The Beatles Once Played Two Nights in Queens—60 Years Later The Killers Pay Tribute at Same Venue

In 1964, the Beatles played two nights at the Queens, New York venue Forest Hills Stadium. 60 years later, at that same venue, the Killers paid tribute to the influential band with a cover of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” during their own two-night run.

Frontman Brandon Flowers addressed the crowd before the band kicked off the first show on September 14. “Some of you might know the history of the place,” he said, adding, “When we think about that historic Beatles performance at Shea Stadium, that was in 1965. But in 1964, 60 years ago, the Beatles did two nights here at Forest Hills. We thought that we would pay our respects. I don’t think there’s a person here that wasn’t influenced by them in some way or another. Here you go.”

The Killers broke out a new cover of “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which they’ve never performed before, according to a report from NME. Previously, they’ve covered “Helter Skelter,” “Get Back,” “In My Life,” “Michelle,” and “When I’m Sixty-Four.” However, the band decided to do something new for the meaningful show.

When the Beatles played Forest Hills in 1964, they had just released “I Want to Hold Your Hand” the year earlier. Naturally, it was a big part of their two-night run at the Queens venue. In addition to the Beatles tribute, the Killers also played all their hits like “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me,” weaving in another cover of Erasure’s “A Little Respect” as well.

[RELATED: The Killers Kick Off ‘Hot Fuss’ Las Vegas Residency, Debut New Song “Bright Lights”]

The Killers Recently Played Las Vegas Residency Celebrating 20 Years of Hot Fuss

The Killers recently closed their 10-night Las Vegas residency celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album Hot Fuss. They played the album in full every night, giving fans a unique experience that included all the bonus tracks as well. The band also debuted their newest single, “Bright Lights,” during the run.

Around mid-August, the Killers took to the The Colosseum at Caesars Palace to celebrate. They played some songs live for the first time in years, including “Everything Will Be Alright,” which they hadn’t played since they were on the Hot Fuss Tour in 2004. Additionally, the band hadn’t played the song “Believe Me Natalie” in six years, but they broke it out for the anniversary shows.

The band included the U.S. track “Change Your Mind,” which was replaced with “Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll” on the U.K. version of the album. They also debuted their newest single since December’s “Spirit,” titled “Bright Lights.” The euphoric track is immersive and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the aesthetics of Las Vegas in sound, but also in the music video.

Featured Image by Chris Phelps