ARJAN TIMMERMANS

“Face it—the four of us are pretty good-looking guys.”

In a year’s time, Las Vegas pop-rock outfit The Killers have emerged from their weekly gig at a transvestite bar to become the leading voice of a new generation of ’80s-inspired bands. The band’s debut album Hot Fuss garnered three Grammy nods and spun off its sexually ambiguous mega-hit “Somebody Told Me,” and their most recent infectious single “Mr. Brightside.”

And the gays love them too—with lead singer Brandon Flowers’ homo-themed lyrics, stylish fashion sense and effeminate stage behavior constantly sparking intense speculation about his sexuality. But sorry, guys, this sexy stylissimo is off the market. In classic rock star form, Flowers recently got engaged to his model girlfriend. Finally, we cornered this year’s rock ’n’ roll “it” boy to find out where he falls on the queer/straight scale. And yes, he loves his big gay fans.

The Killers have gained a lot of popularity among the gays…
Really?

Come on. You knew that...
[Laughs] I assumed.

How do you feel about having so many gay fans?
That feels really good. We make songs for everyone, and I write songs from everyone’s perspective—you know, from both a boy’s and a girl’s perspective. It’s great that our music appeals to such a diverse group of people.

Is it true you started out playing in a gay bar in Las Vegas?
It was a transvestite bar actually. It was called Tramps. We used to wear a lot more make-up then. [Laughs] We’re just too lazy to do it now.

Do you think your stylish appearance is part of your appeal to a homo audience?
Possibly. I think in the end our music is very sexual. And face it—the four of us are pretty good-looking guys. It is a pretty good magnet.

Have you always had such a strong fashion sense?
I grew up with four sisters. They always took me out shopping, and they liked to dress me up, give me manicures and do the stuff that girls normally do. So my fashion sense came along with that.

A lot of people are confused about your sexuality after listening to your lyrics…
Really? That’s not a bad thing. Some confusion is good. I think different people interpret things in different ways. And I guess I kind of play off that in the music.

But a song like “Andy, You’re A Star,” obviously has some gay undertones. It’s like a celebration of gay longing for the big man on campus.
That’s what you hear. I want people to make our songs their own. That’s the beauty of art. So many people have so many opinions of what songs mean. That’s really my motive. I would never write a song for just one type of person. The fact that both jocks and gays come to our shows proves that’s it’s working.

You are sort of the anti-jock. Does that make it easier for you to identify with gays?
Yes, I think so. You have to. I mean they’re human. I was obviously not a jock and developed other interests growing up. I think I have a best-of-both-worlds mentality.

Have artists like David Bowie and Morrissey inspired some of your eccentric stage behavior?
Both of them have been big influences on me. I remember being totally fascinated by Ziggy Stardust. I’ve watched videos of those performances over and over again. I guess what I really like about them is the theatrical aspect. I use my body on stage to relay the songs to people. I also think it is more fun for people to watch—and it also makes it more fun for me.

Have you always been interested in theater?
I always wanted to be in theater in high school, but I was really shy on stage. I still have stagefright up until today. But the more we perform, the easier it gets. You have to be very confident to play for 5,000 people, you know.

Is dressing up and putting on make-up a way for you to deal with that insecurity?
There’s a little of that. Perhaps it is like putting on a mask. All the way down to the jackets and the vests. They’re all extra layers that I can put on.

Do you remember the first time you put on eyeliner?
I was 13, and I went to a Cure concert with my older brother. The girl who went with us was the first person to put eyeliner on me.

And how did that feel?
[Laughs] I thought I looked very cool.

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