Dave Keuning

American guitarist

Dave Keuning

Keuning in 2018.

Background information
Birth name| David Brent Keuning
Born|  (1976-03-28) March 28, 1976 (age 49)
Origin| Pella, Iowa, U.S.
Genres|

* Alternative rock
* heavy rock
* blues rock
* indie rock
* post-punk revival
* new wave
* heartland rock
* pop rock
* synth-pop

Occupations|

* Musician
* songwriter

Instrument| Guitar
Years active| 2001–present
Website| thekillersmusic.com

Musical artist

David Brent Keuning (born March 28, 1976)[1] is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the rock band The Killers, which he founded alongside frontman Brandon Flowers in 2001 and with whom he has recorded six studio albums. Keuning played every show with The Killers since its inception up until the show at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August 2017. From 2017 to the end of 2020, Keuning was on hiatus from the band. He returned to The Killers to assist in recording their 2021 album Pressure Machine. Keuning released two solo albums titled Prismism (2019) and "A Mild Case of Everything" (2021) under his surname Keuning.[2]

## Personal life

[edit]

Keuning was born and brought up in Pella, Iowa, to Charles and Sandra Keuning. His parents owned and operated a plumbing business.[3] He has one older brother, Kevin Keuning. He started to play guitar just before entering Pella Community High School where he played in the jazz band. In his senior year the group won state champions class 3A. In 2000 Keuning moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.[4][5] He found work at the Banana Republic store in The Venetian Hotel and Casino on The Strip.[6]

He married Emilie Keuning on October 20, 2018. They live in Los Angeles, California. He has one son, Kyler Keuning, born September 17, 2005.

## Career

[edit]

Keuning placed an ad in the local Las Vegas Weekly looking to form a band, mentioning Oasis as one of his influences.[7] Brandon Flowers, who shared Keuning's love of groups such as New Order and the Cure, answered it, only to have Keuning promptly hand him a TASCAM-recorded four-track demo of "Mr. Brightside".[8]

Keuning announced in August 2017 that he would not be joining the band to tour in supporting their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful, although he would remain a member of the group.[9] Keuning did not contribute to The Killers' sixth album, Imploding the Mirage, but joined the band again in studio in early 2021 to work on their seventh album, Pressure Machine and their 2023-24 greatest hits album and tour "Rebel Diamonds".[10]

He debuted his solo music with the release of his first single "Restless Legs" under the moniker Keuning. The assemblage of new music, created by Keuning in his San Diego home studio, was taken from hundreds of voice memos that he stockpiled while on tour with the Killers over the previous decade that evolved into songs. Keuning's debut album, Prismism, was released on January 25, 2019, and is a collection of 14 tracks with almost all instruments played by Keuning himself.[citation needed]

## Playing style

[edit]

Keuning performing in 2004

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.[5]

Keuning was featured in Guitarist magazine in May 2009[11] and Guitar World in February 2009,[12] Guitar Player in January 2008 and February 2010,[5] 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.[13]

## Influences

[edit]

Keuning cites influences such as The Edge, Robert Smith, Bernard Sumner, Billy Corgan, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, George Harrison, Angus Young, and Mick Mars.[citation needed]

## Equipment

[edit]

Guitars[14]

* Gibson ES-335
* Fender Starcaster
* Ibanez Destroyer
* Gibson Flying V
* Gibson SG
* Gibson Les Paul Custom
* Fender Stratocaster
* Gretsch White Falcon
* Fender Jaguar
* Fender Telecaster
* Songhurst J.E.T. Doubletone
* Yamaha Revstar
* Gibson J45 Acoustic
* Ibanez AE Classical Guitar
* Gibson Explorer
* Fender Jazz Bass
* Fender Jazz Bass Fretless

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 DD3 Digital Delay
* Boss DD6 Digital Delay
* Boss DD7 Digital Delay
* MXR Phase 100 (x2)
* MXR Phase 90
* Electro Harmonix Keeley Mod Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker
* Electro Harmonix Green Russian Sovtek Big Muff V7C
* Ibanez AD99 Keeley Mod Delay
* Ibanez AC99 Keeley Mod Chorus
* DigiTech WH-5 Whammy V
* DigiTech Whammy DT
* TRex RoommSpate Reverb
* Buff Puff Boost
* Fishman Aura Classical Pedal (for acoustic guitars)
* Fishman Aura Dreadnought Pedal (for acoustic guitars)
* Strymon Sunset Dual Overdrive (since 2018)
* Strymon BigSky Multi-Reverb (since 2018)
* Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster (since 2018)
* Eventide ModFactor Multi-Modulation
* Retro Sonic Stereo Chorus
* Source Audio Programmable EQ
* Tone Freak Abunai 2 Overdrive
* Ernie Ball Volume
* Dunlop JP95 John Petrucci Signature CryBaby Wah Wah

Synthesizers:

* Korg MicroKORG (on Prismism)
* Yamaha PSR-6 Portatone (on Prismism)

Picks: Dunlop Nylon – 0.60mm, 0.73mm, 1.00mm

Amplifiers

* Fender Deville 2x12" (x2)
* Hiwatt DG103 Head and Hiwatt 4x12" Speaker Cabinet
* Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
* Matchless DC-30 (since 2015)
* Fender Bassbreaker Combo Amp
* Fender Mustang GTX100 Combo Amp

NOTE: Hiwatt currently are one of Keuning's sponsors.[15]

## Discography

[edit]

Main article: The Killers discography

### Keuning

[edit]

* Prismism (Thirty Tigers, 2019)[2]
* A Mild Case of Everything (Pretty Faithful Records, 2021)[16]

Other appearances

* "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" – Brandon Flowers (2010)[17]
* "Wander" – We Are Hyena (2012)[18]
* "This Is a Joke" (2014) – Bombay Heavy[19]
* "Clouds Pretend" – The Hunt (2014)[20]
* "Heavy Hand," "Goodbye Cambridge" – Blackout Balter (2016)

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by The Killers

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Keene, Jarret (June 2, 2024). The Killers: Destiny is Calling Me. Manic D Press. ISBN 978-1-933149-10-3.
2. ^ a b Krol, Charlotte (October 12, 2018). ""I regret not doing it a lot sooner": The Killers' Dave Keuning tells us about his debut solo album 'Prismism'". NME. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
3. ^ "Remembering the life of Sandy Keuning". obituaries.pellachronicle.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
4. ^ [1] Biographicon: Dave Keuning
5. ^ a b c "The Killers' Dave Keuning", Guitar Player, February 2010 issue.
6. ^ "Dave Keuning is back with The Killers and has a new solo album: 'It's the best of both worlds'". San Diego Union-Tribune. June 20, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
7. ^ Longobardy, Joshua. "When he was young" Las Vegas Weekly. February 15, 2007. Third Page, First Paragraph.
8. ^ [2] The Killers Bio VH1.com
9. ^ "Killers Guitarist Dave Keuning Announces Touring Break". August 28, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
10. ^ "The Killers reunite with guitarist Dave Keuning in studio for band's new album". NME. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
11. ^ Crompton, Jamie. "Dave Keuning Interview: Serial Killer" Guitarist May 2009 Iss.
12. ^ Bosso, Joe. "The Killers: All Killer No Filler" Guitar World Magazine. March 26, 2009.
13. ^ "Muse Dominate Best Guitar Riff Poll". GIGWISE.com.
14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2017.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
15. ^ "Hiwatt Genuine Amplifiers UK". Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2010. Hiwatt Website: Artists
16. ^ "Killers Guitarist Dave Keuning Announces New Solo LP 'A Mild Case of Everything'". Rolling Stone. April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
17. ^ "Dave Keuning: 'The Killers Started Because I Lost My Job'". Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
18. ^ "RHF – Music – We Are Hyena- Wander (Feat. Dave Keuning of The Killers)". Archived from the original on December 17, 2014.
19. ^ "Bombay Heavy – This Is A Joke, by BOMBAY HEAVY". Bombay Heavy. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
20. ^ "Clouds Pretend (featuring Dave Keuning Of THE KILLERS)". Retrieved November 20, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Dave Keuning's official website
* Dave Keuning discography at Discogs

* v
* t
* e

The Killers

* Brandon Flowers
* Dave Keuning
* Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
* Mark Stoermer

List of the Killers band members

Studio albums|

* Hot Fuss
* Sam's Town
* Day & Age
* Battle Born
* Wonderful Wonderful
* Imploding the Mirage
* Pressure Machine

Compilation albums|

* Sawdust
* Direct Hits
* Don't Waste Your Wishes
* Rebel Diamonds

Live albums|

* Live from the Royal Albert Hall

Extended plays|

* (Red) Christmas EP

Singles|

* "Mr. Brightside"
* "Somebody Told Me"
* "All These Things That I've Done"
* "Smile Like You Mean It"
* "When You Were Young"
* "Bones"
* "Read My Mind"
* "For Reasons Unknown"
* "Shadowplay"
* "Tranquilize"
* "Human"
* "Spaceman"
* "The World We Live In"
* "A Dustland Fairytale"
* "Runaways"
* "Miss Atomic Bomb"
* "Here with Me"
* "Shot at the Night"
* "Just Another Girl"
* "The Man"
* "Run for Cover"
* "Rut"
* "Caution"
* "My Own Soul's Warning"
* "Dying Breed"
* "Dustland"

Other songs|

* "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine"
* "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll"
* "The Way It Was"
* "Wonderful Wonderful"
* "Some Kind of Love"

Christmas songs|

* "A Great Big Sled"
* "Don't Shoot Me Santa"
* "Joseph, Better You than Me"
* "¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe!"
* "Boots"
* "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball"
* "I Feel It in My Bones"
* "Christmas in L.A."
* "Joel the Lump of Coal"
* "Dirt Sledding"

Concert tours|

* Hot Fuss Tour
* Battle Born World Tour
* Wonderful Wonderful World Tour
* Imploding the Mirage Tour
* Rebel Diamonds Tour
* 20 Years of Hot Fuss

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* The Heavy Entertainment Show
* Ray Suen
* Tommy Marth
* Ted Sablay
* Ryan Pardey
* Big Talk
* Big Talk
* Straight In No Kissin'
* Izabella Miko
* Flamingo
* Another Life
* The Desired Effect
* Dark Arts
* Prismism

Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Czech Republic

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* Grammy Awards

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