An investigation conducted by rock band The Killers into allegations of sexual abuse by their crew during a 2009 tour found no evidence of assault.
A female sound engineer, who goes by Chez Cherrie on Twitter, shared a 2018 blog post to her account where she claimed that members of the band’s crew took advantage of a woman in a dressing room in Milwaukee.
None of the band members, including Mormon lead singer Brandon Flowers, were implicated in the alleged assault and a ‘thorough investigation into past and present tour staff’ was conducted last week.
The band’s legal team Reynolds & Associates yesterday released a statement stating that the ‘serious accusations of sexual misconduct and a sexual assault backstage at the Rave in 2009 were discovered to be entirely unfounded’.
An investigation conducted by rock band The Killers into allegations of sexual abuse made by a former sound engineer found no evidence of assault. Pictured: Band members at the time (left to right) Dave Keuning, Brandon Flowers, Ronnie Vannucci Jr. and Mark Stoermer
The female sound engineer, who goes by Chez Cherrie on Twitter, shared a 2018 blog post to her account
The female sound engineer, who goes by Chez Cherrie on Twitter, shared a 2018 blogpost to her account detailing the incident and sharing how the culture was misogynistic on tour
The Killers ‘expressed regret that the temporary crew member was made to feel unsafe and bullied’ and pledged make changes to the process of reporting bullying or assault for future tours.
In her blog post, Cherrie – who worked for the band’s crew for three weeks – detailed how the ‘misogyny crept in slow’ during her time on the tour in 2009.
And she told how in one instance an ‘obviously blacked out, or close to it’ woman was abused by a number of the tour’s crew, before being left naked and unconscious in a dressing room.
The revelations were in stark contrast to the band’s squeaky-clean image. Devout frontman Flowers has spoken publicly about his clean-living ways, and how he avoids drugs, alcohol and smoking.
In her tweet, Cherrie wrote: ‘Trigger warning. This is my story. I was a tech for the largest sound company in the world working for one of the biggest bands in the world (still).
‘I’ve never had any sort of justice. I wonder about her all the time. Please share my story about my time with THE KILLERS.’
She then tweeted a link to her blog post, originally written in 2018, which detailed the alleged encounter at the Eagles Ballroom at the Rave in Milwaukee.
It read: ‘We were about half way through our load-in when [a voice] came over [the] 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.’
Cherrie replied to the statement on Twitter and stated: ‘After reading through the Killers’ press release regarding my blog, I have conflicting feelings
None of the band members (pictured in 2006) were implicated in the alleged assault
Cherrie added that she hadn’t thought much at first of the incident, believing the woman to be a ‘consenting adult,’ who had no qualms being with that many men – some of which were ‘happily married with children.’
The sound engineer would wind down for the night, hoping that ‘the disgusting behavior would be out of the guys’ systems.’
‘Unfortunately, that was not the case. Everyone was swapping stories about this woman and their experiences with her. They talked about her intoxication level, yet had no qualms that she was obviously blacked out, or close to it,’ she said.
‘They made fun of one of the hired guns because he had made out with the woman when he was third in line. They called him a homo because he had made out with her post blowing other guys. I just tried to ignore what was going on.’
She said that as they were departing a security guard ran toward the bus.
‘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?”’
Cherrie alleged that male members of the crew simply laughed and refused to help before shutting the door.
She added: ‘The security guy looked down at his shoes and the bus pulled away, and part of my heart blackened and fell to the floor.
‘I cried that night in my bunk. 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.’
At the time of the alleged incident, the Las Vegas group were fronted by singer Brandon Flowers alongside guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
Besides the incident in the dressing room, Cherrie detailed the misogyny that she experienced while working with the band.
Sharing that she was the only woman working for the band, Cherrie noted that men working in the crew first started making crude jokes and inappropriate comments towards her.
Cherrie detailed being reprimanded for making a series of work-related comments that her male-counterparts had also made and were not scolded for.
The reprimanding became so bad and frequent, that one particular lashing resulted in Cherrie fleeing to the tour bus so that she could bawl her eyes out.
She added: ‘I remember one of the backline techs consoling me and telling me not to worry about it, that the FOH guy was always a d***… I couldn’t help but think, why wasn’t he a d*** to everyone else? Why was he only a d*** and verbally abusive to me on the daily?’
She said on Twitter: ‘Trigger warning. This is my story. I was a tech for the largest sound company in the world working for one of the biggest bands in the world (still)’
Cherrie described the bus as being ‘unsafe’ roughly a week into the tour, recalling how band members would exploit drunken groupies they brought on the bus.
‘It was like a sport to them,’ she said in the post. ‘They clued the audio crew into a special that they had going on. If we trolled for chicks for them, made sure we checked IDs and the girls would come backstage with the unspoken arrangement that they would blow a band member, we could get a $50 bonus.
‘Even more, if the girl would get naked and shower for one particular member, we would get an extra $50.’
Refusing to take part in the trolling, Cherrie said that incidents like that before the dressing room fiasco added to the culture that was prevalent while touring with the band.
The statement from the band’s legal team said that most of the information Cherrie received was from other people, and she did not see any of the events she speaks about first-hand.
They said the $50 alleged bonus scheme was nothing but a joke based on touring legends from decades prior, Pitchfork report.
They said the claim about a list outside a dressing room door was a prank by an engineer who was fired in 2013.
They said the engineer – who previously made inappropriate and sexist comments – made the claims to the sound engineers’ radio channel. The dressing rooms were not labelled alphabetically, they added.
The woman mentioned in the allegations – who was located by the legal team – denied that she was ever left alone in a dressing room and ‘did not experience, witness or hear about a sexual assault’.
She was given ‘after show’ passes by the aforementioned engineer.
The statement read: ‘The guest in question confirmed that she and her friend were backstage after the show, did not witness any “train” or “line up,” nor were they left behind in the dressing rooms at the venue. She stated that she and the same friend attended 2009 Lollapalooza festival later that year on the band’s production guest list.’
Cherrie replied to the statement on Twitter and stated: ‘After reading through the Killers’ press release regarding my blog, I have conflicting feelings.
‘First, I am grateful that they, as an organization, have taken my experience seriously and were moved to internally investigate and potentially lead the industry in a restorative manner so this never happens again.’
She added: ‘I hope that this moment is a learning experience for the entire industry and that we are able to come together in a comprehensive manner to have these discussions that are so long overdue.
‘I hope that we are able to work together to develop a framework of reporting mistreatment and harassment that protects workers and fans and demands accountability of the people in power.’
Following Cherrie’s tweet, a legal representative for the band told MailOnline: ‘First and foremost, any allegations of inappropriate behavior 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 behavior attributed to them and their crew is unrecognizable and in direct opposition to the principles with which they run their workplace.’
The sound engineer posted grabs of her Facebook to Twitter to show that she was working for the band at the times mentioned in her blog post
Flowers has has previously spoken about how he was tempted by alcohol in the bands early days, but gave up the booze after his wedding in 2005 – years before the alleged tour incident in 2009.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2007, he said: ‘I grew up reading all these stories about David Bowie getting loaded in the 70s. It all sounded so great. Suddenly, I was confronted with those things every day. The women, the drink, the drugs… I’m not going to pretend it was easy to deal with. It was a dilemma for me.
‘It was more about drink for me. I mean, being in a band is very much like being a permanent adolescent. So, yes, I’d drink alcohol. People would ask me how all that fitted in with my Mormon faith.
‘Well, I happen to belong to a very tolerant gathering. In any case, I’ve put all that behind me now. I’m a clean machine.’
Included in the grabs were photos from when she actually worked on tour
Cherrie shares a card from the Eagles Ballroom at the Rave in Milwaukee, where the assault allegedly took place
STATEMENT FROM THE KILLERS’ LEGAL TEAM
‘The Killers’ Legal Team conducted a thorough investigation into all allegations including a lengthy interview with the former temporary crew member who brought them forward. She shared all of her recollections with us and we are very appreciative of her time. The Killers and their Tour Management found these allegations to be heartbreaking and instructed their Legal Team to investigate them vigorously. We are confident in our findings and express our thanks to everyone who spent time giving testimony.
‘What follows is a summary of the testimony obtained in regards to each allegation and the process by which the Legal Team were able to investigate each one. The Killers and their Tour Management requested that these findings be clearly detailed here in order that their friends, family and fans can be secure in the knowledge that the serious accusations of sexual misconduct and a sexual assault backstage at the Rave in 2009 were discovered to be entirely unfounded.
‘It was confirmed that the audio technician who made the allegation joined The Killers’ crew in 2009 for a period of three weeks beginning in April. Crew members from that leg of the tour, the band, Tour Management, Production and Band Assistants, third party vendors, short-term contracted audio crew, Venue Staff and Security, Catering Crew, and guests of the touring party from the venue in Milwaukee were contacted for testimony.
‘It was established that this temporary audio technician received much of the information she shared from a second or third hand source. She confirmed that she did not witness the alleged events herself. It was confirmed that she did not interact with any band members on the tour, nor could she recall ever coming into contact with the Tour Management team or (female) Production and Band Assistant. She was unable to identify who the Tour Management team were at the time but was able to identify her immediate superiors in the Production Crew and some of her crew colleagues.
‘The Legal Team were able to establish that a former front of house (FOH) Engineer for the band – who was responsible to direct the audio crew and therefore one of her superiors – was a problematic workmate. He was identified by several of the crew in attendance as such and it was confirmed that his treatment of others on the tour was frequently deemed unfair by those who witnessed it. It was the Legal Team’s assessment that a pattern of poor management by this person, and a series of sexist remarks and rude comments, caused the female crew member on the audio team great distress. This type of behavior is considered unacceptable by The Killers and their team. This FOH Engineer was terminated from the touring team in 2013.
‘It was not verified but assessed as feasible that the purported “bonus” or “incentive” system was discussed in front of the female audio crew member during her time on the tour. She did not hear anything of this purported system from any of the musicians or from Tour Management. She was unable to specify which musician this “bonus” system was provided for, and stated that she did not see any “bonus” system exchange in action during her time with the band. It was asserted to the Legal Team by everyone interviewed, including multiple crew members that the idea of the band paying them extra to “bring back girls” or “have one waiting in the shower” etc. was an in-joke based upon urban legends of tours from an earlier era – i.e. roadie folklore – and not something any of them actually did, were ever asked to do, or ever attempted to do. It was confirmed by the band members themselves that this was not anything any of them had ever done. The allegation of a girl being brought to the tour bus as a “birthday treat” for one of the band members could not be corroborated. None of the band members – or the additional touring musicians who joined them on that run – have birthdays in the time frame the female audio technician was with the tour. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we appreciate that this former (temporary) crew member brought her concerns about these rumors to our attention.
‘It was confirmed via touring records that the band and additional touring musicians were divided evenly between two buses. No Flowers family members were present on the tour. It could not be corroborated that any band member or touring musician ever spent time on the crew bus. The temporary crew member who made the allegations was unable to identify any specific band member as being present on the crew bus. The band, and additional touring musicians on the road with them at that time, asserted they did not enter the crew bus at any time. None of the attending tour party could recall ever seeing a band member on a crew bus. One of the touring musicians from that time passed away in 2012 but the Legal Team was unable to find any witness to him being present on the crew bus.
‘It was established that the radio transmissions about a ‘line up’ in ‘Dressing Room A’ was broadcast by the aforementioned FOH Engineer on the audio team’s radio channel only. The rest of the touring party – including band and Tour Management – did not hear this broadcast. This was reported to the Legal Team by crew members who heard it as being FOH engineer’s attempt at a joke or a “hazing” – either directed at members of the audio crew, who were busy loading out outside the venue, or for the entertainment of guests he had invited to the show and were with him at the time of his broadcast.
‘It could not be corroborated that there was ever a list placed on any door or any ‘line up’ or ‘train’ in any dressing room. In provided statements, staff from the venue in question noted that dressing rooms are not, and have never been, labeled alphabetically, and at that time the dressing rooms were interconnected and without doors. It was also established via all crew and Tour Management that upon arrival in any venue the dressing rooms are uniformly labeled with the band’s names. They do not alphabetize the dressing rooms and they are never referred to alphabetically on radio or otherwise. Venue Security asserted that no one from the venue chased down a departing bus or raised concerns about a drunk, naked girl in the dressing room. Venue Catering asserted that they visited all dressing rooms several times throughout the day and evening in order to replenish drinks, food and clear up. They asserted that at no point did they see or hear of a drunk or naked woman in any dressing room and anything of the sort would have been immediately radioed to all attending Production Crew and Venue Security.
‘Via touring records the Legal Team were able to trace the woman from the Milwaukee show’s guest list who was furnished with “after show” passes from the FOH Engineer and confirm with her that she did not experience, witness or hear about a sexual assault. The temporary audio technician indicated to us in her interview she strongly believed it was this female guest of the FOH Engineer who had been left “drunk and naked” in a dressing room. The guest in question confirmed that she and her friend were backstage after the show, did not witness any ‘train’ or ‘line up,’ nor were they left behind in the dressing rooms at the venue. She stated that she and the same friend attended 2009 Lollapalooza festival later that year on the band’s production guest list.
‘The band’s longtime Assistant Tour Manager (2008 – 2019) asserted that she had never heard anything so shocking in relation to touring with the band. She stated she had never felt unsafe or witnessed any behavior that would cause her to question the integrity of the band or crew. Tour Management asserted that as unofficial policy no one has ever knowingly been left behind in a dressing room in distress. The production would not depart a venue without making sure dressing rooms were clear. They asserted that anyone found disorientated or intoxicated would be helped home and they have in the past enlisted local Venue Security to provide care for guests who required any assistance.
‘All crew and Touring Management asserted that nothing as alleged had ever been witnessed – or rumored – on any of The Killers tours, in Milwaukee in 2009 or at any other time. This particular allegation was deeply disturbing to everyone on the touring team and they unanimously stated that they would have neither ignored nor forgotten an event of this nature.
‘The Legal Team were unable to find any corroboration whatsoever of a sexual assault at the Milwaukee venue. They request that if there is anyone with corroborating information of an event as described in the allegation to please contact them. Privacy will be respected.
‘It was ascertained that The Killers very frequently have women working with them in various roles, including on the 2009 tour. Specific to the 2009 tour, some of the touring crew recalled that vulgar language was sometimes used and that crass jokes were made and perpetuated on occasion. They asserted that this behavior could be attributed to a small faction of crew and not the entire production. Multiple current crew members stated that crude language of this type is now extremely rare. Tour Management stated that they have become increasingly vigilant on this front over the years and provided documentation verifying that aggressive or derogatory language by crew results in dismissal. Tour Management and band members recognize that sexual language can be weaponized to make women feel unsafe in a predominantly male environment. They consider continued vigilance on this issue to be their responsibility
‘The Killers and their team are committed to a safe and inclusive space for everyone whilst on the road. While many third party vendor crew cycle in and out from tour to tour, most of the band’s current core touring crew have been with them for over a decade and each stated these allegations are completely unrecognizable to their working environment. Band and crew asserted that the behavior attributed to them in these allegations is in direct opposition to their principles and would not be tolerated by anyone on their team. The band and Tour Management expressed great regret that the experience of the temporary female audio technician had not been brought to their attention during the short run she was with them, or indeed at any time in the eleven years since, in order that they may have dealt with these issues immediately and addressed any questions or concerns she had about the band and crew’s conduct.
‘Due to these allegations, and the very clear belief that this temporary crew member felt she had nowhere to turn with her concerns at the time, The Killers plan to take immediate action for future tours. The band believe there should always be an easy way to report a situation that is concerning to anyone on the road with them, no matter their status or how briefly they are joining for. They expressed regret that the temporary crew member was made to feel unsafe and bullied during her brief time with the band and understand that it is not always feasible for touring crew to raise concerns with their immediate superiors.
‘The workings of a large scale tour involve many people, including frequently rotating vendor crew who have no contact with Tour Management. Typically there is no formal HR structure on any tour, however large scale, and all crew are managed by their immediate superior or Department Team Leader. All road crew and vendors are given an eTourbook/Itinerary with contact numbers for the entire touring party – including Tour Management, Band Management, Booking Agent and local Promoters. The Killers have directed their team to establish a new system wherein the entire touring party are furnished with an off-site independent HR contact to call to report concerns of any nature, anonymously if they wish. This telephone number will be available to everyone traveling with the band, staff or independent vendor. This number will also be displayed in the Production Office at their shows. All concerns will be dealt with swiftly by band management.
‘The Killers would like to take this opportunity to assure their fans – and the families of their current crew – that their tours are a safe, familial and professional working environment. They extend their thanks to crew past and present, as well as all other witnesses, for providing swift testimony to their Legal Team.’
