Following the ’95 demise of his band Kyuss, Homme 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 coming 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 Queens. 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” 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.
“Lullabies To Paralyze” dropped in ’05. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 selling 97,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week of release, eventually moving 342,000 copies by ’07.
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.
Oliveri was arrested once again in ’11. This time on suspicion of felony domestic violence. “Mr. Oliveri agreed to plead to one count of possession of cocaine and a dismissal of the remaining six felony counts,” stated Oliveri’s lawyer. “Nick faces several years of probation and will perform community service as instructed by the court.”
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 tweet from the band 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.
“Villains,” a ’17 release was the first album to not feature any guest musicians and the first to feature drummer Jon Theodore as full-time member of the band. The set topped Billboard‘s Rock Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard 200.
“In Times New Roman…,” the Queen first new album in six years and eighth album overall went to #1 on Billboard‘s Rock Albums chart, like “Villains.” but stalled at #9 on the Billboard 200.
The ’23 album contained the lead single “Emotion Sickness,” plus “Paper Machete” and “Carnaveyeur.”
