On August 15, the concert of rock band The Killers was held at the Black Sea Arena on Georgia’s coast.
Before performing one of its songs, lead singer Brandon Flowers, as per tradition, asked if there were any people in the audience who knew how to play the drums.
Flowers picked out one of the volunteers and brought him on stage. When the drummer revealed his nationality to be Russian, Flowers asked the audience if they were okay with it.
Despite hearing the strongly negative attitude of some of the listeners gathered in the hall, the group performed a set with the Russian drummer. The end of the song was followed by whistling from some of the audience.
After that, the frontman of The Killers addressed the audience and claimed that the listeners gathered in the hall were sisters and brothers, that a person’s nationality does not matter and there should be no borders between countries.
Flowers’ address was met with even greater displeasure from the audience, and a large part of them left the hall. The concert ended amid whistles and disgruntled shouts.
Several international publications responded to the incident at the Black Sea Arena.
The Guardian:
“The Killers apologized. The reason was that a Russian fan was taken on stage at a concert in Georgia. Georgia is a former Soviet republic that was invaded by Russia in 2008. The soloist told the audience that Russians and Georgians are brothers and sisters.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening in Batumi. (sic)
“We don’t know the etiquette of this country, but this guy is Russian, do you mind if he comes out?” – asked Brandon Flowers, the band’s soloist. The listeners met his words with noise.
After finishing the song, Flowers responded to the whistles and protests of some of the listeners like this:
“Do you not know if someone is your brother or not? Is he not your brother? Are we all separated by the borders of our country? I am not your brother because I am an American? I consider you all my sisters and brothers.”
After this statement, many people left the concert”.
The Independent:
“The Killers had to apologize after frontman Brandon Flowers told Georgian fans that a Russian concertgoer was their brother.
The Las Vegas-based band’s concert was held at the Black Sea Arena in Batumi as part of their world tour.
Georgia was freed from Soviet rule in 1991, and in 2008, Russia invaded Georgia.
Tensions have increased since many Russians came to Georgia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Georgian people support Ukraine”.
Reuters:
“American alternative band The Killers have apologized for bringing a Russian drummer on stage at a concert in Georgia, and for calling fans ‘brothers and sisters’.
Georgia has a long history of tensions with its northern neighbor. The situation was exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the influx of Russian immigrants.
The Killers later apologized.”
BBC:
The Killers have had to apologize after vocalist Brandon Flowers pulled a Russian fan on stage and let him play the drums.
He also told the audience that the Russian is their “brother”, which drew boos and negative shouts from the audience.
Georgia, which gained independence from Russia in 1991, has a long history of tense relations with its neighbor.
In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia.
The band later apologized on social media.”
Editions: Stereogum, Uproxx, Newsweek, NME, and Insider also responded to what happened at the Black Sea Arena.
