Dave Keuning
| Dave Keuning | |
|---|---|
 Keuning in 2004 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Brent Keuning |
| Born | March 28, 1976 |
| Origin | Pella, Iowa, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, post-punk revival |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Associated acts | The Killers |
| Website | www.thekillersmusic.com |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Gibson Les Paul Custom Gibson ES-335 Fender Starcaster Ibanez Destroyer | |
David Brent "Dave" Keuning (born March 28, 1976) is an American guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band The Killers, with whom he has recorded four studio albums.
Personal life
David Brent Keuning was born and brought up in Pella, Iowa. He started to play guitar just before entering Pella Community High School where he played in the jazz band. In 2000 Keuning moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.[1][2] He found work at the Banana Republic store in The Venetian Hotel and Casino on The Strip.
Keuning has one son, Kyler Keuning, who was born in 2005. Keuning currently spends his time between his homes in San Diego and Las Vegas.
Career
The Killers (2001-present)
The band began when Keuning placed an ad in the Las Vegas Weekly which read: "Seeking musicians for all original band. Influences: Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, Bowie, Radiohead."[3] Shortly, Brandon Flowers answered the ad and the two began practicing and writing together later to be joined by Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. The Killers' first demos included the future hit "Mr. Brightside" which Keuning wrote the guitar riff to before meeting Brandon Flowers.[4] The Killers have sold more than 25 million records worldwide including four consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the UK.
Other appearances
Keuning has mentioned in interviews that he has some songs he has worked on that he has considered releasing solo or as a side project.[5] He joined Imagine Dragons alongside Wayne Sermon (of Imagine Dragons) during closing track "Nothing Left To Say" on the Into The Night Tour.[6]
Equipment
Guitars [7]
- Gibson ES-335
- Fender Starcaster
- Ibanez Destroyer
- Gibson Flying V
- Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Fender Stratocaster
- Gibson J45
- Ibanez AE Classical Guitar
Guitars are tuned down 1/2 step from standard. Drop-Db tuning for both versions of the song Sam's Town and the recorded version of Tranquilize.
Sound Equipment
- Furman AR15 Voltage Regulator
- Axess Electronics FX1+ expansion board, midi foot controllers w/ axess CFX4 control function switchers and custom made Axess Electronics Deville footswitch interfaces
- Lectrosonics Wireless Units
- Zaolla Artist and Zaolla Silverline series cables as cables and cable snakes
- (2) duplicate FX racks are wired up w/Mogami Cable
- Pedals, in Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher Loops: Keeley Mod Ibanez TS9 (phat mod and baked mod)(x2), Boss DD6 Digital Delay, MXR Phase 100 (x2), Electro Harmonix Keeley Mod Big Muff Pi, Ibanez AD99 Keeley Mod Delay, Ibanez AC99 Keeley Mod Chorus, Digitech Whammy, TRex RoommSpate Reverb, and Buff Puff Boost. And for the acoustic: Fishman Aura Classical Pedal, Fishman Aura Dreadnought Pedal
Picks: Dunlop Nylon – 0.60mm, 0.73mm, 1.00mm
Amplifiers
NOTE: Hiwatt currently are one of Keuning's sponsors.[8]
Playing style
Keuning is noted as a guitarist for playing anthemic and soaring solos in addition to sweetened and often percussive style playing frequently. He is also noted for his "unusual voicings" and "digit-distending, string-skipping" finger work on the guitar in similar fashion of Andy Summers of The Police.[2]
Keuning was featured in Guitarist magazine in May 2009[9] and Guitar World in February 2009,[10] Guitar Player in January 2008 and February 2010,[2] and Guitar Aficionado in January 2013.
In 2010, Keuning's guitar riff in "Mr. Brightside" was voted at number 9 in Total Guitar's 50 greatest riffs of the 21st Century so far.[11]
Influences
Keuning cites influences such as The Edge of U2, Robert Smith, Bernard Sumner, Billy Corgan, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, George Harrison, Angus Young, and Mick Mars.
Discography
Other appearances
- "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" - Brandon Flowers (2010)[12]
- "Wander" - We Are Hyena (2012)[13]
- "This Is A Joke" (2014) - Bombay Heavy[14]
- "Clouds Pretend" - The Hunt (2014)[15]
- TBA - Blackout Balter (TBA 2016)
Awards and nominations
References
- ↑ Biographicon: Dave Keuning
- 1 2 3 "The Killers' Dave Keuning" Guitar Player Magazine Feb 2010 Iss.
- ↑ Longobardy, Joshua. "When he was young" Las Vegas Weekly. Feb 15, 2007.Third Page, First Paragraph.
- ↑ The Killers Bio VH1.com
- ↑ http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/features/interviews/249934/killers.htm
- ↑ "Imagine Dragons - Nothing Left To Say w/ guest Dave Keuning of The Killers Feb 15, 2014 San Diego". YouTube.
- ↑ http://www.thekillersfansite.com/article%20pics/guitarist%20magazine%20may2009/ggd3.jpg
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-25. Retrieved 2010-04-18. Hiwatt Website: Artists
- ↑ Crompton, Jamie. "Dave Keuning Interview: Serial Killer" Guitarist May 2009 Iss.
- ↑ Bosso, Joe. "The Killers: All Killer No Filler" Guitar World Magazine. March 26, 2009.
- ↑ "Muse Dominate Best Guitar Riff Poll". GIGWISE.com.
- ↑ "Dave Keuning: 'The Killers Started Because I Lost My Job'".
- ↑ "RHF - Music - We Are Hyena- Wander (Feat. Dave Keuning of The Killers)".
- ↑ http://bombayheavy.bandcamp.com/track/bombay-heavy-this-is-a-joke
- ↑ https://soundcloud.com/thehuntisnotover/clouds-pretend-featuring-dave-keuning-of-the-killers
External links
- The Killers official site, from Island Records
- The Killers official site (U.K.), from the Vertigo label
- Dave Keuning Facebook Fan Group
- Interview:Serial Killer from Guitarist Magazine May 2009 Iss.
- Interview: All Killer No Filler from Guitar World Magazine February 2009 Iss.
- Interview at Glastonbury Fest by NME
- Dave Keuning Pedalboard