The Killers sneak into Melbourne for a one-off private show

US rockers The Killers have revealed they were warned about another famous singer’s “past performance” before their AFL grand final show five years ago.

The Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr (left) and frontman Brandon Flowers in Melbourne. Picture Tony Gough

The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers said they were warned about Meat Loaf’s AFL grand final debacle before they blitzed the MCG in 2017.

“It’s sort of equivalent to our Super Bowl in America,” Flowers told Nova FM’s Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael Wipfli of playing the AFL event.

“But there’s not as many bells and whistles for the performers. And it’s in the daylight. So you better be ready.

“It went by so quickly, it was like a little bit of a dream. But I loved it.”

Wipfli cited Meat Loaf’s 2011 performance at the MCG as the template of a disastrous show.

Meat Loaf sang off key and struggled to breathe as he mangled hits including I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and You Took The Words Brought Out Of My Mouth.

Flowers said coyly: “We were made aware of some past performances”.

He said stadium shows made the band long to play smaller venues.

“There’s a lot more physicality and sweat in a small room and you’re right in each other’s faces,” he said.

“I enjoy moments ... and going back to play small shows every now and then because that’s where our roots are.”

The Killers played the AFL grand final five years ago, and invited Tigers star Jack Riewoldt on stage to perform their hit, Mr Brightside.

Flowers says he was made aware of ‘past performances’ before the band’s 2017 AFL grand final show. Picture: Nui Te Koha

It comes as the US rockers sneaked into Melbourne for a one-off private show.

“We’ve just honoured a three-year-old concert announcement in the UK and Europe, and everything has become four times more expensive to pull off a tour like that, so now we’re playing children’s birthday parties,” The Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr joked.

But their return to Melbourne underscores a strong connection to Australia.

Frontman Brandon Flowers grew up on Aussie music via INXS, Midnight Oil and Icehouse cassettes handed down by his brother. “My formative years were informed by bands from here,” Flowers said.

He also revealed the background story about Tigers star Jack Riewoldt performing The Killers hit, Mr Brightside, with the band following the 2017 AFL grand final.

“It was planned right as we were stepping on stage,” he said. “He was having the time of his life, and it was cool to share that with him.”

Brandon Flowers, of The Killers, at a private show in Melbourne on July 29. Picture: Nui Te Koha

The Killers will return to play at A Day On The Green, at Mt Duneed, near Geelong, on December 10, and Rod Laver Arena on December 13 and 14.

Their new single, boy, is released on August 5.

The song is about Flowers searching for guiding lights — or “white arrows” — during his childhood.

“My family moved to a really rural town in Utah, and when the lights went out, they went out,” Flowers said. “It was black. I felt that isolation, and I felt like I didn’t belong, and, for me, (the white arrows), became music. Then it became my wife and children.

“I realise now I had white arrows all along. I had parents who loved each other, piano lessons, nice friends and my brother, who was great mentor to me.”

The Killers’ hits include Somebody Told Me, When You Were Young, and Human.