The Killers Talk V Fest and UK Crowds

Following the news that they’ll be playing this summer’s V Festival – it’s where your mum goes when you’re off at Reading, or wherever you kids hang out these days – The Killers’ bassist Mark Stoermer has spoken about the group’s slot to The Daily Star.

Stoermer told the red top: “We are indeed headlining the V Festival and we’re lucky to be doing it on our third album – things keep getting better for us. We will have the biggest lighting show we’ve ever had – it costs twice as much as our last tour.??

“When you’re playing big places you’ve got to give something to everyone, including the fans at the back. We’ve become more refined as a live act.”

Well, that’s comforting. Winners of Best International Group at the recent NME Awards – anyone else remember when The Brats mattered? – the band’s shows in the UK have always gone down a storm, even if they’ve not been so “refined” before. Continues Stoermer:

“The audience here is more receptive. Rock music is more exciting in the UK – there are more bands making good music and people are more into going to gigs.??

“Maybe it’s a cultural thing. Music with guitars isn’t that popular in the US, although we still do sell-out shows. Sometimes it feels like going against the grain.”

The Killers, going against the grain? What fucking grain are they on about? The one that doesn’t present them as an arena-filling band of megastars? And guitar music not being popular in the US? Someone, please, tell me what planet these guys are on. Jeeeesus…