Beloved Rock Star Brandon Flowers Turns 45 Today

On June 21, 1981, future rock star Brandon Flowers was born in Henderson, Nevada. The musician would go on to become one of the most acclaimed and commercially popular rock stars of his generation alongside his band, The Killers.

Flowers founded The Killers in 2001 with Dave Keuning, who had posted an ad in the Las Vegas Weekly seeking a vocalist for his group. The pair went through several bassists and drummers before eventually landing on Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci, who soon became the official lineup.

The group released their first single, "Mr. Brightside", in 2003, and were immediately plunged into the spotlight. The song was an international success, peaking at No. 10 in the United States and the United Kingdom, cementing them as pioneering voices in 2000s indie rock.

Over the years, "Mr. Brightside" has endured as a modern rock classic, keeping the fire of the band's popularity burning through the decades. The single was particularly successful in the United Kingdom, where it later became the third best-selling song of all time, and holds the record for the most time spent on the U.K. Singles chart at a staggering 450 weeks.

The song was later included on The Killers' debut album, Hot Fuss, which shot to No. 1 in the United Kingdom and reached an impressive No. 7 on the Billboard 200. The band members were overnight superstars, and this level of commercial success would shockingly never deteriorate throughout their careers.

Their follow-up album, Sam's Town, was an even bigger chart success. Another No. 1 in the United Kingdom (as all The Killers' albums would end up reaching), and No. 2 on the Billboard 200. While none of the singles broke into the Top 10 on the Hot 100, the record still sold over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone and was certified 2x Platinum.

Unlike many of their contemporaries, The Killers have managed to stay relevant throughout their entire career, evolving their sound over the decades and riding the wave of indie rock's popularity. Every single album reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom, and they all reached the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.

Flowers also released two solo albums, Flamingo and The Desired Effect, and a compilation album titled Rebel Diamonds, which, predictably, all reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom. Flowers' music has endured for decades as a staple of radio-friendly indie rock, with singles like "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" rightfully cementing their place in rock music history.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 7:13 AM.