„The band is
going through a very good phase now” - An interview with The
Killers
Sziget.hu
You simply couldn’t
have wished for a better closer: the Main Stage said goodbye to
the audience with The Killers. Before the concert the band time
for an interview, we talked to drummer Ronnie Vanucci.
How do
you see the current situation of The Killers compared to
2004/2005?
Ronnie Vannucci: The band is more grown now, we have
improved a lot. If Hot Fuss was the high school certificate,
then Sam’s Town is the college dissertation. Fortunately we’re
even more popular than two-three years ago, and of course we’re
very happy about that. We have quite a good overlook at things,
we keep everything under control more. For example we’re much
more able to control business and that’s important too.
Two years ago I saw in Poland where you opened for U2.
What memories do you have from that tour and do you agree with
people who say that you’re following into their footsteps in
terms of greatness?
R.V.: You were there, really? That was a memorable concert
because Brandon suffered an electric shock in the rain, we
weren’t 100 % really. But the tour with U2 was amazing, they
were so cool and helpful. Whenever we needed something, one of
them or someone from their crew always helped us. To answer the
second part of your question, it would be great to get to the
level of U2 but we’re still too young for that. We’ve only got
two albums…
After the first record, the press called you the best
British band from America. They stopped that after Sam’s Town
that was heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen. Was it a
deliberate choice?
R.V.: Yeah but I don’t think it was heavily influenced
by Bruce Springsteen. A lot of bands, things inspired us. It was
just a media thing, someone invented it and everyone took it
over. Journalists love categorizing.
When is the new album coming, have you started working
on it?
R.V.: Actually yeah, we’ve been composing, rehearsing. The band
is going through a very good phase now, we’re enthusiastic and
despite the exhausting tour, we take time to work on new songs.
For example we arrived here in Hungary three days ago and we
used the time for practicing. What else could we do? It’s all
going really well, but I really have no idea when we’ll release
it. It would be great to continue the tradition of even numbers
so it could come out in 2008.
Are you setting a new direction perhaps?
R.V.: I don’t know, we might, it’s not that clear yet.
The other day we were rehearsing a new song and one of us said:
„This sounds just like ELO!” And yeah, it did sound like the
chorus of Mr. Blue Sky a bit. So I don’t know, perhaps we’ll
have a little ELO influence. But if we think it’s not cool then
we’ll change it. And we’ll incorporate something new that we’ll
come up with. Reggae, ska… (laughs) Or death metal. We’ll be the
Killers Of Death Metal.