Dave Keuning
David Brent Keuning (born March 28, 1976) is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the rock band the Killers, which he founded alongside frontman Brandon Flowers in 2001 and with whom he has recorded six studio albums. Keuning played every show with the Killers since its inception up until the show at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August 2017. From 2017 to the end of 2020, Keuning was on hiatus from the band.
Dave Keuning

Hillary Lipko · English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5
- Born
- 1976. · Pella.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- guitarist, singer and musician.
- Fields
- indie rock.
- Education
- Chaminade College Preparatory School.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
David Brent Keuning (born March 28, 1976) is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the rock band the Killers, which he founded alongside frontman Brandon Flowers in 2001 and with whom he has recorded six studio albums. Keuning played every show with the Killers since its inception up until the show at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August 2017. From 2017 to the end of 2020, Keuning was on hiatus from the band.
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Dave Keuning (born 1976) is a guitarist, musician and singer, of American nationality.
The guitarist was educated at Chaminade College Preparatory School. Dave Keuning is a member of The Killers.
The work spans indie rock. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2312688 · wikipedia · Dave Keuning
In this article
Personal life
Personal life
He returned to the Killers to assist in recording their 2021 album Pressure Machine. Keuning released two solo albums titled Prismism (2019) and A Mild Case of Everything (2021) under his surname Keuning.
Keuning was born and brought up in Pella, Iowa, to Charles and Sandra Keuning. His parents owned and operated a plumbing business. He has one older brother, Kevin Keuning. He started to play guitar just before entering Pella Community High School where he played in the jazz band. In his senior year the group won state champions class 3A. In 2000 Keuning moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. He found work at the Banana Republic store in The Venetian Hotel and Casino on The Strip. Keuning married Emilie Keuning on October 20, 2018. They live in Los Angeles, California.
Career
Career
Keuning placed an ad in the local Las Vegas Weekly looking to form a band, mentioning Oasis as one of his influences. Brandon Flowers, who shared Keuning's love of groups such as New Order and the Cure, answered it, only to have Keuning promptly hand him a TASCAM-recorded four-track demo of "Mr. Brightside". Keuning announced in August 2017 that he would not be joining the band to tour in supporting their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful, although he would remain a member of the group. Keuning did not contribute to The Killers' sixth album, Imploding the Mirage, but joined the band again in studio in early 2021 to work on their seventh album, Pressure Machine and their 2023–24 greatest hits album and tour "Rebel Diamonds". He debuted his solo music with the release of his first single "Restless Legs" under the moniker Keuning. The assemblage of new music, created by Keuning in his San Diego home studio, was taken from hundreds of voice memos that he stockpiled while on tour with the Killers over the previous decade that evolved into songs. Keuning's debut album, Prismism, was released on January 25, 2019, and is a collection of 14 tracks with almost all instruments played by Keuning himself.
Playing style
Playing style
Keuning is noted as a guitarist for playing anthemic and soaring solos in addition to sweetened and often percussive style playing frequently. He 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. Keuning was featured in Guitarist magazine in May 2009 and Guitar World in February 2009, Guitar Player in January 2008 and February 2010, and Guitar Aficionado in January 2013. In 2010, Keuning's guitar riff in "Mr. Brightside" was voted at number 9 in Total Guitar's 50 greatest riffs of the 21st Century so far.
Equipment
Equipment
Guitars Gibson ES-335 Fender Starcaster Ibanez Destroyer Gibson Flying V Gibson SG Gibson Les Paul Custom Fender Stratocaster Gretsch White Falcon Fender Jaguar Fender Telecaster Songhurst J.E.T. Doubletone Yamaha Revstar Gibson J45 Acoustic Ibanez AE Classical Guitar Gibson Explorer Fender Jazz Bass Fender Jazz Bass Fretless 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 DD3 Digital Delay Boss DD6 Digital Delay Boss DD7 Digital Delay MXR Phase 100 (x2) MXR Phase 90 Electro Harmonix Keeley Mod Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker Electro Harmonix Green Russian Sovtek Big Muff V7C Ibanez AD99 Keeley Mod Delay Ibanez AC99 Keeley Mod Chorus DigiTech WH-5 Whammy V DigiTech Whammy DT TRex RoommSpate Reverb Buff Puff Boost Fishman Aura Classical Pedal (for acoustic guitars) Fishman Aura Dreadnought Pedal (for acoustic guitars) Strymon Sunset Dual Overdrive (since 2018) Strymon BigSky Multi-Reverb (since 2018) Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster (since 2018) Eventide ModFactor Multi-Modulation Retro Sonic Stereo Chorus Source Audio Programmable EQ Tone Freak Abunai 2 Overdrive Ernie Ball Volume Dunlop JP95 John Petrucci Signature CryBaby Wah Wah Synthesizers: Korg MicroKORG (on Prismism) Yamaha PSR-6 Portatone (on Prismism) Picks: Dunlop Nylon – 0.60mm, 0.73mm, 1.00mm Amplifiers Fender Deville 2x12" (x2) Hiwatt DG103 Head and Hiwatt 4x12" Speaker Cabinet Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Matchless DC-30 (since 2015) Fender Bassbreaker Combo Amp Fender Mustang GTX100 Combo Amp NOTE: Hiwatt currently are one of Keuning's sponsors.
With the Killers
With the Killers
Hot Fuss (2004) Sam's Town (2006) Day & Age (2008) Battle Born (2012) Wonderful Wonderful (2017) Pressure Machine (2021) Compilations: Sawdust (2007) Direct Hits (2013) Don't Waste Your Wishes (2016) Rebel Diamonds (2023)
Keuning
Keuning
Prismism (Thirty Tigers, 2019) A Mild Case of Everything (Pretty Faithful Records, 2021) Other appearances "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" – Brandon Flowers (2010) "Wander" – We Are Hyena (2012) "This Is a Joke" (2014) – Bombay Heavy "Clouds Pretend" – The Hunt (2014) "Heavy Hand," "Goodbye Cambridge" – Blackout Balter (2016)

The Killers at the O2 arena, London
Jessica Melling from England · The Killers
Dave Keuning @ Park Live Festival, VVC (All-Russia Exhibition Centre), Moscow, 29.06.2013
Denhud
Influences
Keuning's influences include rock bands such as Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins and the Cure, as well as more synth-driven acts like Duran Duran, New Order, Depeche Mode and OMD.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Keene, Jarret. The Killers: Destiny is Calling Me. Manic D Press. June 2, 2024. 978-1-933149-10-3.
- 2.Krol, Charlotte. "I regret not doing it a lot sooner": The Killers' Dave Keuning tells us about his debut solo album 'Prismism'. NME. October 12, 2018.
- 3.Remembering the life of Sandy Keuning. obituaries.pellachronicle.com.
- 4.https://web.archive.org/web/20100110045632/http://www.biographicon.com/view/x3d7j Biographicon: Dave Keuning
- 5."The Killers' Dave Keuning", Guitar Player, February 2010 issue.
- 6.Dave Keuning is back with The Killers and has a new solo album: 'It's the best of both worlds'. San Diego Union-Tribune. 2021-06-20.
- 7.Hoberman, Natalie. In L.A.’s Outpost Estates, This Rockstar’s $14 Million Home Strikes A Killer Chord. Forbes.
- 8.Longobardy, Joshua. "When he was young" Las Vegas Weekly. February 15, 2007. Third Page, First Paragraph.
- 9.https://web.archive.org/web/20040620173356/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/killers_the/bio.jhtml The Killers Bio VH1.com
- 10.Killers Guitarist Dave Keuning Announces Touring Break. August 28, 2017.
- 11.The Killers reunite with guitarist Dave Keuning in studio for band's new album. NME. January 25, 2021.
- 12.Crompton, Jamie. "Dave Keuning Interview: Serial Killer" Guitarist May 2009 Iss.
- 13.Bosso, Joe. "The Killers: All Killer No Filler" Guitar World Magazine. March 26, 2009.
- 14.Muse Dominate Best Guitar Riff Poll. GIGWISE.com.
- 15.Argyrakis, Andy. The Killers' Dave Keuning drops 'A Mild Case of Everything', looks on the 'Mr. Brightside'. Chicago Concert Reviews. June 25, 2021.
- 16.Archived copy.
- 17.Hiwatt Genuine Amplifiers UK.
- 18.Killers Guitarist Dave Keuning Announces New Solo LP 'A Mild Case of Everything'. Rolling Stone. April 21, 2021.
- 19.Dave Keuning: 'The Killers Started Because I Lost My Job'.
- 20.RHF – Music – We Are Hyena- Wander (Feat. Dave Keuning of The Killers).
- 21.Bombay Heavy – This Is A Joke, by BOMBAY HEAVY. Bombay Heavy.
- 22.Clouds Pretend (featuring Dave Keuning Of THE KILLERS).
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2312688: Dave KeuningWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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