Imploding the Mirage Tour
The Imploding the Mirage Tour was the sixth major concert tour by the American rock band the Killers, launched in support of their sixth studio album Imploding the Mirage (2020) and seventh studio album Pressure Machine (2021).[1][2] Originally announced in conjunction with the release of Imploding the Mirage, the tour faced multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic before commencing on April 15, 2022, with an opening show at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.[3][4] The tour encompassed over 100 dates across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, featuring arena and stadium performances with elaborate stage production including custom visuals and lighting designed to evoke the thematic elements of the supported albums.[1] Special guests such as Johnny Marr accompanied the band on select North American legs, while setlists blended new material from the recent albums with staples from the Killers' catalog, including hits like "When You Were Young" and "Mr. Brightside."[5][6] Concluding in December 2023, the tour marked the band's most extensive live outing since their 2017 Wonderful Wonderful promotion, drawing large crowds and generating significant box office revenue amid a post-pandemic resurgence in live music events.[7]Background and Announcement
Album Promotion and Initial Plans
The Killers announced their sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage, on November 15, 2019, confirming its release for spring 2020 and tying the promotion directly to an accompanying stadium tour.[8][9] The album's lead single, "Caution," had been released earlier that month on November 1, establishing a promotional narrative around themes of urgency and introspection, with frontman Brandon Flowers describing it as a return to the band's rock roots amid personal and societal pressures.[8] Initial tour plans focused on nine stadium dates across the UK and Ireland, scheduled from May 29 to June 20, 2020, beginning at Manchester's Emirates Old Trafford and concluding at Dublin's Malahide Castle.[8][9] Support acts included Manic Street Preachers for select dates, alongside Blossoms and Sam Fender, positioning the outing as a high-profile return to large-scale live performances following the band's 2017 Wonderful Wonderful tour.[8] These announcements generated immediate ticket sales buzz, with presales emphasizing the album's anticipated sound—produced by Jonathan Rado and Shawn Everett—as a bridge between the band's early anthemic style and more recent experimental work.[9] Promotion extended through social media teasers and music video releases, such as the cinematic rollout for "Caution," which featured desert imagery symbolic of the album's title and Las Vegas origins, aiming to build anticipation for both the record and tour visuals.[8] No North American or additional international legs were detailed in the initial reveal, with the strategy centered on European headline status to capitalize on the band's strong fanbase there before broader expansion.[9]Itinerary Development
The itinerary for the Imploding the Mirage Tour was initially developed to align with the release of The Killers' sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage, with the first announcements focusing on a major UK and Ireland stadium leg as the band's largest headline tour in those markets to date.[10] On November 15, 2019, alongside revealing the album title, the band confirmed dates for May and June 2020, including performances at Emirates Stadium in London (two nights), Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Ricoh Arena in Coventry, Cardiff's Principality Stadium, and Croke Park in Dublin, supported by acts such as Blossoms, Sam Fender, and Manic Street Preachers.[11] High demand prompted the addition of extra dates, with a third London show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and an additional Dublin performance announced shortly after.[12] Expansion beyond the UK and Ireland followed in early 2020, incorporating North American arenas and European festivals to broaden global promotion of the album. On March 12, 2020, further dates were revealed, scheduling a North American run beginning August 19, 2021 (later adjusted), with stops at venues like Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (then known as KeyArena), Moda Center in Portland, and United Center in Chicago, featuring Johnny Marr as a special guest.[13] [14] The full itinerary emphasized a progression from headline stadiums in core markets to arena tours in North America and festival slots across Europe, aiming to maximize exposure for tracks like "Caution" and "My Own Soul's Warning" while leveraging the band's established draw in large-scale productions.[1] This structured rollout reflected strategic planning around album rollout timelines, venue availability, and regional fan bases, with initial 2020 slots positioned post-album release (originally May 29, delayed to August 21) to capitalize on promotional momentum.[15] The tour's design incorporated immersive production elements from the outset, as evidenced by early collaborations with firms like Moment Factory for visual and lighting concepts tailored to the itinerary's diverse venue types.[1]COVID-19 Disruptions
Postponements and Rescheduling
The Killers initially announced the Imploding the Mirage Tour in March 2020, with North American dates slated to begin in August and extend through September, alongside planned legs in Australia and the UK/Ireland later in the year. However, amid escalating COVID-19 restrictions, the band postponed ticket sales for the North American and Australian portions on March 16, 2020, citing the need to monitor public health developments.[16][17] Specific shows, such as the September 23, 2020, performance at Chicago's United Center, were formally postponed shortly thereafter, with new dates to be announced.[18] In April 2020, the band explicitly postponed their UK and Ireland stadium dates—originally scheduled for late May and June—due to the pandemic, stating that "the single most important thing is that you all take care of yourselves and your loved ones." These were rescheduled for May and June 2021, with existing tickets honored and refunds offered through point of purchase. The decision followed government advisories and venue closures across Europe, reflecting broader industry shutdowns.[4][19] North American tour dates faced similar disruptions, with the band confirming in June 2020 the postponement of all remaining 2020 shows in that region and Australia, as COVID-19 cases surged and live events were prohibited. Rescheduling details emerged gradually, prioritizing safety protocols over rushed resumptions.[20] By March 2021, ongoing uncertainties—including vaccine rollout delays and variant concerns—prompted another postponement of the UK and Ireland leg from 2021 to summer 2022, with an additional Scottish date added. All original tickets remained valid, underscoring the band's commitment to eventual execution despite repeated shifts. The tour ultimately launched in 2022, incorporating material from Imploding the Mirage alongside later releases.[21][22]Logistical and Economic Effects
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated multiple postponements of the Imploding the Mirage Tour, originally slated for summer and fall 2020, creating significant logistical hurdles in rebooking venues and coordinating international travel. Initial UK and Ireland stadium dates were shifted to May and June 2021, with further delays pushing them to 2022 due to persistent restrictions on large gatherings and venue closures.[19][23] Specific instances, such as the September 23, 2020, performance at Chicago's United Center, were indefinitely postponed amid ongoing health concerns, requiring promoters to manage inventory shifts and crew reassignments.[18] These disruptions compounded challenges like securing work visas, transporting production equipment across borders, and adapting to fluctuating local regulations, which delayed the tour's full execution until April 2022.[24] When rescheduled shows proceeded, additional logistical layers emerged, including mandatory health protocols that complicated entry and crowd management. For example, the band implemented requirements for proof of full vaccination alongside negative COVID-19 tests at select 2021 and 2022 performances, such as a New York warmup gig and a Washington, D.C., arena show, necessitating on-site verification systems and potential staffing increases.[25][26] One planned 2021 concert in Augusta, Georgia, on September 30—despite similar vaccine and testing mandates—was ultimately canceled, highlighting the unpredictability of localized outbreaks and venue readiness.[27] Economically, the postponements deferred substantial touring revenue for the band and associated stakeholders, with initial North American and Australian ticket sales halted entirely in March 2020 to assess pandemic developments.[17] Existing ticket holders for rescheduled dates retained validity, but refunds were offered upon request, straining short-term cash flows for ticketing agents and promoters while processing administrative demands.[19][28] The delays shifted promotional emphasis to album sales and streaming for Imploding the Mirage, released on August 21, 2020, amid halted live events, though the band mitigated some impacts by allocating portions of future ticket proceeds to service industry relief.[16][29] Broader industry ripple effects included heightened production and logistics costs post-delay, but the tour's eventual 2022-2023 run allowed recovery through sold-out arenas.[30]Tour Execution
Set Lists and Production Elements
The set lists for the Imploding the Mirage Tour emphasized tracks from the 2020 album of the same name while incorporating staples from The Killers' catalog, opening consistently with "My Own Soul's Warning" to highlight new material.[6] A typical performance sequence, drawn from aggregated data across North American arena and stadium shows in 2022, included:- "My Own Soul's Warning" (Imploding the Mirage)
- "Enterlude" (Sam's Town)
- "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" (Hot Fuss)
- "Smile Like You Mean It" (Hot Fuss)
- "Shot at the Night" (Direct Hits)
- "Running Towards a Place" (Imploding the Mirage)
- "When You Were Young" (Sam's Town)
- "Bling (Confession of a King)" (Sam's Town)
- "Human" (Day & Age)
- "Blowback" (Imploding the Mirage)
- "Read My Mind" (Sam's Town)
- "Dying Breed" (Imploding the Mirage)
- "Caution" (Imploding the Mirage)
- "A Dustland Fairytale" (Day & Age)
- "Somebody Told Me" (Hot Fuss)
- "Mr. Brightside" (Hot Fuss)
- "All These Things That I've Done" (Hot Fuss)