More than two decades after its release, The Killers’ hit song “Mr. Brightside” continues to make history and collect accolades. This week, the American alternative rock band received two Guinness World Records for the extraordinary chart success of their iconic single in the United Kingdom.
“Mr. Brightside” has now spent a staggering 416 weeks — and counting — on the Official U.K. Singles Chart. This achievement has earned it the titles for the longest stay on the singles survey by a group and the most cumulative weeks on the U.K. chart for any one song, according to Guinness World Records.
Earlier this year, the track was also recognized as the biggest-ever single in the U.K. that had never reached No. 1. Originating from Las Vegas, The Killers were first discovered by and signed to U.K. independent label Lizard King, and quickly found a dedicated fanbase in Britain. “Mr. Brightside” was initially released in 2003 in a limited-edition 500 CD run, and reissued in May 2004, peaking at No. 10 on the charts.
The song’s enduring popularity is further evidenced by its recognition as one of the U.K.’s top three singles for combined units (sales and streams) and among the top five most-streamed tracks.
“It’s infectious still to us,” frontman Brandon Flowers told GWR. “I know some people can’t wrap their head around it, but you’ll see the response [when you see it live]. It’s tough not to be touched by it or be excited by it, and there’s going to be people tonight who’ve never seen it live, there’ll be some people who’ve seen it 45 times. And we just don’t get tired of it.”
Indeed, it seems no one has tired of the song. Recently, The Killers were inducted into the SoundExchange Hall of Fame, recognized for their status as one of the most-streamed acts in the organization’s 21-year history.
The Killers are currently completing a six-night stand at London’s O2 arena, part of a tour of the U.K. and Europe that runs through mid-July. They will return to the U.S. for festival appearances at Lollapalooza and Outside Lands before kicking off an August residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, with additional North American festival dates through September.
—
Photo Credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com