Brandon Flowers Reflects on Fame and Music Career

Brandon Flowers has been the frontman of The Killers for 25 years, creating iconic songs like Mr Brightside and When You Were Young. However, he has always had a secret passion for country music, which started when his dad played Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard on the car stereo during his childhood in Nephi, Utah.

Music Career

Flowers' new solo album, Thrasher, was recorded in Nashville's RCA Studio A with veteran musicians like Bruce Bouton and Charlie McCoy. The album features songs about his rural upbringing, his experiences working in Las Vegas casinos, and a tribute to his brother-in-law who died suddenly. Flowers says he couldn't have made this album in his 20s, as he has now gained more life experience to draw from.

The album also includes a song called American Dream, where Flowers fantasizes about meeting Elvis Presley and asking him if fame and fortune are worth it. This question has plagued Flowers for years, and he admits that he sometimes wonders what he is trying to achieve and prove through his music. He says that success doesn't automatically bring contentment, citing his dad as an example, who may be happier than him despite not having the same level of success.

Personal Life

Flowers has always been careful to keep his family separate from the effects of fame. He doesn't talk about his music career with his family and doesn't have any gold records or memorabilia displayed in his home. He says that periodic absences from home due to touring can have unexpected benefits, such as rediscovering each other and bringing freshness to their relationship.

Future Plans

Flowers has recorded 23 songs in Nashville, but only 10 made it to the Thrasher album. The other 13 songs are being mixed for a separate album, which may be released next year. He says that this solo activity doesn't mean the end of The Killers, but he is unsure about the band's future. He believes that longevity requires evolution, and this new batch of country songs could signpost The Killers' next incarnation.

Flowers is looking forward to touring Thrasher and playing new material, as well as re-arranging some of the classics. He says that he can no longer enjoy watching other people in concert, as it's where he goes to work, but he might feel differently if he saw his favorite band, Oasis, live again.