The Killers vocalist pays tribute to Las Vegas

MANILA, Philippines - Just like legends John Lennon, Sting and Phil Collins, The Killers’ frontman Brandon Flowers has done the rare feat of releasing a chart-topping solo album after doing so with their famous band affiliations. Though his popular Las Vegas based-group is not yet officially disbanded, he has already proven that he’s a major attraction on his own.

Flowers’ Flamingo charted in the UK at No. 1 this month, making it his fourth album to reach the topmost, including past work with the rest of The Killers.

The singer-keyboardist named his solo effort after his beloved hometown, and aptly titled one of the tracks, Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas. The album was released in both UK and US early this month; its first single Crossfire, released via airwaves on his birthday last June 21, came out with a music video featuring Charlize Theron.

“I grew up there, so it’s close to my heart,” the 29-year-old says of the Las Vegas downtown where he used to buy records. “I feel a responsibility to represent where I’m from, to defend it. It’s a place that a lot of people loathe (but which) I can’t help but love it. I grew up with a lot of people who couldn’t wait to leave, and that was always strange to me. I feel a real connection to it. It’s in my blood.”

Giant label MCA Music is releasing the album in the Philippines in its Deluxe Edition which contains more tracks, significantly up from the original’s 10 songs of mostly Flowers compositions. One collaboration, Hard Enough features singer-songwriter and Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis. Crossfire is enjoying success airplay wise on our local music channels Channel V and MYX and top radio stations nationwide

Flamingo comprises other sensational tracks like Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts, an upbeat arena rocker with the heartbeat of a dance floor classic, and Magdalena which he performed in Jimmy Kimmel Live. Fresh tracks for the deluxe package, which sports an alternative album cover are The Clock Was Tickin’, I Came Here to Get Over You, Right Behind You and Jacksonville.  

Early this year, The Killers were reported headed to the Philippines. That didn’t happen for reasons local fans know by now. Flowers himself summed up the situation: “We’re just at different places in our lives now.”

Though the quartet is not announcing an official dissolution, its main man putting out a record that essentially captures the excitement of The Killers is the next best thing there is to hearing new Killer tracks. It’s much in the same wavelength when the late George Harrison declared in the ‘70s that Beatles die-hards have only to listen to the Wings to hear what The Beatles must have sounded had they continued making records.