The Killers: Behind the Eyeliner Quiz

Answer: Los Angeles

Blush Response got its name from a song by Vangelis, the "Blade Runner" composer. Brandon left Blush Response in 2001.

Answer: Nephi, Utah

Brandon was born in Las Vegas, but moved with his parents to Nephi at a young age, where he played golf and listened to the Smiths. Brandon often begged his parents to move back to Vegas, and when he was 15 they finally let him go back and live with a cousin.

Answer: Pella, Iowa

Dave is the only Killers member not originally from Las Vegas. As a teenager, Dave listened to Aerosmith, AC/DC, and U2. He played guitar and joined the jazz band at his high school. He attended Kirkwood community college for a short time, but later dropped out. Dave moved to Vegas in 2000.

Answer: "Crystal"

In 2005, Brandon went onstage with New Order at T in the Park (a music festival) and sang "Crystal" with them.

Answer: One

The Killers signed on to the British independent label Lizard King in 2003.

Answer: "All These Things That I've Done"

The Killers recorded these songs at producer Jeff Salzman's studio in March 2003. The Killers wouldn't return to the studio until October 2003, after they had signed on to Island Records.

Answer: UNLV (University of Nevada Las Vegas)

Mark and Ronnie both played in the marching band at UNLV. Mark played trumpet and Ronnie played snare.

Answer: Pickle

Dave played guitar for Pickle from 1993-1997. Dave was still in Iowa at this point.

Answer: One Final Battle

Both Expert on October and Attaboy Skip both came close to signing record deals, but the A&R guys became involved in a different type of music and went another direction. Romance Fantasy was a band that Ronnie was in with none other than Michael Valentine. Other projects Ronnie tried before the Killers include Purple Dirt, Faded Grey, and Daphne Major.

Answer: The Negative Ponies

Jason Rugaard drummed for the Negative Ponies. Jason died of thyroid cancer in 2003. The Killers played a memorial concert for Jason at the Palms Hotel-Casino just one month before the Killers signed on with Island Records.

Answer: Tavian Go

Tavian Go was Dave's name for a short time in the early days of the Killers. He was using that name when the first demo CDs were sent out.

Answer: "Replaceable"

Dave sent out the first 3-track demo CD in March of 2002 to 3 local alternative music magazines. Only "Las Vegas CityLife", one of three magazines, devoted a small column to the Killers.

Answer: A professional gambler who also happened to be in one of Ronnie's bands

Michael Valentine played guitar for and sang in Romance Fantasy with Ronnie. He also attended UNLV. At night he could be seen on the Strip playing poker. The Killers' song about him wasn't completely accurate in describing Michael Valentine, but it captured his essence. Michael once referred to Ronnie as "the best drummer on the planet." Michael ended up playing with Ronnie again later on in Daphne Major.

Answer: Topher Grace

The episode aired on January 15, 2005. The Killers played SNL again on the premiere episode of the 32nd season with Dane Cook hosting.

Answer: 5 months

The Killers were unsuccessful in keeping a good bassist from August 2002 to January 2003. That's when the Killers turned to Mark. Obviously, it was then the Killers found their bassist - and to me, they made an excellent choice!

Answer: The Mermaid Cafe

At this point, Mark and Ronnie were not yet in the band. However, less than a week later, Brandon got rid of their old drummer and Ronnie stepped in. This early shoot was interesting, because Brandon purposefully blurred his sexuality. In one of the pictures, Brandon is holding the hand of then-drummer Buss Bradley over his shoulder.

The picture has been interpreted that the hand-holding was a symbolic way of saying "Thanks for what you've done, but we have to let you go," considering that Brandon let go of him soon after the photoshoot.

Answer: "Jimmy Kimmel Live"

"Hot Fuss" was released on June 15, 2004. The Killers also played three consecutive nights on "Jimmy Kimmel" starting on October 3, 2006, the day "Sam's Town" was released.

Answer: Tuba

Obviously. Mark is the bassist for the Killers. He was lead guitarist for the Negative Ponies. Actually, Mark saw himself as a guitarist first and a bassist second. Mark played Trumpet at UNLV.

Answer: Houston

The Killers were on their way to Houston when their plane went into a 1,000-foot freefall, one of the scariest moments the band had ever experienced. Once the plane made a safe landing, the band called their manager, vowing to never fly again. Of course, they ended up flying again - but an experience like that would cause anyone to give up flying.

Answer: "Changes"

Brandon was in high school when he was driving with a friend down the Strip and heard "Changes". He made his decision then and there to be a rock 'n' roll star.

Answer: NME

"Somebody Told Me" was the first single released by the Killers in the U.K. and it got a positive review in the March 13, 2004 issue of NME. The magazine's website also featured the music video. The Killers have also appeared on the cover of Spin, once in February 2004 and again in February 2005.

Answer: Cafe Espresso Roma

The Cafe Espresso Roma was across the way from UNLV. Ryan Pardey, Michael Valentine's younger brother, ran the cafe and allowed the Killers to rehearse and perform during open-mic nights. Ryan pretty much gave the band free reign of the place, and he helped them out by booking shows for the Killers at several other bars in the area.

Answer: Ted Sablay

Ryan Pardey is Michael Valentine's little brother. Braden Merrick was an A&R representative who would later become the Killers' manager. Buss Bradley was the Killers' first bassist. Ted Sablay was in Romance Fantasy with Ronnie and Michael Valentine. He was also Ronnie's roommate. Ted was said to be able to play any instrument as if he'd been playing it for years. Ted played guitar in Attaboy Skip and bass in Expert on October, both bands also with Ronnie. Before Mark came on board, Ronnie wanted Ted to be the bassist for the Killers.

However, Ted still travels with the Killers and plays backup instrumentals, often the synthesizer.

Answer: Ronnie's band opened up for the Killers at one of their gigs

The gig took place in May 2002 in a club called Tremorz. Daphne Major opened up for the Killers. Ronnie watched the rest of the show with his band. The performance was a disaster, but Ronnie still took interest in the band. The other members of Daphne Major didn't really put much thought into the Killers' show, but Ronnie thought their songs were good.

Answer: "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll"

The Cafe Espresso Roma often played a bunch of various indie rock bands. There is a certain line in "Indie Rock & Roll" that is most likely referring to Roma: "I take my twist with a shout / A coffee shop with a cause, man I will freak you out."