The Killers and Bruce Springsteen unveil their new collaboration

Virgin Radio

16 Jun 2021, 10:13

The Killers love teaming up with some legendary musicians, don’t they? Having delivered an unforgettable performance with Pet Shop Boys and Johnny Marr at Glastonbury a couple of years ago, the Las Vegas band have now collaborated with The Boss. 

After teasing a project together, The Killers and Bruce Springsteen have dropped a brand new single, Dustland. Or rather, a not-quite brand new single. 

Dustland is actually a re-recording of The Killers’ song, A Dustland Fairytale, which was on their 2008 album, Day & Age. This reworking of the song sees vocalist Brandon Flowers swapping verses with Springsteen, before the two of them sing together.

In a statement released on Twitter, Flowers explained, “I start getting some texts from a number I don’t have marked in my phone. ‘Watching Glastonbury. You guys have become one hellacious live band my brother! Love the gold suit! We gotta do Dustland one day.’ Signed off with: ‘Bruce.’

The Killers’ frontman went on to speak about the significance of A Dustland Fairytale. “I have always sought to find and reflect that elusive light in my songs. It’s a trait I inherited from my mother Jean. She died from a brain tumor back in 2010 at the age of 64… Sixty Four! 

“I’m turning 40 next week and I’m starting to realise just how young that is. Too young. She was married to my father Terry for 44 of those years. Dustland was written in the middle of her battle with cancer. It was an attempt to better understand my dad, who is sometimes a mystery to me. To grieve for my mother. To acknowledge their sacrifices and maybe even catch a glimpse of just how strong love needs to be to make it in this world. It was my therapy. It was cathartic.

“That’s where Bruce comes in. Before I really became a fan of his, I was in the business of stadium-size everything. Larger than life EVERYTHING. Certainly larger than the lives of Jeannie and Terry Flowers. But Bruce has written a lot about people like my parents and found a whole lot of beauty in otherwise invisible people’s hopes and dreams. Their struggles, and their losses. 

“I’m grateful to him for opening this door for me. I’m grateful to my parents for their example to me. Now go find something new out about your dad, give your mom a big hug, and for God’s sake listen to Bruce Springsteen.”

That sounds like excellent advice to us. You can start by listening to The Boss teaming up with The Killers on their brand new single, released today.