An American alternative rock band, the Killers, has apologized for bringing a Russian fan on stage during a show in Georgia and describing fans as “brothers and sisters,” prompting boos from the audience. The Killers were performing at the Black Sea arena in Batumi on Tuesday evening when singer Brandon Flowers invited a man to join them on stage to play drums for the song ‘For Reasons Unknown’ towards the concert’s end. When the crowd realized the man was from Russia, with which Georgia has a long history of tension, they reacted angrily, and some left the venue.
The Killers have a long-standing tradition of inviting audience members onstage to play drums, and the band said it had never intended to offend anyone. In a statement on Facebook, the band said it was “sorry that our comment could be misconstrued.” The statement added: “We’ve been to this country many times and have nothing but respect for its people. We hope to be back soon.”
A video of the incident posted on X, the Russian social media app formerly known as Twitter, showed part of the audience walking out and booing at the concert. The Killers, who have sold millions of albums and performed on every continent, were in Batumi as part of their European tour for the album Imploding the Mirage.
Despite being a former Soviet republic, Georgia has had a long-running rivalry with its neighbor, exacerbated by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and a significant influx of Russian emigrants escaping their country. Many Ukrainians have also moved to Georgia, with the capital Tbilisi hosting around a million Ukrainians.
In the aftermath of Russia’s war against Ukraine, several countries have shown their solidarity with the Ukrainian people by calling for tougher sanctions and offering military support. Slovenia’s then-prime minister, Janez Jansa, who a pro-European coalition government has since replaced, was one of the first European leaders to visit Ukraine and meet with its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On the ground, the conflict has created a divided public opinion. Most Georgians have voiced their support for Ukraine, but the country’s pro-Russia voices have been heard. Many fear that the conflict will spark a broader retaliation from the West, including attacks on Russians in Europe and retaliation for the bombing of Moscow.
Despite the tense climate, the Killers remained in Georgia and went on to perform a second concert at the Black Sea arena. The Killers were formed in Las Vegas in the early 2000s and have sold more than 28 million records worldwide. They have won seven Grammy nominations and have had many hit singles, including Hot Fuss (2004), Sam’s Town (2006), Day & Age (2008), Battle Born (2012), Wonderful Wonderful (2017), and Pressure Machine (2021). They are currently on the road for their Life Is Beautiful World Tour. The Killers have headlined festivals across the globe and have released several live DVDs.
