Queens Of The Stone Age
Following the ’95 demise of his band Kyuss, Josh Homme (pictured above), a multi-instrumentalist, began recording with a number of Seattle based musicians including Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron and Dinosaur Jr.’s Mike Johnson. This loose collection released a number of EPs as Gamma Ray.
Homme then reunited with ex-Kyuss drummer Alfredo Hernandez in ’98 for the Queens Of The Stone Age’s self-titled debut. That success led to the addition of yet another ex-Kyuss member, bassist Nick Oliveri. Also jumping on board was guitarist/keyboardist Dave Catching.
In the meantime, Homme continued his loose knit collaborations with other musicians releasing the “Desert Sessions.”’00 saw the release of the group’s second album “R” which was followed by a heavy tour schedule. The upshot was Hernandez bailed, replaced by Gene Troutman and Nicky Lucero.
The group performed at Brazil’s “Rock In Rio” festival where Oliveri was busted for performing nude. Must have been a very hot night.
Here’s where it pays to have famous fans. Ex-Nirvana drummer and lead Foo Fighter, David Grohl was very vocal in his appreciation of the QOTSA. This led to an invitation to record with the group and go on tour. Putting the Foo Fighters temporarily on hold, Grohl signed on.
Songs For The Deaf
“Songs For The Deaf” arrived in ’02. The tour line-up now included former Screaming Trees’ vocalist Mark Lanegan and A Perfect Circle guitarist/keyboardist Troy Van Leeuwen. Two years later, Oliveri was dismissed for being physically abusive to his girlfriend. In a subsequent radio interview, Homme stated that despite warnings Oliveri’s behavior could put the band in jeopardy.
The Queens released “Lullabies To Paralyze” in ’05. Homme’s daily drive through Hollywood inspired QOTSA’s fifth studio album,
“Era Vulgaris.” (“Songs For The Deaf” originated from a tedious drive through the SoCal desert). “It sounds like ‘the Vulgar Era’, which I like, because that sounds like something that I would like to be part of,” Homme commented in an interview.
A couple tracks featured guest performances. The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas’ work on the single “Sick, Sick, Sick.” He played synth guitar and sang. Also, former bandmate Lanegan contributed backing vocals on “River In The Road.” But what would have been the title track, recorded with Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor was omitted from the album and released separately.
Sick, Sick, Sick
River In The Road
During the summer of ’12, QOTSA announced they had started recording another album. Meanwhile, Grohl stated his band, Foo Fighters, was going on hiatus. When Homme reported in a radio interview that drummer Joey Castillo had left the group Grohl signed on for the album. Grohl’s return was not the only one.
Reznor and Oliveri, ousted from QOTSA in ’04, also contributed to the set. That wasn’t all. Queens Of The Stone Age revealed that Lanegan, who appeared on three previous QOTSA albums, had participated in the sessions. A band tweet simply stated: “Lanegan came by. He didn’t say much, but he sang good.”
“QOTSA unfurled their sixth studio effort “…Like Clockwork” in ’13. Produced by the group, it was the first QOTSA album to feature full contributions from bassist Michael Shuman and keyboardist /guitarist Dean Fertita. Both joined in ‘07 for the tour in support of “Era Vulgaris.” Also, Grohl returned on drums and there were guest appearances by Elton John, Lanegan, Reznor and Oliveri.
“… Like Clockwork” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Selling 91,000 in its first week, the album pushed Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” to #2.
… Like Clockwork
The Way You Used To Do
“Villains was the seventh studio album released in ’17. It was the first QOTSA album to not feature any special guest musicians, the second to not feature Lanegan and the first to feature Jon Theodore as full-time band member. The album, which featured “The Way You Used To Do” topped Billboard‘s Top Alternative and Top Rock Albums charts.
“In Times New Roman” was QOTSA’s first album in six years was their eighth full-length effort. The set contains the tracks “Emotion Sickness,” Paper Machete and “Carnavoyeur.” The album went to #1 on Billboard’s various Rock charts.
Emotion Sickness
Carnavoyeur
QOTSA cancelled European festival shows in ’24 so Homme could fly back to the U.S. for what was described at the time as “emergency surgery.” The band was touring in support of “In Times New Roman…” their eighth studio album. But early the following year the band launched a short spring tour.
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