Ten years ago this week, four guys from the hinterlands of Las Vegas released their debut album Hot Fuss upon unsuspecting ears and first single "Somebody Told Me" singlehandedly wrestled radio playlists from the grips of rape rock and nu-metal (is there a difference?).
It was on this date in 2004, however, that the band had their coming-out party at KROQ's Weenie Roast and while it wasn't as iconic a moment as, say, U2 at Red Rocks or Queen at Live Aid, you could literally feel the tide turning as the band's set progressed, Brandon Flowers' unpretentious demeanor connecting with the crowd immediately.
"Somebody Told Me" swept the country like a melodic plague, yet, amazingly, the song never managed to dent the U.S. Top 40. "Mr. Brightside", on the other hand, went to #10 in the U.S. and helped propel the album into the Top 10 as well. Meanwhile, Hot Fuss topped the UK charts while single "Somebody, "Brightside" and "All These Things That I've Done" stormed the Top 20.
The Killers's success ushered in a wave of like-minded bands such as The Bravery, Franz Ferdinand, and Metric while showing Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit and kORN the door.
Tags:
all these things that I've done
hot fuss
mr. brightside
somebody told me
ten years ago today
the killers