August 24, 2023

"The Killers" Kill the Mood in Georgia


"The Killers" Kill the Mood in Georgia
Concertgoers boo the American Rock band "The Killers" in Georgia. G.Shavdatuashvili, Twitter.

On August 15, the American Rock band "The Killers" invited a Russian fan on stage to play the drums at their concert in Batumi, Georgia, stirring anger in the audience. In response, the lead singer, Brendon Flowers, referred to the Russian fan as a "brother" to Georgians. The concert was ended shortly afterward.

"The Killers" invites a fan to play the drums with them at every concert. At the Batumi concert, a Russian fan held a sign that read, "If destiny [is] kind, I'll be your drummer tonight." The sign caught Flowers' attention.

After finding out the fan was Russian, the singer said, "We don't know the etiquette of this land. This guy is a Russian. Are you guys okay with a Russian coming up here?" The answer from the crowd was no. Flowers invited the fan onto the stage anyway.

Startled by the boos, Flowers said, "You can't recognize if someone is your brother? He is not your brother?" Concertgoers walked out in protest, chanting "F*ck Russia."

Russia has a long history of aggression towards Georgia, including its 2008 invasion. Russian forces currently occupy 20 percent of Georgian land. The War in Ukraine has strained relationships with Russians living in Georgia, as Georgians identify in many ways with Ukrainians.

Radio Tbilisi has removed "The Killers" songs from the air. The Georgian "Shame Movement" posted on their Instagram an image reading, "The Killers supporting Killers." The Killers later issued an apology via social media. 

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