The Killers will release brand new single, Tranquilize, on iTunes this Friday (Oct 12th). The single features the band’s Brandon Flowers in a duet with Lou Reed, and is taken from the band’s forthcoming album of B-sides and rarities, Sawdust, which is itself set for release on November 12th. The band will be breaking with usual protocol by making the track available to buy just hours after it airs as a worldwide exclusive on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show at 7pm.Tranquilize first made an appearance during sessions for last year’s multi-million selling album, Sam’s Town, the follow up to 2004 breakthrough, Hot Fuss. They picked it up again this summer during a break to their Sam’s Town touring schedule, approaching former Velvet Underground leader Reed for vocal duties and getting together with him in a New York studio with Sam’s Town producers Flood and Alan Moulder last month. As Flowers told NME recently, "We were thrilled to be able to work with Lou Reed. The song required a duet and his voice was just right. The sentiment of the song is very him."Alongside Tranquilize, the tracklisting for the Sawdust album will include All the Pretty Faces (the B-side of 2006’s #2 single When You Were Young); a cover of Joy Division’s Shadowplay (from Anton Corbijn’s biopic, Control) and Move Away (from Spiderman 3); as well as a cover of Kenny Rogers & the First Edition’s Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.
Additionally, Leave The Bourbon on The Shelf, the first part in the famed murder trilogy of Hot Fuss (with Jenny Was a Friend of Mine and Midnight Show), will feature on the record, whose full tracklisting will be announced soon.
The Killers have also recorded a second Christmas single for the RED Campaign, Don’t Shoot Me Santa, expected for a December 1st release. It follows up last year’s A Great Big Sled, which raised over $100,000 for the charity.
The Killers are Brandon Flowers (vocals), Dave Keuning (guitar), Mark Stoermer (bass) and Ronnie Vannucci (drums).