Half of The Killers to sit out upcoming album tour

The title pretty much says it all - see the story here:

Only Half Of The Killers Will Perform On Wonderful Wonderful Tour

I'm trying to think of similar situations with other bands in the past, but I'm drawing a blank so far.

Honestly, I'm surprised this type of arrangement doesn't happen more often. The rigours of the road, and being away from one's family for such a large portion of the year (year after year), aren't for everyone.

 

It really is a weird situation for bands. They seem to only spend less than 10% of their time actually creating music. The rest of the time is spent touring, playing the same stuff night after night for months on end and promoting albums, doing radio interviews, press, etc. This is why most band members skew young, because it's just totally unrealistic to expect people to be able to raise a family while being in a well known band on the road all the time. Yes, I know it still happens and people make it work, but it's gotta be hard on their kids.

 

They're not creating music when they are on stage every night? I think I found their problem

 

Brian Wilson did it 50 years ago!

 

Glad I'm not a fan of The Killers then. I realise that Brandon is the big draw but if I buy tickets to a concert I expect, barring unplanned problems, to see the band I heard on the album.

 

Additional pressure weighs upon bands now, since income from touring and live shows make up a larger percentage of their overall revenue.

Yes, despite all the cheering and fan adulation and rock star stage moments, it is a business with a financial bottom line.

 

OMG what a horrible job! Plus the typical occupational hazards. Little wonder nobody wants to be a musician anymore

 

I agree that touring is tough on families, especially those who want to see their children grow up.

But, I have a hard time agreeing that "creating music" only takes place in the studio. After all, music has been performed in front of live audiences for thousands of years, but has been played in a studio for less than one hundred.

 

Really weird stuff. But I don't care 'cause I lost interest in the Killers around 2007-2008. In my opinion they never fully realized their potential and went too commercial.

 

Oh, please. They're lucky to have such an opportunity. Work in a factory if you want to come home every night. I'll gladly trade places.

 

As far as I'm concerned, as long as Brandon Flowers is there, it's The Killers.

 

Kind of with ya on that. Battle Born wasn't great but I thought I'd give the new single a listen and...oh no. Far cry from anything off of Hot Fuss isn't it?

 

Every job has sacrifices. If you join the military...expect long deployments and to put your life on the line. If you want to be a lawyer...don't expect to work the same hours as your non-lawyer friends. If you go into academia....don't expect to avoid the contractual circuit or to be able to leave your job in the classroom.

And if you join a band...

No sympathy. Life is hard. We all make sacrifices to survive and...if we are lucky...to do what we love.

 

I'd also want to see My Name Is Earl on drums.

 

Hot Fuss is a pretty excellent album. Their best.

 

In this case rather: "Work in a casino". But.... ups.... then they wouldn't be home every night either

 

So he doesn't even need yer granny on bongos to convince you?

Wow!

 

LIsten to the singles and see the latest videos and it's essentially the Brandon show anyway... I'd only be able to recognise the drummer in the street....

Also Brandon has relentless ambition and the other Killers clearly don't have the same drive and determination....He's spoken of his frustration in the past...They are absolutely massive here in the UK and the Hyde Park gig was really good. I will see them at the O2 in November and touchwood at Brixton in September.

The Man and Run For Cover are two freaking brilliant singles too...

 

I'm sure it won't change much from a ticket sales standpoint, but musically, this is a huge blow. Dave Keuning is a monster guitarist and next to Flowers, was the centerpiece of their live show. Not to mention him writing some of their biggest hits. They must have a hell of a ringer in the wings...

 

Will Brandon be performing?

 

Are we really sure half the band isn't staying home because of infighting? That's what is usually going on in these situations.

 

I remember years ago walking down to the venue during my lunchbreak to pick up tickets for the Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show that would be that evening. To my surprise, I could see through the glass doors into the venue (small club) and the band was on stage, jamming and having fun, improvising some new music and grinning at one another. I stood there for about five minutes to watch, feeling like I was intruding on a bit of a private moment, but it was fascinating to see that these guys were simply having fun making music just among themselves with no one else in the room.

 

everybody I know that is over 30 and doing it, has gotten divorced.

Its brutal on a marriage.

 

With close to a 50% divorce rate...plenty of 'normal' folk I know are also divorced...

 

chicago has been doing this for years (some of them anyway) because it is too much trouble to tour.
this will happen if fans settle for it. with creedence revisited sometimes outselling fogerty seems that fans will settle for it.
takes lipsyncing and backing tracks to a new level.
only positive i can get out of this is when things sink to a new low level the landscape is usually ripe for something new and innovative.
here's hoping