The Killers on Bono, cover albums and career breaks

The Killers have been talking about their much-vaunted covers record and Hot Press’ suggestion that it’s bound to include a healthy smattering of Duran Duran, Joy Divison, Oasis, New Order, Pet Shop Boys and The Cars songs.
“You could be right about some of those, although if we do go ahead with a covers album there'll be plenty of surprises in there as well,” guitarist Dave Keuning told Hot Press backstage at their Dublin O2 show last night. “We’ve half-recorded one or two, but if and when it’ll come to fruition I don’t know. We’ve talked about doing it on the road – we’ve a couple of mics, a little drum-set, a bass amp and a guitar amp in the back right now, and Ronnie and me both know how to use Logic – so maybe.”
Even by their exalted standards, it’s been a good week for The Killers with Brandon taking part in the Brit Awards tribute to the Pet Shop Boys and then afterwards all four of them performing at the War Child 15th birthday party in the Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
“It was us first doing eight songs followed by Coldplay who also did half a set, and then we all came back for the encore, which also featured Bono and Gary Barlow.”
Were they familiar with Take That prior to the War Child bash?
“I knew Take That and their hit song, ‘Back For Good’, but not the individual names of the members,” Dave admits. “Having Bono sing ‘I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier’ during ‘All These Things That I Have Done’, which was the last song played, was the most surreal thing that’s ever happened to us. Bono, Coldplay and The Killers – not a bad little band!”
Did Bono hit his notes okay?
“He didn’t let the side down, no, and added a few lyrics of his own that he wanted to incorporate. We had a little practice backstage beforehand, so it wasn’t as scary as it might’ve been!”
In an interview that will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Hot Press, Keuning also revealed that The Killers may be taking a prolonged career break.
“That’s what we’re talking about right now. I imagine we’ll be touring Day & Age until mid-2010, and we’re then for sure going to take a year off – maybe longer, we’ll see. We had six months off after Sam’s Town, three weeks of which I go to spend at home in San Diego, so it’d be nice to go on an extended vacation.”