Key facts
- Brandon Flowers' new solo album, 'Thrasher,' is influenced by country music and his rural upbringing.
- Flowers questions the value of fame and success, contrasting his life with his father's contentment.
- The album addresses the opioid crisis and its devastating impact on his hometown.
- He reflects on the challenges of maintaining relationships amidst the demands of a music career.
- Flowers confirms The Killers are still together and plan to record another album.
- He aims for The Killers to evolve and age gracefully, avoiding attempts to replicate past successes.
Brandon Flowers, the frontman of the stadium rock band The Killers, is releasing his third solo album, 'Thrasher,' which marks a significant departure into country music. This album, recorded in Nashville's famed RCA Studio A, delves into Flowers' childhood influences, his rural upbringing in Utah, and the personal reflections that come with decades in the music industry.
Flowers has confessed to a 'country addiction,' a passion rekindled by revisiting his childhood haunts. He recorded 'Thrasher' with veteran musicians like pedal steel player Bruce Bouton and harmonica player Charlie McCoy, aiming to capture a 'romantic' and energetic recording process. The album's lyrical themes explore his experiences working in Las Vegas casinos and critically address the opioid crisis that has deeply affected his hometown, noting the staggering loss of life among his peers.
Beyond societal issues, Flowers uses the album to take stock of his own life and career. A song titled 'American Dream' features a fantasy conversation with Elvis Presley about the true value of fame and fortune. This introspection stems from Flowers' concerns about his three teenage sons comparing themselves to his success, leading him to consciously shield his family from the trappings of fame. He questions whether his achievements have brought him genuine happiness, contrasting his own life with his father's simpler, yet potentially more content, existence.
Approaching his 21st wedding anniversary, Flowers also discusses the complexities of maintaining relationships while touring. He acknowledges the potential for growing apart but also the possibility of rediscovery and freshness upon return. He is even seeking to rectify a lyric from The Killers' last album that he believes negatively impacted some listeners' relationships, having written a new song to reframe the sentiment.
While 'Thrasher' features 10 songs, an additional 13 recorded during the same sessions are being prepared for a separate release. Flowers assures that this solo work does not signal the end of The Killers, though he admits uncertainty about the band's future. He emphasizes the importance of evolving and aging gracefully in music, citing John Lennon and Tom Petty as examples of artists who have successfully inhabited their age. Flowers finds that the constant work of performing has diminished his ability to enjoy concerts as a fan, a feeling he hopes to recapture by seeing Oasis perform, a band that originally inspired him.