Watch The Killers react to 'Mr Brightside' in Gogglebox-style video
They reveal inside facts about their breakthrough anthem
Last updated 28th Apr 2020
In a nod to hit Channel 4 show Gogglebox, The Killers’ Brandon Flowers and Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. have sat down on the sofa to watch and reflect on the ‘Mr Brightside’ video.
The Killers vocalist and drummer are the inaugural guests on VEVO’s brand new Watch This series, which sees musicians give inside scoop commentary on some of their biggest videos.
The opening episode features Brandon and Ronnie chewing the fat about their monumental 2003 anthem ‘Mr Brightside’ and its accompanying Sophie Muller directed video, which was inspired by hit 2001 Baz Luhrmann film, Moulin Rouge!, and stars Brandon alongside actors Izabella Miko and Eric Roberts in a love triangle at a burlesque show.
In the Watch This video (filmed before the coronavirus pandemic), Brandon Flowers confirms that their musical tour-de-force came from a bad place and was ultimately inspired by someone doing the dirty on him.
“It’s just a song about betrayal,” Brandon says of their debut single. “I was betrayed, and I was able to turn it into a masterpiece.”
Elsewhere in the three-minute clip, Brandon and Ronnie reflect upon the first low-budget indie ‘Mr Brightside’ video (also dubbed the UK version) that was filmed in Staten Island, New York, and how music videos are always “the last thing on our minds” when they’re writing songs.
They also discuss The Killers deriving their name from a fictional band in New Order’s 2001 ‘Crystal’ video, and how that inspired a fictional band in ‘Mr Brightside’ called The Genius Sex Poets.
Brandon Flowers also reveals the one scene in the ‘Mr Brightside’ video he hates and would “definitely nix.” Watch The Killers on Watch This:
And here's the 'Mr Brightside' video and the low-budget original version:
Featuring the Absolute Radio playlisted anthem ‘Caution’ and new track ‘Fire in Bone’, The Killers are due to release their sixth studio album ‘Imploding The Mirage’ on Friday 29th May.
Last week, The Killers rescheduled their Imploding The Mirage UK Stadium Tour for summer 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Killers will be joined by Special Guests Blossoms (dates marked **), Sam Fender (dates marked ^^) and Manic Street Preachers (dates marked ##) at the new shows, as detailed below:
MAY 2021
Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium – Tue 25th **
Bristol Ashton Gate Stadium – Thu 27th ##
Coventry Ricoh Stadium – Sat 29th ##
Southampton St Mary’s Stadium – Mon 31st ••
JUNE 2021
Norwich Carrow Road Stadium – Wed 2nd ••
London Emirates Stadium – Fri 4th ^^
London Emirates Stadium – Sat 5th ^^
Falkirk Stadium – Tue 8th **
Middlesbrough Riverside Stadium – Thu 10th ##
Manchester Emirates Old Trafford – Sat 12th **