If speaking ill of the dead is taboo, where do we land on speaking ill of dead legendary rock stars? Brandon Flowers is about to find out, as comments The Killers‘ lead singer made about the grunge movement and its revered leader, Kurt Cobain, were published today and are already making waves across the web.
Today’s NME Daily Gossip found this little gem in UK tabloid The Daily Star: “I don’t mean it in a bad way, but I think Kurt Cobain and grunge took the fun out of rock ’n roll,” Flowers said. “Everything’s changing, though, and it’s starting to become a lot more playful and brighter.”
To add insult to injury, Flowers’ comments come almost 15 years to the day after Cobain’s tragic suicide — he took his own life April 5, 1994. Flowers also took some time out from his busy schedule to slag off Americans in general: “Everywhere but America our new album Day & Age has grabbed people. Review wise, Sam’s Town got slapped around but did really well in America. We’re learning that they like the guitar Killers, whereas you guys in the UK and the rest of the world have got this more melodic pop-orientated album. Kings Of Leon filled that guitar spot nicely in America but they don’t have a song like ‘Human’.”
Funny, aren’t Kings Of Leon bigger in the UK too?
Related:
April 7th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Brandon Flowers is a egomaniacal douchebag that has built a career around ripping of New Order, Lou Reed and Springsteen. Lyrically, the music is laughable. “Spaceman” has a good hook but Flowers and his brethren will never write a song that floored the music industry and the world like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” did.
Go back home and decide if your “human” or are “you dancer?”
Flowers and Billy Corgan should battle to the death for the title of “World’s Biggest Assbag” their egos would destroy one another….
April 7th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Brandon Flowers may be an egomaniacal douchebag (lol) but it’s probably not a bad observation about grunge music. I love grunge, but it wasn’t exactly fun or whimsical was it?
April 7th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
i can’t wait to see what courtney love has to say…
April 7th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
the fact that he doesn’t “get” what cobain had to say or the bigger “grunge” movement in general shows how irrelevant the killers are, true, but really it shows how large the generation gap is between the letters X and WHY?
April 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
That pun was soooo 90’s.
April 7th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
if by “playfull and brighter” he means “stupid and vacuous”‘ then yes, music today is generally headed in that direction…his band included. being old enough to have survived the 80’s once already, it’s a shame to have to hear the mistakes of my generation replayed today.
the only light at the end of the tunnel is that under a bridge somewhere, there’s a homeless 17 year old who will grow up to be the next KC, and shine the light of irrelevance on “today’s” music.
i only hope that person will not fall into the same downward spiral kurt did.
don’t shit where you eat kid.
April 7th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
“..but they don’t have a song like ‘Human’.”
I would consider that a huge compliment.
April 7th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Weak. The Killers new album is weak. Sure, grunge music wasn’t fun or whimsical, but at least that movement had lyrics worth remembering. I’m neither human nor dancer btw. I am robot.
April 7th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Hilarious.
Aren’t the Killers supposedly influenced by Joy Division.
Ahem… Joy Division created art with similar colors to Nirvana.
He’s right about one thing; everything is changing… less and less people are liking The Killers these days. They lost that rawness they had. Now they’re just as glossy and prepackaged as what they came up against.
But of course in the words of Mr Flowers above; “I don’t mean it in a bad way..”
I still really like that first record.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Brandon Flowers is a moron for saying that….Grunge music was not SUPPOSED to be fun. Nor was it “rock n’ roll”. It’s just a ridiculous comment. Also, I can’t even believe he refers to “Human” as a song. It’s one of the worst things I have ever heard.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
What is ‘Grunge’?
April 19th, 2009 at 9:26 am
To all the Brandon haters – grow a pair, you fiendish queef-clouds of vaporized chlamydia.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
*Facepalm* Musicians these days. . . . *slames head against wall* you STUPID, STUPID, STUPID PEOPLE!!!!
WITHOUT KURT COBAIN, YOU WOULD NOT BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY; YOU UNGRATEFUL, MOTHER FUCKING, GAYER-THAN-FUCKING-CHRISTMAS, PRICK! GRUNGE WAS NOT MEANT TO BE ALL FUCKING HAPPY AND CHEERY AND IT WASN’T MEANT TO HAVE YOU SHITTING RAINBOWS OUT OF YOUR ASS WHILE DANCING THROUGH A MEADOW! IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT GRUNGE, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT, YOU IGNORANT BASTARD!
Grunge, punk, indie, alternative, classic (and so many other genres, it would take me forever to list) — they are all part of the wonderful tapestry that is Rock and Roll. . . and Rock and Roll is ever-changing; so it can never really be destroyed or have “the fun” taken out of it. But if you weren’t such a brain-dead moron, Brandon Flowers (who wouldn’t know good music if it struck you in the head — since you’re collaborating with motherfucking Snoop Dogg and singing songs about whether your a fucking human or a dancer. . . seriously, what the fuck was that. That was some of your WORST work ever. . .ESPECIALLY when you performed if live on SNL last year) you would know such a thing, but since you don’t, I’ll tell you that and, while I’m at it, I’ll tell you something else that you should know. . . I am NEVER listening to you or your band (The Killers) again. You have officially lost a fan. How dare you say such a thing! HOW MOTHERFUCKING DARE YOU! AND SO CLOSE TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH!
If Kurt Cobain was still alive, he would kick your ass from here to the moon and all the way back. No doubt about that! And he wouldn’t be singing gay-ass songs about being a fucking dancer, that’s for DAMN sure. . . prick.
FUCK YOU, BRANDON FLOWERS! (you too, vagina)
MAY YOUR LEFT TESTICLE GET INSANELY ITCHY, TURN BLACK, AND FALL OFF. GOOD DAY TO YOU, ASS-WIPE !
P.S. – Maybe next time you open your God forsaken mouth, you will think about how many people you piss off and actually use your what’s left of your brain, you fucking moron.
May 1st, 2009 at 4:52 pm
No, the Kings of Leon DONT have a song like “Human”.
Which is why people don’t snicker when their name is spoken.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:46 am
kurt cobain was an emo wannabe, always talking about suicide and how sad he felt, he died at 27 again a jim morrison jimmi hendrix janis joplin wannabe, fuck cobain fuck kings of shit.
brandon you can say whatever you want , just like i am, and just like these fuckers are.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
hes a motherfuckers who dare him to say that he has to stop writting song like human and listen all the things i done and kill him self and stop killing everybody ears his album are becoming like weaker and weaker like him, had you seem the video of spaceman is weird like him go to your home dancing and clean up your babys ass because it smeel like you stupid mother fucker
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I don’t understand how anyone can be so upset over something someone said about a another muscian. Kobain made good music. So do The Killers. If you like something, will you stop liking it simply because the creator has an opposing opinon? That’s true stupidity. That’s what keeps the people of the world from being truly beautiful. Im sure Kobain didn’t like other people as well. After all, both of them are only human. Or are they dancer? Either way, they are both GENIUS.
P.S.
I saw The Killers last night in concert and I must say, it was absolutely FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! The Killers make great music. No matter what Flowers or any other person in the world say about ANYTHING, you shouldn’t let it affect you. I mean, would you stop drinking water if God said that he thought Elvis was an idiot? And just so we are clear, I don’t consider Brandon Flowers a god or Elvis an idiot. Just a simple comparison of the situation. I believe everyone should just take a deep breath, count to 10, and put on a CD from whatever band they consider great enough to listen to. And I’m sure the band you pick would appriciate the thought just like every other person in this world would. LONG LIVE THE KILLERS, COBAIN, AND INDIVIDUALITY!
May 4th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I’m outraged by what Flowers is saying. I thank god every day that the kings of leon dont have a song as shitty as “human.” wasnt that just a joke anyways? the killers are all that is wrong with rock these days…if you can even put them in that genre. If you’re gonna come to this country and diss Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, get the fuck out! That’s real music, and that’s why their work has stood the test of time and continues to gain fans. Killers, you guys won’t last more than a couple years, fortunately. Your music sucks ass and it seems as if your personality matches it. How did you douches end up headlining at coachella anyways?? That was the main reason I didnt go this year.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Brandon Flowers IS a wannabe Ian Curtis, and his band IS a wannabe Joy Division. Ha this loser won’t even come close Cobain’s legacy.
and who’s to say that grunge was’nt fun?, I mean come on TEEN ANGST baby!!
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I don’t understand why people are getting mad over what B Flowers said. He didn’t insult grunge music he just said it wasn’t fun which most of you seem to agree with. I think the media has decided to paint him as some arrogant prick and everybody just goes with the flow. The title of this article may be “The Killers’ Brandon Flowers Disses Kurt Cobain”, but no where in the article does he actually say anything negative about Cobain. As for The Killers being a bad band, sure their last album is weak, but Sam’s Town is better than anything I’ve ever heard from Joy Division/New Order, Springsteen, or any grunge band.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Okay…..
If you think Flowers was wrong for opinion on what Nirvana did to grunge, that’s fine, that’s your opinion.
But what the hell is the problem if he says close to Cobain’s DOD? Are we supposed to never say anything negative about anyone dead anywhere just because they’re dead? How sensitive can people today be?
What if I said “Amelia Earhart should have been more careful in her flight plans” close to the day of her disappearance? No one would care would they?
But no, just because Cobain was closer to our generation we have to bow down t him as if he was a god.
Just because he’s dead that means he’s perfect and no wrong of him should ever be uttered? Does that mean I can’t say sh*t about Hitler close to the day of his death?
Do you see what I’m getting at? No matter what time Brand Flowers says anything about Cobain, Kurt is STILL DEAD.
And does Flowers rant and rave and curse Cobain out? Noo… he says it respectfully.
What the hell happened to freedom of speech?
NOW, as for all of you people out there cursing out Brandon Flowers just because he disagrees with Cobain’s musical effect,
please get a life, or end yours now. Hey that way you can go see Cobain and bitch about stupid shit like someone disagreeing with him. In fact I bet Kurt would end up being more annoyed about you being a little child and crying to your mommy about how someone hurt your feelings.
Another thing is, do you ever see politicians cursing and ranting and screaming and raving during their debates? No, they don’t, because they know how to speak english and debate without proving whose got the bigger stick. Take a speech class before the next time you want to argue a point. You embarrass yourself.
In fact, complaining that Brandon Flowers disagreed with someone that’s dead is embarrassing in itself.
I say this to Brandon defenders and protestors. Did you all go to high school?
AND IF YOU WANT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT PEOPLE DISSING A DEAD KURT COBAIN…
go to Courtney Love chat boards, okay? That woman exploits his death for all she’s worth. Publicizing photos and letters any way she can. I’m not saying she hasn’t gone through legitimate pain, but do you think woman doesn’t enjoy being known as Cobain’s widow?
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:28 am
Grunge sucks!!!!! Brandon is right!!! Hahahahah the killers are badaxzzzzzz nirvana is sooo LAME and mainstream wannabe music!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I think that Brandon Flowers only said this stuff for publicity because I mean, look at the Killers and then look at Nirvana.
An even better observation would be to look at Brandon Flowers and look at Kurt Cobain.
Most people that don’t listen to Nirvana still have heard of Kurt Cobain, but I can’t say the same for Brandon Flowers.
And a lot of the music of the new millenium sucks ass and like echo said The Killers are definitely headed in that direction.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:19 am
flowers is a genius, he is completely right about grunge.. he aint dissing kurt or grunge.. and face it cunts….. did it look like kurt was having a “fun” time… wtf…. yehzzz thought so
June 17th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
As much as the Killers suck, and as much as I love Kurt Cobain, I have to say that this comment is, in my opinion, completely harmless. I disagree with it one hundred percent, but it’s not insulting at all, maybe because of how silly it is, seeing how much Kurt Cobain kicks Brandon’s ass even in death, maybe just because it’s a generally harmless remark. He even said, “I don’t mean it in a bad way”. Come on. And this is coming from someone who is a die hard fan of Nirvana, and who hates The Killers. If there’s one person who would agree that this is insulting, it would be me, and I don’t. So there you go.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
no, the kings of leon are not nearly as big as critics say, and not as big as the killers probably even in america
brandon’s comment was completely harmless
July 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Well, the guy has a right to an opinion. The Killers DO put out some great, unique music, but eh…
This guy has something against the grunge culture of the early 90s. It is funny, because I always thought Cobain was hilarious. It seems like every interview Nirvana was in he and the band were cracking jokes or something…
heh. People are strange.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Wow. Some of you people discust me. So you like Kurt. Ok Cool. But why the hell rip on Brandon and say all of your immature insults to him because you are defending some dead guy. What Brandon said was hardly insulting compared to what you low lifers are saying about him. The Killers might not be the every day ‘hard core’ Grunge shit you listen to, but they are different, and a LOT of people love them for not being like the same bands we hear everyday on the radio. For their music you have to dig deeper and listen to the lyrics to understand them, they are not just wierd shit, they have a meaning and a purpose. Brandon wasn’t trying to hurt your little feeeeelings by saying this, so seriously, get a life, fuck off, and stop jacking off to some dead guy. Its kind of sickening.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:46 am
OK YOU SHITDICKS. YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE THE FUCKERS WHO SIT AROUND, CUT YOUR WRISTS AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE SCREAM ABOUT HOW THEIR LIFE SUCKS AND THEY WANT TO DIE. APPARENTLY OR THE BASTARD WOULDNT HAVE TAKEN HIS OWN LIFE. WHAT A DUMBASS. OH AND KURTS LOVER? IF YOURE HIS LOVER YOU WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND COMMIT SUICIDE BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE. HUMAN WAS NOT A BAD SONG, IT WAS BRILLIANT, AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AGREE WITH ME.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:16 am
I guess what I am trying to say is that really? Stop freaking out about BFlowers saying something thats not even offensive about a dead musician. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but honestly i have some things to say to these people…
MATT: you absolute idiot. How can you honestly say that the song Human is shitty. Shut your fucking mouth and go listen to the Leon shit then, no one cares ok, so you don’t like the killers? well go fuck of because who are YOU to say that they wont be famous in a couple years.
YANIZ: wow. you sadden me, the very thing you are saying that Brandon Flowers should do is the thing that brought your precious Kurt down. Suicide, and believe it or not Brandon isn’t some emotional freak that doesnt give about anyone else and kills himself without the least bit of concern for everyone he is leaving behind. Yea. Who is the phycotic mother fucker now?
KURT’S LOVER: This is just pathetic. You have no life, and seriously get over it. So not everybody likes your lover as much as you do, doesnt mean you have to rip on their career and their music, and their testicles, like WHAT THE FUCK? DID WE REALLY NEED THAT GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION YOU SICK FUCK? No, so seriously, stop ripping on the killers music, you are not cool.
CHRIS: you idiot. are you shitting me? Brandon never said grunge was suposed to be fun, he said the fact that is is suicidal and depressing is taking the fun out of music and oh loooookie hereeee! it is. so go seriously find some real music to like.
JOSH: YOU’RE WEAK!!!! THE KILLERS ARE NOT WEAK!!!! Their new album is gold. Brandon kicks over a chair in one of his music video. How Strong. You are not that strong. So go work out. Weakling.
MERR: Fuck you, no one asked you if you think that is a compliment or not. No one cares.
ECHO: Wow, Music is not going to hell. There are people out there that will keep the good stuff alive, and honestly just because Shits like Chris Brown sell does not mean that everyone likes him. Music is as alive as it ever has been, and The Killers are fucking geniouses and just because they arent so hardcore does not mean that they are stupid and bubbily. Gosh, there are gray lines.
DANNY R. PHILLIPS: You stupid idiot. You fucking moron. Brandon is not egotistical, he just expresses his opinion, and as far as anyone is concerned, you are the douche bag because obviously you are just as opinionated you queershit.
this is all i have to say to you dumbasses. For the people i didnt talk to, good for you, i agree with what you have to say. Brandon Flowers did not maliciously attack this Kurt man, he just wanted to express his opinion. Since when was that ever such a crime.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Don’t listen to this article. They are just manipulating you guys to hate Brandon Flowers because they are angry and confused. All Brandon Flowers meant is that things went kind of numb with grunge rock music. He didn’t say it was bad or anything like that, I’m sure he has plenty of respect for Nirvana. He’s just saying that theatrics are slowly being reincorporated back into rock n roll music. Man, this website has caused a lot of hell.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
brandon and the killers – i ficking love you!
ignore all the haters, they are gay.
LONG LIVE THE KILLERS <33
xxx
August 11th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Thinking that grunge and Cobain in particular took the fun out of rock and roll isn’t a huge “diss” really, its just his opinion. I think he has a point, i watched a Nirvana music video and agree wit that assertion. Oh and people like KILLERS FOREVER and “megan
” you make all killers fans look like fucking idiots.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Haha Killers Fan.. “no one asked you.. no one cares etc.” Why is your opinion so much more important than everyone elses? Stop breaking your keyboard and do something constructive. or get a girlfriend.
August 13th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
First off, guys look at the two pictures. One looks like a queer, one looks like a regular human being that you could relate to. Do i need to say which is which? Kurt took the gayness out of what rock was becoming. Guys wearing make-up and getting their hair done to look exactly like women? How could any straight man relate to that? If you look closely at rock now, its all a re-hash of whats been done. And it;s really reverting right back to the heavy metal queer, guys wearing makeup stuff again. Kurt, Krist, And Dave took us on a very short vacation, but how beautiful was that breeze?
lets be honest guys, grunge was definitely fun in its own way, I dont think I ever gotten up and headbanged and jumped around violently to a single Killers Song or Kings of Leon Song. Grunge was’nt supposed to be happy, it was a kick in the ass with a bite of reality and it was awesome, loud, melodic, it was, well pure Nirvana. And to add to the fact, PEOPLE ARE STILL LISTENING AND BUYING NIRVANA RECORDS!!! KURT WILL NEVER DIE.
Who’s honestly going to remember the Killers or Kings Of Leon 20 years from now? Sex On Fire is a good song, but it’s just one of those temporarily cool pop songs, I havent listened to it more than 3 times since I downloaded it.
I think what it comes down to is that you have punk fans (the Nivana people) and then you have these neo rock fans (the killers fans) Thats pretty much a old school vs new school battle. Oh and the killers cannot hold a single candle to any thing Joy Division has ever made. Joy Division was something of a rarity, especially if you consider the times when they were most prominent. Oh, and PEOPLE ARE STILL LISTENING TO JOY DIVISION!! Where will the Killers be in 2032?
August 13th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
oh, and i forgot, Jack White may be the only “real” organic Rock And Roll “star” left. I feel bad that he has all the pressure of saving this once great artform from going into the sewer. LONG LIVE THE STRIPES!
August 15th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Brandon Flowers is full of himself but his comment wasn’t very insulting. (to the dick who said Kurt Cobain was a wannabe emo: You’re an ass. Kurt was actually depressed and emos are just fucking middle class kids in too-tight jeans complaining about their parents and homes that never seem that bad.)(okay I take that back if you’re an emo and you actually have a bad life,then I apologize but I recommend just being yrself and not a label)
August 15th, 2009 at 3:12 am
Killers Forever, I know killers fans who are smart and respect other music and nobody has to “fuck themselves” just because they insult yr music.
August 15th, 2009 at 3:23 am
The Killers fans here are hilarious. When I read the thing Killers Forever said about Brandon Flowers being strong because he kicked a chair over in a music video I started crying laughing so hard. The Killers are a different style of music and they can’t be judged against grunge. I don’t necessarily like The Killers but to each his own.
August 15th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
YEAH IT TAKES A LOT OF COJONES TO KICK OVER AN INNOCENT CHAIR, WATCH OUT THAT GUY MUST HAVE NO SOUL. HAHA
September 28th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Brandon Flowers if that is his real name acts and talks like such a b*tch (rrraaaaauuuuwwwwwhhhh), if he thinks wearing big “camp ” feathers on his shoulders makes him innovative then he needs to get this head checked. He would fit better in a gay pride march. He’s doing a dis-service to gay people by pretending he represents them when he’s not gay apparently. Not all gay people have to wear big feathers and prance around like fairies.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:42 am
The Killers are good you fools. They make good music and their lyrics are fine. Who cares what he says about others, i feel like he makes stupid comments at times, but they make good music. Simple.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Wow….loved reading the comments! My favorite one was “what will courtney have to say about this?” damn thats so funny and true. She really is the only one in the postion to defend the leader of the 90’s grunge rock era. I also read that kurt was a wannabe for joining the 27 club. Maybe true…but hey, how many times has the killers made it on vh1 or mtv’s best song/band
list….never.
I used to like the killers before reading this article, but now I dont care for them. Consider this fan….withdrawn. Nobody disses the kurt master. I hate those damn rockers that get caught up in how good they “THINK” they are. (axe rose and billy corgan) Todays kids will buy anything. Its no feat to sell a million copies with the advent of the internet and major record companies who promote an album till its dead and they’ve got their money back.
Also, I think its a bullshit comment, to say that grunge wasnt fun? What the fuck ever!! Teen spirit still rocks my socks off to this very day, I’ve only heard it about 320 times!! And the undergroud stuff he did is even better (old age, sappy, sliver) I get so excited to see videos of kurt, nirvana, and related stuff. It was the best era since jimi hendrix, everything else is just a fad, a flash in the pan, it’ll be gone tomarro.
Hell, even rappers acknoledge cobains imapact in music. (eminem says “his favorite color is red like the bloodshed of kurt cobain when he shot himself in the head” and ICP says, “rocker blows his head off and becomes a ledgend.”)
P.S. I love every one of you basterds who were as shaken by his comment like me. Sure it makes me/us an asshole to judge someone from a simple comment….but hell…Im only “human”
stephen payne…out (myspace.com/stephenpayne85) – GRUNGE ROCKS FOREVER!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:37 am
I think we’ve all lost track of what music is all about…Since when did the artist’s opinions and lives become what we based -our- favourite songs on? I don’t think either artist would appreciate such harsh reactions towards other fans, and I definitely don’t think that they would define music as being based on just one band. I doubt you guys would have this reaction towards Beethoven, Mozart or Bach. They are both famous for different reasons, and have different fan bases. Could we please stop insulting men who are so obviously different, it’s harsh to compare them so closely?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
brandon flowers is the best lead singer in the world and he is right on the money ok so if you guys dont like the killers shut the fuck up you stuped mother fucking ass holes because i love them.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
first of all with out Beethoven would we have billy joel, anser is no we wouldent so leave the killers alone for loving bruse springstien , these guys are one of the most oringinal band of this decade so fuck you guys.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
and by the way kings of leon will never have a song like human its to great
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 pm
He has his own opinions
and there far more constructive than some things you people have been putting leave the man alone jesus.