THOSE Brandon Flowers solo albums?

Turns out the Killers’ frontman wasn’t doing them to stretch his creative wings — and stroke his ego — outside the band he formed in Las Vegas in 2001.

Flowers’ first solo record, 2010s Flamingo, followed the Killers’ first three albums released in a hectic five year whirlwind that saw them relentlessly tour a string of hits — Mr Brightside, Somebody Told Me, Smile Like You Mean It, All These Things That I’ve Done, When You Were Young, Read My Mind, Human, Spaceman and even a b-sides and covers album — around the world.

While Flowers wanted to keep the band going, bassist Mark Stoermer was already tiring of touring. Enter Flowers’ solo project. The second Flowers solo record, 2015’s The Desired Effect, followed a Killers’ singles stopgap singles compilation Direct Hits in 2013.

Flowers admits his solo career was designed to give his band mates a break from touring — despite the fact the Killers are still one of the few bands of their era who can headline festivals or play huge arena shows.

“That was the initial idea,” Flowers says. “It still wasn’t enough for them, obviously. If you look at it from that perspective it’s a little frustrating, obviously, but we’ve got to respect everybody’s wants and needs. I think we’re figuring out how to navigate it.”

Come the fifth Killers album Wonderful Wonderful, guitarist Dave Keuning may be in the band photos but he’s joined Stoermer in only being a Killer in the studio, not on the road.

“It is strange,” Flowers admits. “I can’t think of a band that’s done anything like that. It’s not like there’s a handbook on how to deal with this but we’re doing our best. The first test was with Mark, he stopped touring with us and it ended up being a blessing for the band.

“He was much more eager to go to the studio, he felt like he had a monkey off his back, he really contributed a lot to this record. It opened up this line of communication that wasn’t there before, it ended up benefiting the band. Hopefully with Dave opening up about some of his issues with touring maybe there’ll be some sort of renaissance that happens there. I don’t know yet, but it definitely was good for us with Mark.”

Ever the optimist, Flowers is looking for the positive — the band breaking news to Killers fans (who call themselves Victims) on social media first.

“The ideal situation is everyone stays together. There aren’t many bands that have been able to do it. U2 obviously. Same four guys. A lot of bands I grew up with either broke up or had different members coming in and out. The Cure always had changes in the line-up. Duran Duran. I think we’re going to be OK.”

Wonderful Wonderful is an interesting Killers record. Launched with the swagger of single The Man, dig deeper and it’s a surprisingly personal record from Flowers, who keeps his private life off guard after media fascination with his Mormon faith.

Tana Flowers, his wife, revealed to website Mormon Women in 2013 she suffered depression and anxiety and alluded to an abusive childhood before being diagnosed with PTSD.

The musician told UK magazine Q he cancelled the last leg of his 2015 solo tour after his wife expressed “suicidal” thoughts.

The dark period makes up key moments on Wonderful Wonderful — Tana is the “motherless child” referred to in the title track, while their children sing “can’t do this alone, we need you at home” on the intensely personal Some Kind of Love. Rut is another song dripping with pain.

“I usually like to observe and absorb everything,” Flowers admits. “Not just what’s happening in front of my face. I’m a spectator of lives. I like to watch people. But it’s not the same as when you’re really navigating and exploring what’s going on in your own life and taking it head on. That’s what I was doing on this record.

“It forced out some tenderness. You’re in a rock and roll band, you’ve got all this energy, you’ve got this freight train of a band playing on stage and you want to capture that. Me going into this new territory maybe brought out some tenderness you haven’t really heard on a Killers record before. But it’s nicely contrasted with songs like Run for Cover and Tyson v Douglas, they’ve got a lot of testosterone in them.

“People who are struggling could benefit from songs like Rut and Some Kind of Love and Life to Come. People need songs like that. Having a bit of history behind them doesn’t hurt them.”

Flowers has become the main champion of Australian musician Alex Cameron.

When The Killers launched Flowers got a reputation for being outspoken and slating acts he didn’t like; a habit he fast stopped as the headlines grew.

So he decided to take a more proactive approach when he heard music he did like.

“I used to talk so much trash that I figured if I heard something I liked I should let that person know,” Flowers says. “I started making a habit, when I heard a song I loved I got my manager to track down the artist and get their email for me.”

Flowers heard Cameron’s song Mongrel and his album Jumping the Shark and was impressed.

“I got his email and did my due diligence,” Flowers says.

Cameron had just come off stage when it landed.

“My phone vibrated in my pocket and it was an email from Brandon Flowers,” Cameron recalls. “He said he appreciated what we were doing and if I ever needed a place to crash in Vegas to come and see him. A few months later we did make it to Vegas and hung out for a week, writing. It was one of the more generous and educational songwriting experiences I’ve ever had.”

As well as Flowers writing with Cameron on his new song Runnin’ Outta Luck (”I’d written a verse which I thought was a chorus. Brandon goes, no that’s a pre-chorus, here’s the chorus and he played it and I went ‘OK’. I almost had a meltdown it was so good”), Cameron helped Flowers with some lyrics for Wonderful Wonderful.

“He came in handy, he’s sharp as a tack,” Flowers says.

“Brandon certainly doesn’t need any help with melodies and songwriting, he’s an absolute beast,” Cameron says. “In my experience he’s a singular talent. I suppose he just wanted a fresh perspective on what the record is about, one of my skills is telling stories. Most of it came from discussions, sitting in the studio, and some lyrics came out of that.”

Out of My Mind is a love song for Flowers’ wife that also sees him name-drop working with Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.

“I was hesitant about that, I was nudged into that territory by Alex for sure,” Flowers says.

Cameron said he insisted the A-lister voice was kept in.

“The song is about how your partner loves you for you, not for what you do. Their relationship is founded on love, they’ve known each other for years. But he’s also had this success. He could be playing a gig in a pub or in a stadium with Bruce Springsteen — and he’s done both — and she’s been there.

“The day he emailed me he put on Twitter how the Killers had done a show with Paul McCartney. That’s insane. So I said ‘Let’s list all the things you’ve done anyone would be impressed by’ but it still wouldn’t change how your wife felt for you. The song is about home and family. I think Brandon knew that Paul McCartney line was pretty good though ...”

Flowers played with McCartney at a New Year’s Eve party at the start of this year — for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in St Barts.

“It was a fancy party,” Flowers says of the event that also featured sets from Guns N’Roses and the Rolling Stones.

Flowers had played the Beatles’ Helter Skelter back in 2007 with the Killers.

“It was in Sydney with Craig (Nicholls) from the Vines and the Howling Bells. So we knew Sir Paul was coming to the party, we did our best to brush up on Helter Skelter backstage and crossed our fingers.”

Once on stage, Flowers was joined by McCartney for the Beatles classic.

“I got him to come up. It just worked out. When it was happening it was just fun. The second it was over I had to really compose myself. It wasn’t like it hit me 24 hours or a week later, it was instant. I had to stop myself from crying before we finished the song.

“Paul had picked When You Were Young as one of his favourites of 2006, he was out filming on his phone when were playing, singing along to Smile Like You Mean It. Just that was enough. That would have made my year right there. But getting to sing Helter Skelter with him was incredible.”

Wonderful Wonderful also sees Flowers tick more heroes off the list. Have All the Songs Been Written? features Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits guesting on guitar — The Killers have covered their Romeo and Juliet before.

“I was late in the game to Knopfler and Dire Straits. I was obviously aware of Money for Nothing and Walk of Life, but I didn’t know it went further than that and how much further it went and how many great songs he had under his belt. That came in later in life for me, I’m still digging in, so it was a real honour to have him sharp shoot on that song.”

The title came during Flowers’ writer’s block period. He decided to email another one of his musical mates — Bono.

“The subject line of the email was ‘Have All the Songs Been Written?’,” Flowers says. “I think we all ask ourselves that at some point, you just have to sit down and give it a shot. There has been so much greatness, so much ground has been covered. Bono could tell from my email I was struggling. He said ‘That’s a hell of a title, why don’t you start there?’”

The Killers will return to Australia for the AFL Grand Final, playing the main musical slot in the show as well as a free concert on the MCG afterwards. Ahead of a full Australian tour next April, Flower wants to make sure they get their football moment right.

“You only get so much time, we want to showcase ourselves and represent Las Vegas and also pay our respects to Australia a little bit. We are trying to figure out how to do all those things in 15 minutes.”

Wonderful Wonderful (Universal) out Friday. The Killers, AFL Grand Final, Saturday September 30. Free post show concert from 6pm at the MCG.

The Killers, Brisbane Entertainment Center April 27, Qudos Bank Arena Sydney April 28, Perth Arena May 1, Hisense Arena May 4. On sale October 3.