We have to start this piece by clarifying that no one is accusing any member of the Killers, or their current touring set up, of sexual abuse. The claim refers to an old group used during a 2009 tour.
In 2018 a woman using the pseudonym Chez Cherrie reported how she had once been the only female member of a touring crew for a band who remain unnamed. She told a story of sexual abuse, which we will repeat below and which you might want to skip. She explained how she regrets not speaking out or taking action, and now she has republished the piece and named the tour: The Killers, in 2009. Again, not the band, behind the scenes crew. Seemingly a lot of the behind the scenes crew.
Here is her account: “We were about half way through our load-in when the FOH engineer came over radio and said, ‘Hey guys, there is a girl set up in Dressing Room A. Put your name on the list outside the door with your radio channel and we’ll call you when it’s your turn.’… “I continued my load out, occasionally hearing a name come over the radio to notify them that it was their turn on the train in Dressing Room A.”
The men who had visited the woman bragged of their experiences. Then, as the tour prepared to leave: “The security guy said, and I will never forget this moment because a piece of me died that night, ‘That girl in Dressing Room A is passed out and naked. Is anyone going to take care of her?'” The crew laughed, did nothing and left
“I cried that night in my bunk,” Cherrie said. “I should’ve left the tour. I should’ve spoken up for that woman. I should’ve defended her… and made sure she was okay.”
The Killers and their management have reacted strongly by promising a full investigation into how this happened: “First and foremost, any allegations of inappropriate behaviour by anyone on The Killers touring team are taken extremely seriously by the band and their management… This person’s story is appalling and, while The Killers do not have the same touring crew in 2020 that they had earlier in their career, they will be conducting a thorough investigation into past and present tour staff.
“Their legal team will be reaching out to this person for more information and clarity on the alleged incidents as detailed, as well as to the audio vendor who provided crew for the tour… The band are astonished and shocked by these claims. The behaviour attributed to them and their crew is unrecognisable and in direct opposition to the principles with which they run their workplace.”
It is entirely possible this is the start of live Music’s MeToo movement.
Anyone affected by this story can contact Rape Crisis England & Wales, 0808 802 9999; Samaritans (open 24 hours a day), 116 123 or Survivors Trust, 0808 801 0818
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