Dave Keuning

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Dave Keuning bigraphy, stories - Musician, songwriter

Dave Keuning : biography

28 March 1976 –

David Brent Keuning better known as Dave Keuning (born March 28, 1976) is a founding member of the American alternative rock band The Killers. He is the band’s lead guitarist and backup vocalist.

The Killers

The band began when Keuning placed an ad in the Las Vegas Weekly which read: "Seeking musicians for all original band. Influences: Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, Bowie, Radiohead."Longobardy, Joshua. Las Vegas Weekly. Feb 15, 2007.Third Page, First Paragraph. Shortly, Brandon Flowers answered the ad and the two began practicing and writing together only to be joined by the other two band members. Their first demos included the hit "Mr. Brightside" which Keuning wrote the guitar to before meeting Brandon Flowers. The Killers Bio VH1.com The Killers have sold more than 20 million records worldwide including four consecutive No. 1 albums in the UK.

Keuning was featured in Guitarist magazine in May 2009Crompton, Jamie. Guitarist May 2009 Iss. and Guitar World in February 2009,Bosso, Joe. Guitar World Magazine. March 26, 2009. Guitar Player in January 2008 and February 2010, and Guitar Aficionado in January 2013.

In October 2010 his guitar riff in "Mr. Brightside" was voted at number 9 in Total Guitar’s 50 greatest riffs of the 21st Century so far.http://www.gigwise.com/news/58746/Muse-Dominate-Best-Guitar-Riff-Poll

Playing style

He is noted as a guitarist for playing anthemic and soaring solos in addition to sweetened and often percussive style playing frequently compared to contemporaries The Edge and Johnny Marr. Dave 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.

Influences

Dave Keuning cites influences such as The Edge of U2, Robert Smith, Bernard Sumner, Billy Corgan, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, George Harrison, Angus Young, and Mick Mars.

Personal life

Keuning was born and brought up in Pella, Iowa. Dave Keuning started to play guitar just before entering Pella Community High School where he played in the jazz band. In 2000 he moved to Las Vegas. Biographicon: Dave Keuning Guitar Player Magazine Feb 2010 Iss. He found work at the Banana Republic store in The Venetian Hotel and Casino on The Strip. Dave has one son, Kyler Keuning who was born in 2005. Dave currently spends his time between his homes in San Diego and Las Vegas.

Other Work

In 2010 he featured on band mate Brandon Flowers’ solo album Flamingo, performing the guitar solo on track 1 "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas".

In 2012 he collaborated with San Diego duo We Are Hyena, playing guitar on their track "Wander".http://www.richhappyfamous.com/music/2012/6/16/we-are-hyena-wander-feat-dave-keuning-of-the-killers.html

Equipment

Guitars http://www.thekillersfansite.com/article%20pics/guitarist%20magazine%20may2009/ggd3.jpg

  • Gibson ES-335
  • Fender Starcaster
  • Ibanez Destroyer
  • Gibson Flying V
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom
  • Fender Stratocaster
  • Gibson J45
  • Ibanez AE Classical Guitar

Guitars are tuned down 1/2 step from standard. Drop-Db tuning for both versions of the song Sam’s Town and the recorded version of Tranquilize.

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 DD6 Digital Delay, MXR Phase 100 (x2), Electro Harmonix Keeley Mod Big Muff Pi, Ibanez AD99 Keeley Mod Delay, Ibanez AC99 Keeley Mod Chorus, Digitech Whammy, TRex RoommSpate Reverb, and Buff Puff Boost. And for the acoustic: Fishman Aura Classical Pedal, Fishman Aura Dreadnought Pedal

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

Amplifiers

  • Fender Deville 2×12" (x2)
  • Hiwatt DG103 Head and Hiwatt 4×12" Speaker Cabinet

NOTE: Hiwatt currently are one of Keuning’s sponsors. Hiwatt Website: Artists