#translated interview

[hotfuss]

the killers in sonika, october 2006. photos by anthony mendler and anton corbijn (spread in the last 2 pages)

translation from spanish available thanks to @dayandage

(page edges) THE KILLERS | BANDS THAT MATTER

THE KILLERS: More than temptation and fake Elvises.

Inside this musical battle, in which there are thousands of new bands throwing guitars around, there are some bands that after their first album, look to win a new battle with their next production. In the case of the Killers, many will be surprised when listening to Sam’s Town, material that brought together good producers, a great photographer, and great songs to take the next step that many bands are afraid to take or don’t want to take in order to conform to moderate success.

For the tour of Sam’s Town, we had Brandon Flowers as a guide. The singer, keyboardist, and lyricist of the band has given us more clues about this record that’s been one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year that, believe it or not, will not disappoint anyone and will mark the birth of the trajectory of a great new band.

What did The Killers offer you that none of your previous bands did?

A voice. Nobody really knew about my older projects. This project has let me meet people all over the world. 

What did Las Vegas influence?

There has always been an element of Las Vegas in our music. I think myself in particular, I’ve been influenced by the image of a frontman like Frank Sinatra or Elvis. All of those images of casinos and shows have been in my head as I’ve lived in that place. It’s always been in our blood to create a rock group for the people. 

The Killers offer something completely different than what Las Vegas usually offers, like fake Elvises or temptation on every corner…

We don’t care if someone who may not know of Las Vegas relates us to that ambient. For example, when people talk about Liverpool, they think about the Beatles, or when people talk about Manchester, they think about the Smiths, or the Flaming Lips, or Oklahoma. I hope we’re doing the same thing with Las Vegas, so one day the city feels proud of itself. 

Did you ever think that Hot Fuss would be so successful?

You never really know what can happen. When we recorded the album we were enchanted with our songs, above all the thought of playing them live. We were very fortunate with everything that happened with that album… Just thinking about it makes me smile. Hot Fuss opened a lot of doors for us and helped us leap over things that most bands have to learn with time. As such, we don’t feel that much pressure to take risks and try things to stand out. 

The part of the song, “All These Things That I’ve Done,” that says, “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier.” Where did that come from?

I was at my sister’s house writing the lyrics in a bedroom and suddenly the sentence came to me. It’s one of those moments that you hope will happen, but you can’t force it to happen. That’s part of the interesting things about this career. It’s a gift from the universe. [laughs]

With the release of the second album, you could say that you’re now in a period where you can still experiment and make mistakes. A lot of bands that have been around for years would be jealous of the moment in time you’re currently living.

We’re in a difficult situation because we’re successful for something that we’ve already made and it would be easy to do the same thing again to keep that success. But, we’re growing and changing and I think it’s important to establish that in a song. In Sam’s Town, you’ll hear four completely different people than who we were in Hot Fuss. The songs are wiser, bolder, and more well rounded, so that’s why I think that songs are like a mirror. With this I understand why so many bands don’t make it.

Sam’s Town was produced by Alan Moulder and Floor, two of the most important producers of the 90’s. How did it feel to be in the studio with them?

We knew Alan already because he mixed Hot Fuss and we thought he would be ideal for this second album. He brought Flood, who had worked on Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins. To think that they’ve done something so spectacular together, we started to get nervous, because we knew that together they’d do something marvelous. We’re very lucky to be able to work with them. We really respect their opinions, because it’s good to have someone who has a lot of knowledge about producing.

What song from Sam’s Town do you think will sound best live?

Probably “Read My Mind.” It’s my favourite baby. "When You Were Young” is very emotional. “Bling (Confession of a King)" was one of the first songs we recorded for this record. It’s a song that transports you to different places. It’s one of those songs that make you part of the song as you listen to it. It’s weird to explain but that’s what happens to me.

Many songwriters write about personal experiences and others about what they see in life. Which are you?

I think I’m a bit of both. I love admiring my surroundings and writing things that are familiar to me. I’m also capable of writing about the things other people experience, because if I just wrote about things that happened to me, only a few people would be able to relate.

KILLERS FACTS

City of Origin: Las Vegas, Nevada

Before the Killers: Blush Response, the synthpop band in which Brandon Flowers played.

The Band: Brandon Flowers: Vocals. Dave Keuning: Guitar. Mark Stoermer: Bass. Ronald Vannucci Jr.: Drums. 

What they did before The Killers: Flowers was a bell boy for the Gold Coast. David Keuning worked at a Banana Republic. Mark Storemer was a medicine deliveryman and was studying Philosophy. Ronnie Vannucci studied percussion, aside from being a wedding photographer for a church. 

They debuted in: A gay bar called the Tramps

Discography: Hot Fuss (2004) Sam’s Town (2006… it released on October 2nd!)

Singles: From Hot Fuss: ‘Somebody Told Me,’ ‘Mr. Brightside’ ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ From Sam’s Town: ‘When You Were Young’

Have you ever written a song so personal, that some time later you’re surprised by it?

It happened with this album. I’ve never mentioned someone so close to me in a song. ‘Uncle Jonny’ is about my actual uncle Jonny, my mom’s brother. He’s someone very important to me. In the song ‘Sam’s Town’ I wrote about my grandma Dixie. I feel strange singing these lyrics in the studio… moreso embarrassed at talking about someone so close, but at the end of the day, it came out really well. 

Anton Corbjin worked with you for the art of the album and he usually creates a special connection with the band he’s working with (U2, Depeche Mode.) Are you starting a good working relationship with him?

We’ve always been fans of Depeche and U2 so we’ve always been interested in his work. When we met him we felt a special connection, he’s a great person. And if he doesn’t want to work with someone, he won’t, even if there’s a lot of money involved. He has good taste and very high standards. We realized that when we recorded ‘All These Things That I’ve Done.’

The video for “When You Were Young” was recorded at an hacienda in Tlayacapan, Morelos. When you came to shoot, was Mexico what you expected?

I had no idea what it was going to be like. I imagined it was going to be just mountains and fields. When we landed in Mexico City, I was very surprised, I thought it was going to be all desert. At first it was weird to film the video in Mexico because we already have desert in Vegas, but later I understood why they chose that location. It was a great experience and I’d love to go back.

Did you try the Tlacayapan sorbet?

No, what we did try was corn with chile and cheese (Esquites) and hot chocolate. Walking down those streets and trying that food was an experience we’d never had and it was really fun. 

What similarities did you find between Las Vegas and Mexico?

Well, I feel that the people from both places are great. The people of Mexico were very welcoming to us and were happy to see us. They didn’t care that we had gringo accents. I liked that a lot. 

When do you plan to come to Mexico?

Probably 2007. But we’re coming, I promise.

[thezeinterviews]

Dzerkalo: “Your country is taking a big risk.” The President of Ukraine for the first time since the beginning of a full-scale war gave a big interview to the Belarusian media – “Dzerkalo”

This interview with Dzerkalo has been sought for almost four years – from the very beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For a long time, nothing worked out, but we did not despair and continued to remind about ourselves and how important it is for Belarusians to hear an opinion about what is happening from the leader of the neighboring country. Partly due to perseverance, but probably even more of the understanding of the Ukrainian authorities that the Lukashenka regime is not equal to the people, this conversation still took place. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky told Dzerkalo when he ceased to perceive Belarusians through the “prize of war” and realized that “it is necessary to communicate”, whether he is ready to help in the release of political prisoners, as he sees the future of our countries. And he shared information about whether Nikolai Lukashenko really called him, and speculated why he “touchfully with the Belarusians.”

View this post on Instagram

February 23, 2026 at 14.00

“Mr. President, since the beginning of the war, we tried to organize this interview. Probably dozens of different ways. And now, after almost four years, we are finally talking. Why did you agree now?

- Firstly, I want to say openly: I have always treated Belarus with great respect, to the Belarusian people, I have been to Belarus repeatedly. But, honestly, after the war... it wasn't just some kind of resentment. We stand on the threshold of understanding that not only Russia started a war, that Russia has an ally – Belarus. Thank God that we are talking about the regime of Lukashenko, we are not talking about the Belarusian people. But, nevertheless, when the missiles are flying, Belarusians must understand that the Ukrainians are dying, and for them Belarus at this moment is an ally of the aggressor, an ally of Russia.

Therefore, to be honest, it was not easy to see you. That's all. Because I am focused on the war and perceive Belarus through the way they talk about it in this regard, how Belarus itself speaks about itself, as Russia says about it. These are allied states, one of which is definitely fighting on our territory and kills our people with ours. And Belarus says that allegedly “we do not control them [Russians] and so on.

At some point, you realize that the Russian army, which is located on your territory, probably, does not control Belarus, but does not fully control. Why, let me explain now.

Now we see a new format of relations [between Belarus and the Russian Federation], when Belarus knows exactly what is happening on its territory. And it is impossible to say, as Lukashenko told me after the beginning of a full-scale invasion, that the missiles [to Ukraine] flew, but they “have been there for a long time, we have not controlled it, the launch is not controlled.” Now drone repeaters have appeared on the territory of Belarus, and now this new technique, which appeared there, helps the Russian Shahedam to hit our people, the civilian population and energy, because there is an adjustment thanks to these repeaters.

And the next step is to prepare a platform for the deployment of the “Oroshnik” (the missile system and the eponymous ballistic missile of medium range, which Russia strikes at Ukraine. – Approx. ed.).

These are all new steps, it is not about old actions that did not depend on Lukashenko, as he said about it. It's definitely up to him now. Coordination, repeaters, information, adjustment of the reactive "Shahedov" - all this definitely depends on the local [Belarusian] authorities.

Therefore, we are now in the moment when Belarusians must understand all risks. Russia has always wanted to drag Belarus into this war, so that the people of Belarus, the Belarusian military fought against the Ukrainians. You used to be embroiled by other things. For example, your factories – sorry that I say “your”, [we are talking about factories] of Belarus – produce artillery shells. And at the very beginning of the war, after Lukashenko was lied to me, that he did not control anything, all your [military] warehouses were taken to Russia. All artillery was taken to Russia. According to our data, maybe I’m wrong, but the Russians had to return it all. But they did not give anything to Belarus, they paid money, as far as I know. And the most important thing is that your country continues to produce artillery for Russians. That is, it suggests that they [the Belarusian authorities] are taking part [in the war].

And if the production of artillery can still be explained, saying: “Well, sorry, Ukrainians also buy it in a particular country.” Yes, but on the territory of other states there are no repeaters of our drones, who lead them [to attack] on certain territories. At least, nothing [from us] certainly over the territory of Belarus does not fly. “Oridnik, aimed at Belarus, is not on our territory, and we do not have other missiles aimed at you.

And I agreed [to the interview], although I do not have a lot of [free] time, because I believe that Belarus is at great risk. Lukashenko is pushing you to Putin. And now it is a question not only of the sovereignty of Belarus, but of security. You're being used. You have technology, equipment that threatens Ukraine, and today all of Europe. All Europe! I believe that these are high risks, and Belarusians should know about it.

- Do these repeaters and "Oridnik" Ukraine considers a legitimate military goal?

- I will not say in what way, but our guys were engaged in ensuring that three or four repeaters no longer work on the territory of Belarus. We simply have no other choice, otherwise attacks on our land will continue. And from this direction now flies much less, I want to tell you.

And “Orushnik” – in my opinion, NATO should look at it as a legitimate goal. Well, we will observe, assess this threat.

I'm just saying that Lukashenka makes a big mistake. It’s not just a question in the “Hands.” Everyone sees that they are making a big show from him now. They still [in Belarus] did not bring the whole complex, but only the appropriate machines, but already represent everything as if [everything there is]. Frightening Europe. But Lukashenko is played in vain, because after these steps, of course, without asking him, the Russians will bring Orshnik to the territory of your state.

Another story – I know that they [Lukashenko and Putin] talk about joint military exercises on the territory of Belarus. We’ll see how big they really are. When they were last mass, you remember, the offensive on the territory of Ukraine began (we are talking about the exercises “Union Resolve” in February 2022, which began a full-scale invasion of Russia. – Approx. ed.). Therefore, all these are great risks for Ukraine is for sure. And I think there are big risks for Belarusians.

- At the beginning of the full-scale war, in 2022, Russian troops were flowing to Ukraine, planes took off, missiles were launched. However, you did not hit military targets in Belarus. Why?

“Lukashenko, in response to my words, that they are aggressors and allies [of Russia] and are drawn into the war, because missiles flew from your territory and the troops were sent, he told me on the phone that he did not control this situation and said: “Whis, you can answer us, hit Mozyr, [there is a refiner] plant there.” With our team, we discussed this – everyone wanted to answer. But, in my opinion, Putin only expected that – that’s what we were hitting strikes at the time. Then he really wanted that from this direction the Belarusians could come in with their troops. We are not saying that [the Armed Forces of Belarus] had great forces or capabilities, but nevertheless. We should have thought about how to defend ourselves on this side.

The Russians drew Belarus into the war for only one reason. When they pressed on us in the east and there was the main concentration of their troops, they wanted to stretch our forces [on the front line]. And one of the ideas was that the Belarusians began to enter [the territory of Ukraine], frighten us. In this case, of course, we would have to react and transfer some part of the troops. They would weaken the east.

Now he [Putin] just uses this territory. Well, Lukashenko – I don’t know if it can be called a dead end, because he does not control anything or provides an opportunity for it. It seems to him that his, let’s say, a new stage of relations with the Americans gives him some kind of inviolability there, you know. No.

First, he has no immunity in his country, and the people must understand that he is drawn into war. Secondly, the Americans do what they need – get certain political prisoners. Thank goodness people are alive and free. I don’t know the details about these people, but the fact that they’re out of prisons is positive. Americans do that. Under what conditions [they communicate] with Lukashenko – frankly, unfortunately, if this is solely due to the lifting of certain sanctions or intentions [to remove them], well, you can not just forgive, in my opinion.

But these are the fantasies of Lukashenko that they will help him if he continues to get involved in this war. Moreover, now is not the first year of the war, and it is technological. We do not use our drones against Belarus, because we are not at war with your country – I will emphasize this again. We are not in the first year of the war, and we do not need to use our manpower and our military. We can manage many things from the territory of Kiev. And therefore, I believe that he still needs to “come to the tami”, as they say in Ukraine, sober up, not to get involved in the war. “Oshnik” for us is an escalation of already difficult relations with Belarus.

- You imposed personal sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko, talked with political prisoners expelled to Ukraine, appealed to Belarusians and warned about the involvement of our country in the war. You even said that Spitz Lukashenko has more rights than the Belarusian people. Previously, there was no such attention to Belarus - as well as an official meeting with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Didn't you do this so as not to provoke Lukashenko and not to cross certain "red lines"?

- I believe that now he provokes us [to these steps]. As for the sanctions [against Lukashenko] – I have been approached by Europeans, who imposed restrictions, many other countries. We had our own red lines about it. We are now demonstrating political steps our attitude to the fact that he is drawn into the war and helps Putin. But these are exclusively political or economic steps that do not concern, by the way, the finances of ordinary Belarusians. It’s just about this person.

But, nevertheless, he must understand this: we are watching, the Europeans turn to us, we will continue the appropriate policy if Lukashenko does not come to its senses and does not stop.

- Who passed about the shadow, commenting on the next statement of Alexander Lukashenko to Ukraine, you said: “He will still pay for what he did, namely, to allow an offensive from his territory. No one will forget it.” By imposing personal sanctions against the Belarusian politician, you in your telegram channel listed the forms of support that official Minsk provides to Russia in this war, and ended the post with the words: “For this there will be special consequences.” My question is, what?

Sanctions policy is the first step, as I said. We will develop and are now working on the legal basis for its continuation. It will concern not only Lukashenka. We are talking about his entourage, about his sons and so on. And another story, as I said: we will follow all the military assistance that it gives [Russia].

We did not raise Lukashenko’s question with the American side, because we saw that the Americans were determined to find communication with him, to reach the result diplomatically. We will be on this track now and we will talk with the United States that it cannot be that it supports the Russian regime – it supports war, not just its geopolitics. It helps kill civilians. We have evidence, we have all this on the maps, everything is recorded on video and so on: as from the territory of Belarus, thanks to the relays, the Shaheds came in. It’s a crime because they helped the aggressor is a fact. After these strikes, civilians were killed. That is, it is a crime for us. And now we will deal with the legal component of these crimes.

- Will a criminal case against Olganizen Lukashenko be initiated in Ukraine?

This is a question for other departments. I will not talk about it yet, but all relevant bodies will also be engaged in this direction.

- I want to return to what you said about the talks between Alexander Lukashenko and the United States. Are you against it?

“No, I am not against America’s negotiations with Lukashenko. I certainly do not support the lifting of sanctions against him. I don't think the war is over. Sanctions were imposed because of illegitimate elections in Belarus [in 2020]. But these are the issues of the countries that imposed sanctions. We then supported the entire civilized world and the people of Belarus and did not support Lukashenko at that time - this is the first reason [why to lift the sanctions incorrectly].

And the second reason, which concerns exclusively Ukraine: sanctions were imposed against the economy of Lukashenko due to the fact that he is an accomplice of aggression against our country. We have always been very careful in the UN, in the geopolitical direction. When certain resolutions were raised, we did not usually talk about aggression [from] Belarus. We never allowed ourselves this, because we believe that okay: there are questions [touching] Lukashenko, there are issues [touch] Belarus, there are issues [touch] the Belarusian people.

Some Russians ask, “What’s the difference? Why are we guilty in Russia that Putin has started a war and there are no Belarusians?” Because Lukashenka did not start the war. Putin started the war. Lukashenko is an accomplice. But there are no Belarusian people, officially the Belarusian army on the territory of Ukraine. There is an army of Russia. And therefore, Russians who pay taxes and thereby support the army go into it on mobilization, are direct criminals. And Lukashenko is an accomplice – but not yet the Belarusian people.

Why “proportion”? Because, once again, Belarusians are being dragged into this war. You can't let that happen.

Therefore, [I hold] and intensive meetings, and conversations with representatives of the opposition forces, with journalists. These are not signals, no matter how Lukashenko interprets it, that Ukraine wants to fight Belarus. No, we want Belarus not to fight against us. We do not measure strength, nothing. We just think it’s a big mistake. A huge terrible mistake is [what] the Russians did. And this [toang of Belarus] will also be a huge terrible mistake. That's what we're talking about.

Therefore, I use all channels to convey this information to Belarusians - peaceful people, calm people.

- At the end of January, speaking in Vilnius, you said: "The Belarusians' uprising should have won in 2020 - so that there was no threat from there today. Europe and the world had to support the rebellious people – and history would be safer.” Do you think that if the protests won in 2020, Putin would just come with the army to Belarus and do exactly the same thing that is doing to Ukraine now?

- I don't know... I can't tell you what would have happened. But you can't let you give your freedom. That's all. And especially you can not give someone the right to sell your freedom.

Look, it's a choice of Belarusians. I was just talking about the military track, because I think it's very scary, it's a tragedy. Because we're in war, but we didn't choose her. When the man came to us, began to kill us. And now a man lacks strength.

10 thousand North Koreans are now on the territory of Russia [for the war with Ukraine]. He [Putin] lacks people. He does not want to mobilize Muscovites and St. Petersburgers. Well, he just doesn't want to. Basically, he takes people from villages, poor people who will not even be remembered. That's what he's doing. He negotiates with others for money.

And I think he's pulling out Belarusians. Retracts – but this does not mean that Belarusian soldiers, military, border guards will come to our territory today. As I said, now another war can be drawn technologically. It involves placing its auxiliary technical forces on your territory. [And therefore] Lukashenko can no longer say: “I did not control [the missiles], it was here before, and therefore it flew.” But there were no such drones as they now did not exist before the war, there were no such repeaters as they used, no “Oryushnik” physically on the territory of Belarus. And he can't just show up. That's what I'm talking about. I'm sorry that so many times [I repeat myself]. You know, I feel the risk. I feel it.

“In our country right now, hundreds, if not thousands, of Belarusians and Belarusians are in prison for helping Ukraine: someone fought on your side, someone guerrilla on the railroad, someone tracked the movement of Russian troops. Is Kiev doing something to get these people out? Do you see that there is such a problem?

- We see. But I want to tell you: in my opinion, first of all, Belarusians have to do something to free these people. I do not shift the appropriate steps to anyone, but about seven thousand Ukrainians are now in prisons in Russia. I do not believe that Russian prisons are in any way different from the prisons of Belarus. I think these are the same regimes with hatred of people. The only difference is that Belarusians are sitting in Belarus, and Ukrainians are sitting in Russia. And they [the Russians], I think, are more cruel to Ukrainians than to [seat] political prisoners who are citizens of other countries. I think so, because we see the consequences on the bodies of our prisoners of war, we see their injuries, traces of torture.

It’s not easy to free people. We have to negotiate everything. About Lukashenko – we can negotiate with the Americans [for help in liberation], we are ready to help, we helped. When the US was negotiating with Lukashenko about the release of [parts of political prisoners], we provided our territory, gave transport, medical care for those Belarusian prisoners who were released now (speech released on December 13, 2025. We took them on our territory. And we are ready to continue this, we will provide the Belarusian prisoners with any assistance that is in our power. But it is very difficult to get out of prisons.

I specifically gave an example with our Ukrainian citizens, who are a priority for me as president. I think you understand that. And this is very important: you always have to change someone for someone. To free Belarusians, you need to find something to change.

- There are Belarusians who fought on the side of Russia and are now in captivity in Ukraine.

- We are changing prisoners of war to prisoners of war. I want to give you an example: we were approached by several Asian countries (I think you understand which) – we took captive their people. I can't change their military to any military, no matter how they ask me. I can change their military, who fought and killed Ukrainians, only to Ukrainian citizens who are in captivity in Russia. The Chinese can take our captives from the Russian Federation, and I will give them the Chinese. I can only change for citizens of Ukraine.

I will tell you frankly: we had guys from Belarus who changed their citizenship, and they are citizens of Ukraine – and they are the same attitude to the Ukrainians who were born Ukrainians. We change all citizens of Ukraine first. Well, just a very large number of military - more than 6 thousand [in Russian captivity]. I think you understand that.

You said, “Everything needs to be negotiated.” If Belarusians in prisons could be released, but would need to talk to Lukashenko, would you?

First, I talked to him during the war. I said it: he called me, he wanted to talk. We didn’t have the nicest conversation, but it was nonetheless. Secondly, today we have the opportunity to contact at the intelligence level and raise relevant issues. These questions were raised with the Americans. This is what I said: we took part in the fact that political prisoners of Belarusian came out. I stress once again, we will continue to work in this direction.

- You yourself reminded of your conversation with Lukashenko at the beginning of a full-scale war. You said he apologized to you. Later, Belarusian propaganda claimed that there was no apology, and the conversation itself allegedly took place solely due to the emotional reaction of his youngest son, who had your personal contact on his phone. How did this conversation really happen and what role did Nikolai Lukashenko play in it?

- It's some kind of phantasmagoria, to be honest. First: you still need to remember what phone he [Alexander Lukashenko] called - it is unlikely that my phone. But, nevertheless, I talked to him. Second, he apologized, and he was very afraid that we would strike [in response]. And he said, "Well, let's put on the factory," because he didn't know what we could do. And I think that he realized that we were “not finished off” in the first day – our people did not kill us, did not kill our army and did not kill me personally. And when he realized that, he began to look for an opportunity to talk to me. He was looking, I didn't want to. I didn't immediately react, I didn't want to talk, I was angry about him. Well, in principle, we had a conversation with him.

Belarusian propaganda is propaganda. And I have witnesses to this conversation, and if necessary, then I think you can even read this conversation.

“We wrote to your Office’s adviser Mikhail Podolyak and asked if there was a recording of the conversation, he said, “No comment.”

- Podolyak, maybe there is something, maybe he's overheard something there (laughs).

- And Nikolay Lukashenko has nothing to do with this conversation?

- No, no. I only know about Kola Lukashenko that he is Kolya Lukashenko. I don't know anything else about this guy.

- How was your meeting with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya?

- It was a good meeting. But we're not the first one.

Officially, the first one.

- Well, you can say so, probably in this format it was the first conversation. Although I met her, I think, before a full-scale invasion. We had such a meeting on the sidelines of the summit, yes. I think it was Lithuania. Oh, I'm sorry, I don't remember. But I have met several times at different international venues.

But such a bilateral meeting is officially the first. Good meeting, we talked normally. It’s very fun to talk to Belarusians — I [at moments like such] I think how Belarusians are fun to talk to Ukrainians. We speak different languages, but we understand. And that's very fun. Well, really, it's very cool.

For example, when you talked so before with the Russians ... I had a story at the beginning of the summit [in the Normandy format with Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron] in December 2019. I remember, our official part began: I spoke Ukrainian, Putin spoke Russian, Emmanuel spoke French and Merkel spoke German. So when they said, it's okay. When I started in Ukrainian during my official speech, the entire Russian delegation of the basement – you know, so with the sound – [to show] that they were unpleasant, that I can speak Russian with them.

Although in principle with the Russians, too, we can talk, because we should all understand and respect each other. But, you see, with Belarusians very, very pleasant and very simple. There's no problem. Zero.

And we talked the same with Svetlana. I believe that we need to strengthen contacts with Belarus. With Svetlana, with journalists, as with you today. Thanks for this conversation. In my opinion, we need to communicate more. I agree with her idea that there should be a Ukrainian special representative for Belarus - to contact Svetlana, with her people, with other Belarusians who are not in the country for obvious reasons. And that's why I told her I'd be working on it. We'll pick up a man, I promised her.

How do you see the future of Belarus and Ukraine?

I believe that the best is the member countries of the European Union. I do not know whether this will support the Belarusian people, but from the point of view of geopolitics and independence, in my opinion, it is right. From the point of view of the economy ... The fact that in Belarus people are smart, I am sure. I just think that the anti-European propaganda that has been conducted in your country for many years, brings one thing - there will be restrictions in the development of Belarus, in business, prices will be only high, salaries will be small, you will be poor. But, in my opinion, it is just propaganda. [A better future] to be in the European Union. But this will certainly be the choice of Belarusians.

What's more important? These are strong relations between the two independent countries – Ukraine and Belarus. This can be developed, I believe, if there will be a leadership that will give freedom to Belarusians, which will respect the independence of Ukraine. We are sure to respect the independence of Belarus. I think that's the best thing that might be. Peaceful relations when we respect each other’s sovereignty. And the rockets do not fly from one country to another.

- Please continue: Belarusians are...

- It's complicated now. It's very hard to say. I'm sorry, but it is. War. Before the war, it was friends, neighbors, like us... and now war before all these words. That's why there are three points. War is the three points. And I would very much like the war to end and probably something has changed in relations between our countries. After all, the Belarusian people did not start a war against Ukraine. I think this is the wisest choice and status in which the Belarusian must remain.

Article

[nonpolar-bear]

Interviewer: Finally, it's a casual question that comes to mind. In the past 15 years, your hairstyle hasn’t changed much, but in contrast Thom’s hairstyle has changed quite often. Do you think that sort of reflect the differences in your personalities?

Jonny: I hate going to get my hair cut and I hate mirrors. That’s why it doesn’t bother me at all. (Snoozer, December 2008)

[ilballodellavita]

Måneskin Europa Plus Interview Translation

Hi everyone, this is a translation for Måneskin’s interview in Russia on 01.09.2021 with the radio station Europa Plus. I translated using just the Italian/Russian translator and of course Måneskin’s answers since I only know Italian, so if you speak Russian and I missed something feel free to tell me <3 This is also my first time translating such a long video so thanks for your patience! :-) You can download the interview here (Thanks @definitelynotdamiano​ for this link!) Tr = Translator

[ ] = My notes

Enjoy! (Under a read more because it’s pretty long)

Tr: We had to meet you, we are also your fans because we were at your event last night. We’ve been in love with you since Eurovision

All: thanks!

Tr: After the event last night we came here this morning without even changing 

Vic: Right on *laughs* 

Tr: It’s the first time that we [the interviewers] have our makeup like this, it’s unusual [for us], the first question is do you put on your makeup by yourselves or do you have a stylist to do it for you? 

Thomas: Depends

Vic: When we are working we are fortunate to have a stylist because-

Thomas: Exactly

Vic: -if we were to do it ourselves every morning it would be very bad 

Thomas: Very very bad yes 

Tr: Today your makeup looks very nice. How are you finding Russia? Is it your first time in Russia? Do you like it/not like it? 

Thomas: It’s very pretty

Damiano: Yes it’s the first time we’ve come

Thomas: We haven’t been able to see very much however it seems very pretty 

Tr: The Russian audience is very different from other European countries; are you surprised at the amount of fans you have here in Moscow? 

Damiano: Okay, it’s not so different, it’s very very hot. But yes we were surprised at the quantity of the fans we have 

Tr: How did you ever decide to come to Russia? No one knew, it seemed a bit, as they say in Russian, an “all of a sudden snow” 

Damiano: People have been asking us for a long time

Vic: They messaged us to try coming there and therefore we are inevitably here

Tr: You are exactly the type of singers that listen to fans and go where people ask you to go in regards to other countries then? 

Vic: Yeah if we can 

Ethan: Absolutely 

Tr: [One of the interviewers] is learning Italian and when she hears you speaking Italian she is already happy and jittery (in an excited way) so really you can talk about anything. Anything you want she will be happy. 

Thomas: Great 

Damiano: Perfect 

Tr: After your Eurovision win, has your life changed a lot? Or even before were you pretty famous in your own country [Italy]?

Damiano: No, no we’ll say not too much [of a change] however of course in Italy we already had good results. Surely it was a big change from before really just touring around Italy to now going and touring around Europe.

Tr: What objectives did you have for Eurovision, did you go to have a little fun or with the goal of winning for Italy? To, let’s say, defend the honour of your country? 

Damiano: No, let’s say, both the things but more so to prove to Italy and others we could win with a genre of music that’s different from the traditional Italian music that is always supported; music that’s more melodic and light. We wanted to make another side of music in our country. 

Thomas: Exactly. This type of music isn’t very public or wide-spread and we’d like to see it grow obviously  

Tr: I would like to thank you because every once in a while I listen to as well as share Italian music to impressionable kids and the [traditional Italian] songs are more melancholic and sad and I was missing that “drive” that you bring into our lives.

Tr: It’s been a pleasure especially to watch your press conference after your Eurovision win and in my opinion they should let everyone put their feet up on the table when they are responding to the questions of the journalists.  

Vic: That’s my opinion too 

Damiano: True true true 

Ethan: I agree

Tr: A question for Damiano: as a singer, at times you will have problems with the voice due to stress, if you have these problems how much time do you need to recover?  

Damiano: It’s a thing that can happen but I try to prevent it from happening with various techniques that I am happy to follow to do everything [I can] so that it doesn’t happen 

Vic: Yeah it never happens 

Ethan: Damiano is very disciplined 

Tr: Therefore no chocolate or honey?

Damiano: Exactly 

Tr: Why did Ethan say Damiano is disciplined? In what sense did he mean? 

Ethan: Well, he’s a person that really looks after himself, and if he commits to something he will do it and will see it through to the end

Tr: During concerts you all seem very lively. But in your private lives you all seem very calm, preferring to stay at home with family, not going out too much, in your private lives are you more outgoing or the reverse?

Damiano: The 3 of them [Ethan, Vic, Thomas] are more outgoing in respect to me, I prefer to stay at home. 

Tr: How were you all welcomed back in Italy after the Eurovision victory? Because the last [Italian Eurovision win] was 1990 if I’m not wrong.

Ethan: Full of journalists! 

Vic and Thomas: Good! 

Vic: Almost like a soccer team welcome!

Ethan: In short, when we returned after the victory to our country we celebrated with our families because we hadn’t seen them in a while 

Tr: If I’ve understood well, you will do a world tour and therefore you still have little time to see family

Vic: Exactly. In general, we have little time to relax *laughs* 

Tr: And maybe then you have a little time to write other songs too

Damiano: No those are-

Thomas: No, no we find the right moments for them, obviously we have moments of inspiration with whatever we are doing. If we are live, doing different promotions, or meeting different fans, we always find moments of pause whether its 3 hours in the day to be writing 

Vic: Yes, exactly the most important thing is the need to be truthful; inevitably we will be too busy or too tired and we will say “Okay, wait we need time to write”

Tr: When you compose music, how does it work? Are you working together on some parts, waiting on a muse, or saying “no, today we’re going to make a song” 

Damiano: No, creativity comes at unexpected moments but it’s also a thing you can train. We find that when we have the time to write for a couple of days in the studio it’s usually in the morning and the evening when we throw out ideas, search for influences… unfortunately you can’t always expect an epiphany; otherwise it’s a bit difficult 

Tr: You all know Little Big, right? [Little Big is a Russian band Måneskin in a different interview said they knew of]

All: Yeah yeah 

Tr: So then while we are talking about Little Big, they said that during the pandemic lockdown they lived all together in a house and every day worked; did you do the same thing? 

Vic: Unfortunately no, during lockdown we could not be together so we had to experiment with different ways of writing at a distance… obviously it’s not the same [difficult] for a group that’s fundamentally together, so therefore until we could meet again we were doing that. 

Tr: We want to talk about your style, it’s a little inspired by the 70s, glam rock… and is this a style that you have chosen or is someone giving you advice about what to wear 

Vic: For us it is very important to choose because the clothes that you wear really express you and we want to represent that. Therefore we’ve always been ourselves from when we were little up until now. 

Tr: Do you have any intentions of launching a clothing collection?

Damiano: For now we’re focusing on music but maybe in the future when we have more free time

Tr: Going back to your style, it comes off strong, do you ever come across people who don’t understand and maybe complain about it? How do you react to this “aggressive” perception [of you]? 

Damiano: In reality, even now that we have success, those types of comments get sent to us and we just rise above them. But when we were playing on the streets it was particularly difficult because there was a concentration of people just yelling insults at us, but luckily there are four of us and we support each other and grow to be more confident in ourselves. 

Tr: Before coming out on stage at your concerts, do you have any particular rituals that bring you luck? That you do every time and it brings you luck? 

Vic: Ehhh there’s some swear words 

Ethan: We say “C’mon c’mon c’mon!” 

Damiano: “C’mon c’mon c’mon” is the censored version

Ethan: Exactly 

Tr:  Before going on your transmissions, now every time you will change out the swear words!

All: Exactly *laugh*

Damiano: In Italian though 

Tr: We have noticed that when someone doesn’t understand Italian, you can say anything in Italian [to them] and it just sounds really nice 

Vic: Thank god *laughs* 

Tr: What music do you listen to, what music inspires you? Are there artists that inspire you but you never listen to them? To avoid contamination and eventual plagiarism in your case? 

Thomas: For us contamination is a very important topic… anyway we listen to different artists big and small and we search to mix them and we have a clear idea of what we want to do. It’s really important to take inspiration from many different artists and take the best parts from each of them.

Vic: Yes, of course we have particular artists that we take lots of inspiration from but we search to listen to a lot of music and center in on the little details we want.

Tr: Why did you decide to do a cover of Beggin’, did you have any fear before doing it? 

[Damiano scrunches his face at this, I’m actually not sure if I translated it wrong or if that’s just a weirdly phrased question] 

Vic: No, in reality it was very very small [that is to say, not scary?], compared to the first songs that we played together and now that we’ve written our original songs. In fact we never expected this [Beggin’ becoming a hit] to happen.

Tr: And maybe it’s the first time that a cover became big before your own songs; you’ve had such resounding success even on social media everywhere

 Damiano: No no yeah it’s absurd 

**Instrumental break where 2 songs play, Damiano gets up and comes back** 

**A caller speaking Russian calls in, it seems they are playing a game with the caller about their Måneskin knowledge. During this time Måneskin does not speak except to each other, which cannot be heard** 

Tr: We have received a bunch of questions but there are 3 questions that everyone is asking in particular. I will ask them now. 

Tr: Is it true that you all have matching tattoos? 

Damiano: Two

Tr: Where? Let us see

[They only show them the heart with arrow tattoo, not the Må one]

Damiano: How can I show you, uh, *unbuttons shirt to reveal his* 

Ethan: *turns around and moves his hair to reveal his on the back of his neck*

Vic: *rolls up her sleeve to reveal hers* 

Thomas: *rolls up his sleeve to reveal his* 

Tr: The question for Ethan from yesterday [this is the same translator from the other interview and he was asked this yesterday] is “What shampoo do you use” 

Ethan: I use shampoo based one hundred percent from love 

Tr: The last question, and maybe the weirdest question, who of you follows the cosmos [space, like NASA] account and why?

Ethan: It’s me, I follow it because I've followed it a long time from when I first started following things on social media, because when I was little like 12-14 years old I had a love of astrophysics and therefore I followed all the pages. 

Tr: Going back to your hit, I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE, what inspired this song. What message did you want to transfer to the public with this?

Damiano: The inspiration for the most part like all our songs comes from personal experience and this piece talks about the various “hidden” aspects of sex, like the “strange” or “excessive” acts and we wanted to normalize it by writing a song because we live like this ourselves. 

Tr: When can your fans expect a new song? Do you have anything ready? 

Vic: Yes

Damiano: Believe believe believe

Tr: You probably don't have any more secrets for your new album?

Damiano: We are full of secrets 

Tr: We’ll try the other part, we know that you had a collaboration with Iggy Pop, do you have intentions of collaborating with others?

All: It’s a secret! *laughs* 

**At this point they ask Måneskin to create a playlist of songs they like on a piece of paper, Thomas goes first, then Vic, then Damiano, and finally Ethan**

Damiano turns to Thomas: Can I tell you something? Scratch this out because no one can read it. It’s impossible. *Damiano tries to read it, then says no* *He then further insults him, but this is in good fun* 

**Vic begins to draw Damiano, and Damiano, Ethan, and Thomas comment on it saying it’s nice and giving tips on what to add. Thomas says to add earrings and the snake tattoo on his chest, and Damiano asks her to “please give him high heels”** 

**They then are given posters to sign while they look at Måneskin’s list** 

Tr: Who wrote Death II - Pulp

Vic: Me

Tr: Do you have any intentions on covering Death II - Pulp? Or a collaboration? Or is it a secret?

Vic: We have a lot of secrets but they’re secrets from everybody 

Damiano: Why not

Tr: Who wrote this one? [Even Flow - Pearl Jam]

Damiano: This one is mine

Tr: Ethan has chosen this one [Achilles Last Stand - Led Zeppelin] 

Ethan: Yes

Tr: All the children now are going to school listening to this song so it will be a hell day at school 

All: *mild laugh*

Tr: Who wrote Paranoid Android - Radiohead? Thomas.

Tr: After this interview where are you going, there is a crowd of fans outside you must get through to get past

Vic: To sleep! 

Tr: In Russia, like most of the world, we are waiting for your concerts. Do you want to play in Russia, and do you know when? 

Damiano: We still don’t know when but surely we will

Tr: It’s another secret?

Dami: *laughs* No this one we don’t know for real

Tr: We hope that the next time we see you there will be less secrets. Anyway we are waiting anxiously for your album. We will listen to it. Yesterday we had a lot of fun at your concert and here in Russia you have a lot of fans. We wish you a lot of success and we will always wait here. 

All: Thanks very much

Here is the playlist mentioned above, and Vic’s drawing of Damiano ^

[bobboviking]

A faggy Magnus Uggla talks about half a kilo apples English translation

Uggla: Ohh shit, some juice.

Interviewer 1: What’s up?

U: Sup.

1: You’re really good, that’s indisputable.

U: [Tosses bottle cap on the floor]

1: But, the lyrics… Your–

U: What lyrics?

Interviewer 2: Yeah, that’s exactly it, right?

1: You–

U: Damn good apples actually. Ate half a kilo today. They’re so sweet. 

1: You’ve been called—after this third album—a lux fool, cynical sluggard–

U: Yeah, one magazine called me that!

1: Who harbors contempt for humans and contempt for women. 

U: Yeah, you could say that.

1: How does it feel to exclude yourself like that?

U: I’m not excluding myself at all, it’s about people out in the city.

1: Your friends?

U: Yeah, my friends. Tengen for example. He’s lying back there sleeping now, but he’s usually out running around town. He was probably out and he looks a bit down. Yeah, in any case–

1: But do you omit yourself completely? Aren’t you a part of this group?

U: … … … … No. 

2: But you seem–

U: I’m not.

2: –like you’re destructive.

U: Huh?

2: You seem like you’re destructive as hell. 

U: What does that mean?

2: Well, that you want to destroy yourself. 

U: Yeah, but I don’t. 

1: But I think I’m seeing an irony in your lyrics, which I think you have. Do you, or is it just me who thinks that?

U: See, it’s like this, right, suddenly a time comes when you start maturing and you start thinking that you’ve, like, gotten tired of going out and stuff. 

2: But Magnus, another thing, right, when you talk about this stuff with going out and girls and stuff; you’re a role model for lots of young people aged 14, 15, right?

U: I am?

2: Well yeah, undoubtedly, you’re a big idol who stands there and yells and… But you have an image of being a huge asshole to them, right? You stand up there and you spit at them and all that you do, and in general pretty crude and hot like they– 

U: I don’t spit at them.

1: Are you a diva then? 

U: I look like this. [stands up] Am I an asshole? Am I an asshole? No. See ya.

[livingfornhl]

Part 2. About Maurice Richard Trophy, Marchy, Bergy and hip injury. (12/22/2020)

[kidzbopdeathmetal]

(Killer on the Loose Photography) SŪRU Excerpt - this is VERY LOOSELY translated.

The new album proclaims the end of the chapter. What kind of work are you creating? What happens next? We can reassure that our musical activities certainly will not stop, but this album is closing some of the creative phase, which began with the album’s first publication, as well as a certain ideological continuity.  The new phase of our vision is somewhat different - changing musical currents - and are looking for different approaches to the same sound. 

Obviously, the black metal scene (as indeed many others) have recently mutated. There are interesting groups of black metal beats with shoegaze (Deafheaven), blues (Zeal and Ardor) or Orthodox chants (Batushka). What do you think is the future of the genre and what is Au-Dessus' plans associated with that?

The mutation of black metal is reassuring in these times, as black metal is music that anyone can interpret, expand, or change their perception and emotion with. This is music that is based on emotion, so any quest is a positive phenomenon. What will change our work remains to be seen. We do not want to talk a lot about it - the better to signify the music. However, now you can feel the blues, stoner, sludge, and post-metal influences in our work.  Black metal - quite depressed and aggressive music. what are your pop music guilty pleasures?  Those guilty pleasures often depends on the displacement of tours and parties, but often sounds like Madonna, Scooter, Prodigy, Modern Talking, Alphaville, OMD and other classics, which perfectly supports black metal mood (...) and inspire new creativity. 

[hotfuss]

the killers in magic rpm n. 84, october 2004. photos by paul lepreux.

translation from french by @likemonstersinlove

the killers, CASINO ROYALE

Their compositions are as self-evident as their hometown is unlikely. Las Vegas, Nevada. Out there, you best try your luck at roulette… the russian kind, than start a band. Yet it’s on that latter solution that Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vaucci (sic) gambled everything, four handsome guys with true airs of romantic leads necessarily destined to the popstar roles that seem tailored just for them. All the more so as these kids know their stuff when it comes to composing exciting pieces, put together like as many unifying hymns, their recipes admittedly already known, but their effect foolproof. Gifted enough to bring together, indiscriminately, Duran Duran and The Cars, The Psychedelic Furs and The Cure, David Bowie and New Order, all of it elevated by a splash of modernity, they’ve just signed, with Hot Fuss, an impeccable first album with an unavoidable destiny. At the mere sight of them, girls are already swooning. Their songs, boys will soon be singing in unison. The Killers are well on their way to win the jackpot.

We start by rubbing our eyes. Unsure if we have read correctly the different destinations travelled by in the space of five days, mentioned in the few pieces of paper scattered on the very stylish table of a chic hotel located in the 6th arrondissement, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. To make sure, we allow ourselves a second glance at the planning in question. New York. Glastonbury. Glasgow. Paris. The next day, it’s Brussels’ turn. That many cities consumed in scarcely forty-eight hours. On this day of June 28th, 2004, a summer weather invites to stroll through Paris’ streets. Strolling… This word, the four Killers boys have had to cross it out of their vocabulary for the past few months. They stopped counting the back-and-forths between their native land, the United States, and their first adoptive home, Great Britain. The fault lies with the astounding success of two certified hits, Somebody Told Me and Mr Brightside, prancing at this time on top of the charts, and with the warm welcome reserved to their first album, Hot Fuss, available in the perfidious Albion since June 1st. In France, the excitement is lower. Because of the circumstances: the record will only see the light of day at the start of the school year. But the band were still asked to take a detour through the French capital. Lesson number 1 for the pop star in training: one should not trifle with promotion. The Killers landed around 1pm, starting with their interviews an hour later. And will be leaving tomorrow at dawn. Exhausted (who wouldn’t be) but dressed to the nines - not a crease on the jacket, not a cowlick on the head, impeccably waxed shoes -, Brandon Flowers, an impossible name and a face good for acting in The Rules of Attraction  (or perhaps Glamorama, we don’t really know what time it is anymore), grimaces: “And to think it’s the first time I set foot in your country… We won’t have time to do anything. But well, we’re beginning to get used to it. Every day, every hour, there are new  obligations getting added to our already busy schedule. It’s becoming almost worrying. No offense, but I cannot wait for dinner: at least we’ll finally get a chance to taste a good red wine.”  He gives a faint smile. Of weariness?

“This record symbolizes the end of our learning period, we think of it kind of like our diploma. Now, we’re in the large pool. For real. And I hope we can swim well enough”

MASCARA

Sometimes, success hits you right in the face. Without any warning. Without us being able to find truly valid reasons or a series of rational explanations for it. For The Killers, the deal was a bit different. The precursory signs were rather numerous. Angel faces that could make the Strokes want to test out plastic surgery’s improvements, darned well thought out songs, perfect balance between winks - underlined with mascara - to the rehabilitated 80s and fingering rested on rock from the new millennium. Unifying choruses, melodies in a kiss-curl shape. Vaporous keys, elastic rhythms and biting guitars. “When you start a band, you always dream of success, at one point or another. If you don’t, then you have a serious problem”, explains the singer, without an ounce of pretension. And is quick to add, for fear of seeming self-important: “From the first rehearsals, from the first song you write, you start fantasizing. (Smile.) And then you come back to Earth. Quickly, very quickly. (Laughter.) You analyze the situation, you think about the thousands of formations in existence. How many stay on the side of the road, even though they would deserve to get a deal? While I do think that what’s happening to us now isn’t completely usurped, because people maybe don’t realize the amount of work we have put in for the past two years, I also know we had a little help from fate, this strand of luck that others will probably never have”. The Killers’ genesis dates back to the year 2000, the day the man named Dave Keuning, long brown locks and a distant resemblance to the glam idol Marc Bolan, settles down in Las Vegas, Nevada, coming from Iowa. A year and a half after his moving in, the young man decides it’s time for him to get in touch with musicians from the local scene. Far from stupid, he decides for this purpose to place an ad where he lists the diverse influences running through his head: Oasis, The Cure, U2, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins. It’s thanks to the presence of the Gallagher brothers’ band that Brandon Flowers decides to reply. “At that time, I was a hardcore fan. I even considered getting a tattoo at one point… My God!”  He takes his head in his hands, as if to escape a bad dream. “The Killers was my first serious experience. I had never sung before… I had never set foot outside of a practice room”. It will take almost a year for the two associates to finally find a decent rhythmic section. Mark Stoermer is tall and skinny, his hair is long and blond. Physically, he could double for Nikolai Fraiture in the Strokes. Same imperturbable attitude. Same legendary composure. Good coincidence, he is also a bassist. We’re under the strange impression of having already met Ronnie Vannucci. The face is familiar. No doubt because he looks like he came straight out of an american sitcom. Friends, maybe? Jovial air and Keith Moon-like technique, he must play a big part in the solidity shown by the quartet, less than twenty-four months after their first rehearsal in full.

Their name isn’t a mystery anymore. The Band found it in a New Order video, the Crystal one, where the four Mancunians had transformed into a bunch of angry kids dubbed The Killers. “The first song the four of us rehearsed was Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine. But before that, with Dave, we were already doing an early version of Mr Brightside. And so it’s the only song we’ve played at every one of our concerts!” The young man seems rather proud that this track lit a spark in Great Britain. And in so doing, justified the sacrifices made and the risks taken by the four new friends, armed with an unwavering determination, all of them stretching towards a single common goal. “We decided to quit our jobs at the same time. And after that, it’s true that we did work relentlessly, for days, weeks, months.”, explains Brandon, a hint of pride in his voice. Without much bitterness, he said goodbye to his job as a receptionist at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas, right as Ronnie Vannucci put away the camera he used to immortalize those weddings done in a rush, one of the city’s countless and inimitable “attractions”. As for Mark, he did not hesitate long before leaving his job as a medical courier, where he would carry blood packs or… organs from one hospital to another. In fact, only Dave could have nursed serious regrets had they failed, since he had a rather tranquil job in the Banana Republic fashion stores, a job that he took advantage of, according to legend, to offer himself a few naughty encounters in the changing rooms with clients keen to get a man’s opinion. Today, the gossips (sic) could always argue that he shouldn’t have too much trouble continuing his love encounters in the concert halls’ dressing rooms. A place the Killers have frequented more than is reasonable these past few months. It must be said that since last year’s quiet release of a first single with the independent Lizard King, and then the signing with the powerful structure Island, the quartet’s name spread like wildfire… And the latest news say that none of those involved is currently regretting their old job.

GOOD SWIMMERS

As a first album shaped like a manifesto, Hot Fuss sure hits its mark. In the pop category, of course. Or rather, POP. In all caps, thank you very much. “For us, these songs are above all the result of our work across the last two years. No more, no less. We did not have any other ones. (Smile.) Well, we did, but we put them aside because, how can I put this… They were not good enough. They failed the entry exam. This record symbolizes the end of our learning period, we think of it kind of like our diploma. Now, we’re in the large pool. For real. And I hope we can swim well enough”. Admittedly, nothing new here to get our teeth into. Only superbly structured songs, highly contagious choruses. But also a few poisonous ballads or excursions into soul, as evidenced by the at first sight absurd presence on the last single, All These Things That I’ve Done, and on Andy, You’re A Star, of the Sweet Inspirations, seasoned back vocalists seen in the company of King Elvis himself. Did you say Las Vegas? “Well, I don’t really know if the city influenced our record”, says Brandon Flowers, half-surprised, as if this idea had never crossed his mind. He thinks. “It’s possible, after all… But I’d say that it doesn’t have the same importance as Manchester for The Smiths, for example. I can’t imagine, in a few years, The Killers conventions at the Gold Coast Hotel!” The idea, however, seemingly amuses him. Timidly, Mark, a model of placidness up until this point, ventures to speak. “I do believe the influence is here, but I don’t think people can perceive it. Still, in Jenny… or Midnight Show, there is a melancholy, a feeling of space that reminds me irresistibly of Las Vegas”. But the Killers’ future is for now elsewhere. And especially in Great Britain. “These past six months, we spent a lot more time in England than at home. Now, living here… Honestly, I have no idea. There are things I like in this country, and others clearly not so much. Well, for sure, most of the artists we love come from here. What fascinated me in bands like Duran Duran, for example, is that these blokes knew how to write a good pop song and they were also open about their pop star ambitions. Sincerely, I see no harm in that. Now, regarding our tastes or influences, we must not exaggerate. We also love the Doors, Otis Redding or The Cars. Well, them a bit less since Ric Ocasek refused to sign us after listening to one of our demos. (Laughter.) More seriously, today, we have the opportunity to draw from fifty years of extraordinary musical creation, and we have no intention of restricting ourselves. (Smile.) I think there’s a lot more to our music than people realize. Or want to realize”.

The time of the much-anticipated dinner is drawing near. “Finally”, must think Brandon. In order to satiate our curiosity, we risk asking him what are examples of successful first records. The young man suddenly cannot stop talking. Right away, he cites Is That It from his fellow citizens The Strokes, that he himself considers to be “amazing. The first Duran Duran is also very good, as is Outlandos D’Amour  from The Police. The first Smiths was certainly not bad, but they did so much better after that… Oh, I was gonna forget Appetite For Destruction from Guns’N’Roses!” In this choice, one common denominator: a large-scale popular success. Definitive proof that this young man - he is twenty-three years old - wasn’t born yesterday. That he knows perfectly well where he wants to go. And that nothing and nobody will prevent him from going. Unless… “We’re like crystal/We break easy”, sang Bernard Sumner in the video that inspired the artistic identity of Brandon and his henchmen. We can only hope for these budding heart-throbs of the 21st century rock scene that those words were not premonitory.

“What fascinated me in bands like Duran Duran, for example, is that these blokes knew how to write a good pop song and they were also open about their pop star ambitions. Sincerely, I see no harm in that”

SIDE PROFILES

MARK STROEMER

FAVOURITE ALBUM Let It Be by The Beatles FAVOURITE MOVIE Ed Wood by Tim Burton FAVOURITE BOOK Tropic Of Cancer, by Henry Miller BEST CONCERT Rammstein at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada

DAVE KEUNING

FAVOURITE ALBUM Thriller by Michael Jackson FAVOURITE MOVIE Braveheart by Mel Gibson FAVOURITE BOOK The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger BEST CONCERT The Rolling Stones in 1989 in Ames, Iowa, on the Steel Wheels tour

BRANDON FLOWERS

FAVOURITE ALBUM Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie FAVOURITE MOVIE Moulin Rouge by Baz Luhrmann FAVOURITE BOOK Any Sherlock Holmes story BEST CONCERT Morrissey in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1996, on the Maladjusted tour

RONNIE VANUCCI

FAVOURITE ALBUM Abbey Road by The Beatles FAVOURITE MOVIE The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson FAVOURITE BOOK The Multi-organsmic Man, by Mantak Chia and Douglas Abrams Arava BEST CONCERT Tom Waits in 1999 in Eugene, Oregon