar. The courtesan and the evil guy, the pimp if you will, basically the guy who's in charge of all the girls and a weird love triangle. And then the hired hands - us and the whole love triangle between Brandon and the chick and the owner. It was cool. It was fitting for the song. Maybe a bit more dramatic take on the theme of the song and what the song is about. We thought it fit.

Why are there two videos for "Mr. Brightside" - a studio version and the one that is played on MTV?
We were on our first American tour. The UK was a little farther along with the record. We needed a video to service the band. So, this thing [the album] can grow some legs. We had to make this video really, really quickly. We hooked up with these three brothers and did this black and white video. We made a more visually stimulating video rather than a storyline or anything like that for the song. It's still a performance video. It's alright. I don't really look back at videos anymore. Not that we have made a shitload, but it was just for that time. I will appreciate it when I'm dunking fucking cookies in milk with my grandkids!

I also noticed that you used the photos from that studio performance video for Hot Fuss. How did that come about?
Yeah, that's nice that you caught that! Our friend Matt Hartman used to work for Island Records. He's really into photography. He's just kind of always around. He was taking these pictures and just being a fly-on-the-wall type thing and he got some really good stuff. We had taken some other pictures in Vegas that we were going to use originally, but we liked Matt so much that we stuck them [the photos] in there [Hot Fuss CD].

Where does the band plan on going in the future?
You never know what's going to happen until it's on tape. I think we have freeness about us now that we're kind of getting in touch with. I think you can still expect to always have great songs, but you probably expect to have hits too. But I don't think there's going to be another "Somebody Told Me" on there. We have grown as a band. I think we're getting in touch in a lot of different ways and I think we're going to exercise that a bit on the next record. I feel really good about it.