Brandon Flowers has said making his new solo album Thrasher felt like a “natural” move because the songs were too personal to become another Killers record.
The 45-year-old frontman began working on the album after The Killers completed their 2021 record Pressure Machine. As the material developed, Flowers realised the songs did not feel like they belonged to his band and instead reflected memories, characters and personal experiences that he wanted to explore on his own.
Speaking to The Sun, Flowers said:
“I really enjoyed making this. It was a very important record to me. I didn’t want to leave it alone, so I just continued. It was such a revelation.
“I had all these memories, all these characters and sadness — all of this stuff that I could now find a place for and turn them into something.
“These songs don’t feel like Killers songs — they’re quite personal, so it felt natural that it should be a solo record. It’s been nearly ten years since the last one — I can’t believe it.”
Brandon Flowers explains why Thrasher became a solo record
Thrasher is Flowers’ first solo album in almost a decade and follows his previous solo releases Flamingo (2010) and The Desired Effect (2015).
The album grew out of the writing sessions that followed Pressure Machine, The Killers’ seventh studio album. Rather than shaping the material around the band’s established sound, Flowers continued developing songs that he felt had a more personal connection to his own life.
That approach has given Thrasher a different identity from The Killers’ records, according to the singer.
Country music plays a major role on Thrasher
The album also draws heavily on country music, a sound Flowers grew up hearing through his father, Terry.
Flowers has previously spoken about the influence of his older brother Shane on his musical tastes, but said his father introduced him to artists including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard.
He also singled out country singer John Conlee as an artist his father played and one he has come to appreciate himself.
“Much has been said about how my love of music came from my brother [Shane]. Yeah, it did, but at the same time, I was hearing country music from my dad. His favourites were the heavy hitters — Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard — along with some of those who were not as famous. There’s a guy named John Conlee who he listened to, who I really love.”
Flowers said that, as a teenager, he felt he had to choose between the different sides of his musical taste.
“As a teenager, I felt I had to choose — the kid who listens to New Order doesn’t also listen to Waylon Jennings.
“As I get older, I just seem to gravitate back to my father’s music.”
Brandon Flowers wants to prove himself to his father
The country influence on Thrasher has also given Flowers an opportunity to connect with his father’s musical world.
“I’m trying to show my dad that I can do what he does. He’s a good man. He’s doing pretty good.
“He had open heart surgery at 81, which is a difficult thing. He’s five months past it now and is pretty good.”
The Thrasher tour will be different from The Killers
Flowers is also preparing to take Thrasher on the road, with a touring setup designed to be considerably more intimate than The Killers’ stadium shows.
“I’ve got a band together. This tour is going to be a different experience than you are accustomed to.
“I’m going to tell more stories and take advantage of these smaller rooms — the Albert Hall is the biggest room I’m playing.
“I want to explain the story behind the songs, which you can’t do in a stadium — so I thought this would be the time to give it a shot.”
The smaller venues will allow Flowers to talk more directly about the songs and the experiences behind them, something he says is difficult to do during The Killers’ large-scale performances.
He also acknowledged the enormous shadow cast by the band’s biggest hit.
“I worry people will get sick of Mr. Brightside so I feel lucky that I have different outlets for my music.”
