The Kills

The Kills
Name	The Kills
Background	group_or_band
Origin	New York City, United Kingdom
Genres	Indie rock, Garage rock revival, Post-punk revival
Years active	2000–2020s
Labels	Domino Recording Company, Independent record label
Associated acts	The Dead Weather, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Raconteurs

The Kills are an Anglo-American rock duo formed in the early 2000s notable for a stripped-down two-piece lineup, a raw aesthetic, and a catalog spanning indie and garage rock scenes. Comprised of an American vocalist-guitarist and a British drummer, the group rose through independent labels and underground venues to influence peers across United Kingdom and United States alternative circuits. Their career intersected with prominent artists, festivals, and media outlets while contributing to revivalist movements in the 21st-century rock landscape.

History

Formed in the early 2000s after members relocated between New York City, London, and Portsmouth, England, the duo emerged from scenes tied to venues like CBGB and collectives around Rough Trade and Sub Pop; early associations included appearances alongside Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Interpol, and The Strokes. Their debut EP and subsequent albums were released on independent labels such as Domino Recording Company and circulated through networks involving NME, Spin (magazine), Pitchfork, and BBC Radio 1, which helped secure festival slots at Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, and Primavera Sound. Over successive releases they collaborated or toured with artists connected to The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, Queens of the Stone Age, and producers who worked with Mark Ronson, James Mercer, and engineers associated with Abbey Road Studios and Electric Lady Studios. Lineup stability contrasted with frequent guest contributors drawn from scenes around Manchester, Liverpool, Los Angeles, and Paris, while legal and label negotiations involved entities such as Universal Music Group distributors and independent promoters tied to Live Nation and AEG Presents.

Musical Style and Influences

The duo's sound blends elements from Garage rock revival, Post-punk revival, and blues-inflected rock, drawing on influences linked to artists like Howlin' Wolf, MC5, The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, and PJ Harvey. Their minimalist approach invoked comparisons to the duos and trios of The White Stripes, Big Pink, and acts associated with Stax Records and Sun Records production aesthetics; critics referenced production techniques popularized by engineers at Motown Records and arrangements reminiscent of The Kinks and The Doors. Vocals and guitar textures show lineage to songwriters such as Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave, while rhythmic sensibilities echo drummers from The Clash and Joy Division sessions; the band cited influences from regional scenes in Memphis, Detroit, London, and New Orleans.

Discography

Studio albums include early releases that found placement on charts tracked by Billboard, UK Albums Chart, and coverage in Melody Maker and Rolling Stone. Key albums were promoted through singles, limited-edition vinyl on labels tied to Domino Recording Company and independent distributors used by Rough Trade Records, with promotional cycles involving sessions for BBC Radio 6 Music and appearances on programs produced by KEXP and MTV. Their catalog spans LPs, EPs, and soundtrack contributions that appeared in film and television projects associated with festivals like SXSW, placements in series on networks such as HBO, Netflix, and licensing deals negotiated with companies linked to Sony Music Entertainment and indie music supervisors.

Band Members and Collaborators

Core members consist of an American-born vocalist-guitarist with prior activity in New York City underground bands and a British-born drummer rooted in Portsmouth and London scenes; both maintained side projects and collaborations with musicians from The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, Arctic Monkeys, and Primal Scream. Session contributors and touring members included artists connected to studios like Sun Studio, producers affiliated with Danger Mouse, and engineers who worked with David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Collaborations extended to photographers, video directors, and visual artists who exhibited at galleries in Chelsea, Manhattan, Shoreditch, and Le Marais, and to mixers associated with Abbey Road Studios and mastering houses in Berlin and Los Angeles.

Live Performances and Tours

Their live profile was shaped by headline club tours in venues such as The Garage (London), Terminal 5 (New York City), and festival stages at Glastonbury Festival and Coachella, and support slots on tours with The Strokes, Interpol, and Arctic Monkeys. Performances received coverage in publications including NME, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian, and radio sessions for BBC Radio 1 and KEXP boosted international touring across Europe, North America, and Australia. Production values favored lo-fi backline setups and tight two-piece arrangements, with guest musicians joining on extended festival bills alongside acts from Primavera Sound, Lollapalooza, and Reading and Leeds Festivals.

Reception and Legacy

Critics from Pitchfork, NME, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian noted the pair's influence on subsequent indie and garage revival acts, while musicians from The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, Vampire Weekend, and Kasabian cited them in interviews. Their aesthetic informed fashion and advertising collaborations with brands that worked with photographers for Vogue, Dazed & Confused, and campaigns run through agencies in London and New York City. Retrospectives in music histories and documentaries about 21st-century rock placed their work alongside movements traced through Sub Pop, Domino Recording Company, and festival circuits like SXSW and Glastonbury Festival, underscoring a legacy in independent rock discourse.

Category:Indie rock groups Category:Garage rock revival groups