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The Killers are set to perform as a four for the first time in nine years as they are announced as the headline act at this year’s UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi.
Branon Flowers (vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums) are set to reunite with Dave Keuning (lead guitar) and Mark Stoermer (base) for the iconic gig at the 70,000-capacity Puskás Aréna in Budapest on May 30.
To tease the exciting show, the band teamed up with football icon Sir David Beckham for a fun video titled The Race Begins.
Flowers is seen playing pool before hopping in a custom electric blue convertible to race Beckham, who speeds off on a motorcycle, to the venue in Budapest.
The band will treat fans to a set packed with career defining hits — including the global football favourite Mr Brightside.
The film nods to the way Pepsi’s Kick Off Show blends football and music into one unmissable spectacle.
The Killers are set to perform as a four for the first time in nine years as they are announced as the headline act at this year’s UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi
Branon Flowers (vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums) are set to reunite with Dave Keuning (guitar) and Mark Stoermer (base) for the iconic gig at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on May 30
Speaking about the upcoming performance, The Killers said: ‘When we were asked to perform at the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi, we said yes without hesitation — some stages speak for themselves.
‘We’re honored to celebrate the incredible teams and players at what will undoubtedly be an epic match.’
Eugene Willemsen, CEO of International Beverages at PepsiCo, commented: ‘Pepsi MAX has a proud history of bringing big cultural moments in sports and music to fans around the world, and this year is no different.
‘We’re proud to welcome one of the most loved rock bands of the 21st century, The Killers, to the stage in Budapest. We can’t wait for them to deliver their electrifying performance and world renowned anthems.’
The final will feature two of the remaining 16 teams left in the tournament.
Typically the Champions League final draws in millions of viewers across the continent, with Paris Saint-Germain lifting the trophy last year in Munich after beating Inter Milan 5-0.
Despite Keuning and Stoermer leaving the band in 2017, Flowers and Vannucci continued to perform a huge 90-plus gigs in 2022 and 65 more in 2023 kept them busy as well as a residency at Caesar’s in 2024.
This year, some fans of the rock band The Killers only just discovered the origin of the band name, after 25 years.
To tease the exciting show, the band teamed up with football icon Sir David Beckham for a fun video titled The Race Begins
Flowers is seen playing pool with the band in a studio before hopping in a custom electric blue convertible to race Beckham, who speeds off on a motorcycle, to the venue in Budapest
The musicians behind iconic anthems such as Somebody Told Me and Mr. Brightside were initially formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by singer Brandon and guitarist Dave Keuning.
The following year, they added additional band members in bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
But it seems that even die-hard fans have been in the dark about the popular band’s name, only now realising what it really means.
The Killers name actually came from the fictional band featured in the music video for New Order’s song Crystal from 2001.
Brandon was a huge fan of New Order and spotted the name on the drum kit of the fictional band in the music video, per The Mirror US.
