Dave Keuning is not the only rock star who spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown working on a new solo album. But he may be the only rock star who can credit the pandemic for reuniting him with an old band — in his case, The Killers, whose worldwide album sales between 2001 and last year exceed 28 million. 

Keuning stepped away from The Killers in 2017 because of touring burnout, creative differences, a desire to spend more time with his family in San Diego and what he calls "a hundred small reasons." The sobering irony that a historic global disease led to his reunion with The Killers is not lost on him.

"I think the pandemic kind of bought me some time," Keuning said, speaking recently from his home in San Diego's North County.

"The Killers had to postpone a tour, which kind of brought us back together in a way. Because they probably would have toured without me, and I would have waited for that tour to be over before we talked about doing something. So, they decided to make another record — instead of touring — and asked me to be part of it, and I said, 'Sure.'

"The pandemic was terrible in so many ways, for so many people, but I can't complain. Because it forced everyone to slow down. My new record got written mostly during the pandemic, and I got back together (with The Killers)."

Keuning's accomplished new album, "A Mild Case of Everything," was released in June. The follow-up to his 2019 solo debut, "Prismism," it was recorded almost entirely in the basement studio of his Encinitas-area home.

In a far-ranging interview, Keuning discussed an array of topics. They included: his latest album; his recent return to The Killers after a three-year hiatus; and what — or, more specifically, who — inspired his scathing song "No One is Calling You a Liar," a standout number from his new album.

"There are certainly a lot of liars to go around!" said Keuning, who (at least in song) is usually apolitical.

"But Donald Trump has to be in the Hall of Fame of liars. I have some friends and family members who are Republicans, and I want to get along with them. I just can't understand why they believe anything he says. ... But I'd like to move on past that. He's gone, and I just wish everybody got along. ... I don't want to make any enemies with anybody who wants to believe him."

Released on Keuning's own record label, Pretty Faithful, "A Mild Case of Everything" is — apart from a few drum parts — a one-man affair. It documents his growth as a singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist and drummer.

"Most of the time, recording is a separate thing than playing live," Keuning noted. "The goal is to make the record as good as you can, even if it means adding extra things. This time, with 'A Mild Case of Everything,' I thought: 'How am I going to play this live?'

"I wanted to have more things that were fun to sing live, with better choruses. Because, for so long, I had focused on song structures, guitar parts and how I can contribute those things to The Killers. ... This time, I wanted the songs to be fun to play live.

"And I wanted to have a San Diego gig confirmed in time to mention in this interview, but I don't yet. I have to get my (solo) band in to practice — and there are a lot of Killers gigs being planned out. But I'd like to do a San Diego solo gig as well, hopefully, by the end of the year."

The release of The Killers' fully completed seventh studio album was pushed back by the COVID-19 shutdown. Recording sessions have been underway in Los Angeles and Las Vegas for an eighth Killers album by Keuning, singer-songwriter Brandon Flowers, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr., all of whom are fully vaccinated. On Wednesday, the band released a new song, "Dustland," that features vocals by Flowers and Bruce Springsteen, a key inspiration for The Killers.

Keuning's extended hiatus from The Killers has allowed him to be a full-time dad in San Diego to his son, Kyler, now 15.

"Being a father was a big part of it," Keuning said of his decision to step away from the band in 2017. "But everyone is looking for one giant reason I left the band — and it's kind of like a hundred small reasons that had led me to decide I couldn't do it, including my own fatigue of being on the road.

"I don't think people understand it, but you're just constantly going from one town to the next, and it was hard. I like being in my own bed. It's hard to have any relationships (on tour). I don't do drugs, but I certainly understand why a lot of these past musicians have.

"Because you go crazy and don't know what to do with your time and all the emotions you're going through. And you certainly have enough stuff around you to enable (drug-taking). So I wanted to live normally for a little bit."

Keuning performed on The Killers' disappointing 2017 album, "Wonderful Wonderful," but was not included in its publicity photos. When the band toured in 2018 and 2019, two hired hands filled in for him. He did not contribute at all to The Killers' 2020 album, "Exploding the Mirage," and the group's other members have acknowledged they struggled without him.

His absence confused some fans. They wondered why Keuning would step away from a band that far exceeded his dreams of musical success, fame and fortune.

"Well, yeah," he said. "This is what I always dreamed about, and we achieved all those dreams. I did four world tours with The Killers, each one about two years long ... and that wore me down.

"It took almost as long, or at least a year, to make an album with The Killers. ... I just wished there were ways to get things a little more balanced, with more moderation, and that's probably the biggest challenge: the schedule.

"There's no getting around that schedule: how much recording to do; how much promotional time; how much touring; all those things. Because that's what you're required to do, regardless of whether you are the lead singer, the lead songwriter, or whatever it is you do in the band."

He paused to weigh his words.

"A lot of people don't understand it and think I have no right to complain, so I get it," Keuning continued.

"But when you're the one doing it, it is hard to force yourself to go on tour. The No. 1 thing I miss is the shows and the fans and the interaction. But I don't miss the other 22 hours when you are not on stage and are away from home each day.

"I really don't love traveling anymore. And I don't miss looking outside an airplane window, or a bus, or a car on the way to a hotel, or a van on the way to the concert."

And now that he is a solo artist and back with The Killers again?

"I don't think I'll stop making solo music anytime soon," Keuning said. "But I am writing and recording again with The Killers and trying to give them as many musical ideas and options as I can. I'm looking at it as it's the best of both worlds."