Christian Burrola’s dream of playing on stage with his favorite band, The Killers, became a reality last weekend — just a year and a half after he picked up the drums.
“I always wanted to be a famous musician, right? That was my dream growing up,” Burrola said.
Burrola, 30, from Tucson, first started playing music at the age of eight. He learned guitar and piano, but it wasn’t until 2010, when he saw The Killers live for the first time, that the band became his lifelong favorite. Known for inviting fans to join them on stage, The Killers often let one lucky person drum alongside them during their song “For Reasons Unknown.”
Burrola, who has traveled to cities like Las Vegas and Seattle to catch the band live, said, “It kind of became like a family tradition. My whole family loves The Killers. I’ve moved a lot growing up, from San Diego to Tucson, Arizona, so I always connect with their songs, especially about nostalgia and home.”
Determined to make his dream come true, Burrola decided to learn how to play drums. The problem? He had no experience. But he didn’t let that stop him.
“I was like, you know what? I’m going to learn how to play drums. And I’m going to make it my goal to play with The Killers. That’s what I set out to do,” he said.
For the next year and a half, he practiced every day, spending at least 15 minutes each session. “I practiced that song thousands of times every single day. I knew what The Killers were expecting from a drummer, so I learned pretty much everything,” Burrola shared.
When The Killers were booked to headline the Innings Festival in Tempe, Burrola saw this as his best chance. At the show, he held up a sign that read, “I’m the man to play the drums,” a nod to one of the band’s songs. Despite many fans holding up similar signs, his caught the attention of lead singer Brandon Flowers.
“He said I had the better sign, so he picked me to play,” Burrola recalled.
Before he knew it, Burrola was on stage, playing the drums with The Killers in front of tens of thousands of people. The nerves that had initially worried him vanished.
“Once he picked me, I don’t know what happened honestly. It just happened like a dream. It happened too fast. I went out there and I just did my thing,” Burrola said. “Looking back, I feel pretty proud. I think I did pretty good.”
The crowd’s response was overwhelming. They cheered as Burrola made his dream come true, flawlessly keeping the beat.
“That’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s the best day of my life,” he said, reflecting on the unforgettable experience.
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