Queens of the Stone Age

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Queens of the Stone Age
Left to right: Joey Castillo, Troy Van Leeuwen, Joshua Homme (c. 2005)
Background information
Also known as	QOTSA or Queens
Origin	Palm Desert, California, USA
Genre(s)	Hard rock[1][2] Alternative metal[1][2] Stoner rock[2][1][3]
Years active	1997–present
Label(s)	MCA Music, Inc./Interscope
Associated acts	Kyuss Screaming Trees Mondo Generator Desert Sessions Eagles of Death Metal A Perfect Circle Masters of Reality
Website	Official Site
Members
Joshua Homme Troy Van Leeuwen Joey Castillo Alain Johannes
Former members
Milo Beenhakker Matt Cameron Dave Catching Van "The Kid" Conner Dan Druff Chris Goss Alfredo Hernandez Mike Johnson Mario Lalli Mark Lanegan Dave Grohl Nick Lucero John McBain Brendon McNichol Eva Nahon Nick Oliveri Natasha Shneider Gene Trautmann

Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA or simply Queens) are a hard rock band^[4][1][2] from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997.

Originally formed under the name Gamma Ray by guitarist Joshua Homme, Queens of the Stone Age developed a style of riff-oriented, heavy music which Homme described as 'robot rock', saying that he "wanted to create a heavy sound based on a solid jam, and just pound it into your head". Since then, their sound has evolved to incorporate a variety of different styles and influences.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early career (1996-1999) 1.2 Rated R (1999-2001) 1.3 Songs for the Deaf (2001-2004) 1.4 Lullabies to Paralyze (2004-2006) 1.5 Era Vulgaris (2006-present) 2 Lineup 2.1 Current lineup 2.2 Former members 2.3 Studio contributors 3 Selected discography 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Early career (1996-1999)

Queens of the Stone Age began with Joshua Homme in 1996. Originally called 'Gamma Ray', Homme changed the name to 'Queens of the Stone Age' in 1997 as German power metal band Gamma Ray were threatening to sue:

“

When we were making a record in 1992, under the band Kyuss, our producer Chris Goss, he would joke and say "You guys are like the Queens of the Stone Age." The band was originally called Gamma Ray, but we got threatened with a lawsuit because someone else had it. So we were Queens of the Stone Age. -- Oliveri (2000)

”

On why the band chose the name 'Queens of the Stone Age' rather than 'Kings of the Stone Age':

“

Kings would be too macho. The Kings of the Stone Age wear armor and have axes and wrestle. The Queens of the Stone Age hang out with the Kings of the Stone Age's girlfriends when they wrestle, and also it was a name given to us by Chris Goss. He gave us the name Queens of the Stone Age. Rock should be heavy enough for the boys and sweet enough for the girls. That way everyone's happy and it's more of a party. Kings of the Stone Age is too lopsided. -- Homme (2000)

”

In 2001, Homme stated that he named the band 'Queens of the Stone Age' partly to spite the "redneck, monster truck-driving assholes" that comprised most Kyuss fans, and that "It would be great to have those redneck, motherfucker assholes have to utter the word 'Queens'" to describe the new band, ultimately keeping those "morons" away from the band's shows.^{[citation needed]}

According to fansite thefade.net [1], the bands' first live appearance was probably November 20, 1997, at OK Hotel in Seattle, Washington, with a line-up of Joshua Homme, Matt Cameron, Van Conner and John McBain.

The band released their self-titled debut, Queens of the Stone Age (1998) on Mans Ruin records, which was recorded with Joshua handling both guitar and bass guitar playing duties, Alfredo Hernandez on the drums, and included several other instrumental and vocal contributions by Chris Goss and Hutch. Homme had asked Mark Lanegan to appear on the record, but he was unable to due to other commitments. Soon after the recording sessions were finished for the album, former Kyuss bassist Nick Oliveri and guitarist Dave Catching joined and touring commenced. A recording of a phone message which plays the voice of Oliveri stating his decision to join the band can be heard at the end of the album's final song, "I Was a Teenage Hand Model".

[edit] Rated R (1999-2001)

Main article: Rated R (album)

From this point forward, the band's line-up would change frequently. By the time their second album was being recorded, Hernandez was no longer in the band.

“

It really is more of a musical experiment... It keeps moving and reinventing itself. That way we never get painted into a corner. -- Homme (2000)

”

“

I'd like to keep it loose, open and free, I just think that if we can expand and contract, then there's nothing we can't do, and even the old songs will never be something like, 'Oh, let's not play that any more.' -- Homme (2000)

”

2000's Rated R featured a plethora of musicians familiar with Homme and Oliveri's work and "crew" of sorts: among others, drummers Nick Lucero (who has gone on to record with Paul Avion) and Gene Trautmann, guitarists Dave Catching, Brendon McNichol, and Chris Goss contributed, and even Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, recording next door, stepped in for a guest spot on "Feel Good Hit of the Summer". The album received positive reviews but found little commercial success, aside from scoring the band notable opening slots with the Foo Fighters, Hole, and at Ozzfest 2000.

During the Rock in Rio 2001 show, bassist Nick Oliveri was arrested for going up to the stage naked, with only a bass guitar. In an interview he said: "Whoa people in Carnival here dance naked why I can't do the same?" (Some clips of the incident are shown on the Over the Years and Through the Woods DVD during the song "Long Slow Goodbye") [2] [3] [4]

[edit] Songs for the Deaf (2001-2004)

Main article: Songs for the Deaf

Frequent touring for Rated R generated support for the band which grew when Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl joined in late 2001/early 2002 to record their third album. Songs for the Deaf was released in August, featuring former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan, a floater since Rated R, as well as adding former A Perfect Circle guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen to the touring line up following the album's release. Although Songs for the Deaf gained major attention, Grohl returned to his other projects and was replaced on the European leg of the album's supporting tour by former Danzig drummer Joey Castillo, who joined the band full time. Also featured on Deaf for the final track Mosquito Song were former A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin (on viola and piano) and Ween's Mickey Melchiondo on guitar.

Although the ongoing success continued to lift the band to new heights, the bands performance at the 2001 Rock am Ring festival in Germany was, according to Homme, "the worst show we've ever played and it was in front of 40,000 people." ^[5] The band decided to tattoo themselves with the starting time and location of the performance, "Freitag 4.15":

“

Me, Mark [Lanegan], Josh [Homme] and Hutch, our soundman, have the same tattoo, it's from Rock am Ring festival. The time we had to play was 4.15 in the afternoon and it was just a terrible show. It sucked, it was horrible. That's why I tattooed it on my ribs, where it would hurt, so I'd never forget. -- Oliveri interview with Daredevil Magazine (2005) [6]

”

Deaf's popularity peaked when it reached gold status in 2003 and the singles "No One Knows" and "Go With the Flow" became hits on radio and MTV. Constant touring continued, culminating in a string of headline dates in Australia in January of 2004, after which Oliveri was fired from the band by Homme for what was said to be disrespect of the group's fans and excessive partying. In July 2005 however, Homme claimed in a radio interview that Oliveri was fired when Homme had become convinced that he had been physically abusive to his girlfriend.

“

A couple years ago, I spoke to Nick about a rumor I heard. I said, 'If I ever find out that this is true, I can't know you, man.' --Homme interview on BBC Radio 1 (July 6, 2005) [7]

”

As of October 2006, Oliveri remains interested in rejoining the band.^[8]

[edit] Lullabies to Paralyze (2004-2006)

Main article: Lullabies to Paralyze

In 2005, Homme, along with Eleven multi-instrumentalist Alain Johannes and remaining band members Van Leeuwen and Castillo recorded the Queens fourth studio album, Lullabies to Paralyze, a title taken from a lyric in "Mosquito Song" from their previous album.^[9]

The release featured the appearance of several guests, most notably ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Despite Lanegan reportedly turning down an invitation to remain with the band, he recorded vocals on new tracks (notably the solo vocalist on the opening track This Lullaby) and appeared with the band on the supporting tour as scheduling and his health permitted. It had been rumored that Homme fired Lanegan; however, this was subsequently refuted:

“

Basically, if there was a negative rumor that someone brought up to me I would just encourage it... like when someone was saying: Well, Mark got fired, Lanegan, you know. And I was like: Yeah, Mark is fired, too, yeah. But he was just touring his own solo record, you know. -- Homme (2005) [9]

”

Lullabies to Paralyze was leaked onto the internet in February 2005, and then officially released on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 in the USA, debuting in the number 5 slot on the Billboard Music Chart, the greatest initial success of any Queens record to date.

On 22 November 2005, the band released a live album/DVD set called Over The Years And Through The Woods, featuring a live concert filmed in London, England, and bonus features which included rare videos of songs from 1998 to 2005.

In fall of 2005, the group supported Nine Inch Nails on their North American tour of With Teeth along with Autolux (for the first half of the tour) and Death from Above 1979 (for the second). NIN's guitarist Aaron North appeared as an onstage guest with the Queens for the songs "Monsters in the Parasol" and "Long, Slow Goodbye" at the Wiltern LG in Los Angeles on December 19th and 20th 2005.

Another onstage guest for the December 20th performance was Homme's former Kyuss bandmate John Garcia, the first time that Homme and Garcia had played together since 1997. As a special encore they performed three Kyuss songs: "Thumb", "Hurricane" and "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop".

[edit] Era Vulgaris (2006-present)

Main article: Era Vulgaris (album)

In July 2006, in an interview with NME, Homme confirmed that the band was back in the studio, writing, but he remained unwilling to reveal who would appear in the band on the new record:

“

"We're back in the studio, writing", but when asked who's in the band this time around he said "That's not a healthy question. You'll ruin the surprise. We've gotta keep our cool. -- Josh Homme with NME in July 2006[10]

”

On Valentine's Day 2007, the band's official website announced the new album would be titled Era Vulgaris, and would be released in June.^[11] Later in February, teaser videos surfaced showing Homme, Castillo, Van Leeuwen and Johannes in studio,^[12][13] and several sites reported that the album would include many guest vocalists, including Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, Mark Lanegan, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top,^[14] and in what might be an example of Homme's dry wit, deceased humourist Erma Bombeck.^[15] Former Death from Above 1979 bassist Jesse F. Keeler had been expected to play bass on the studio recording of the album, but not to tour,^[16] however due to schedule conflicts he stated he would not be appearing on the album. When questioned in an interview with Ultimate Guitar Archive about the band settling down with one line-up, Homme replied with the following:

“

Does it seem like there will be? I don't know. Long ago I lost the opportunity to be in U2 -- where it's the same four guys. I respect that, but at the same time this is the search to try to take advantage of playing with certain people, even if they can't stay, and then there's other times that you need to humble yourself at the altar of music, and if you don't (*makes a throat cutting motion*). -- Josh Homme with Ultimate Guitar Archive in March 2007[15]

”

A pre-release hearing of nine songs from the album for qotsa.com forum members and press was held at SXSW on March 15. Billboard.com commended the "fast, powerful riffs" and "psychedelic, boogie-ish rhythms" of the tracks, confirmed that Mark Lanegan would be appearing on the track "River in the Road" and that as with all of the previous studio albums, QOTSA would be re-recording a Desert Sessions track for the record, in this case "Make It Witchu".^[12] NME.com described the album as "a step further into Pagan psychedelia, tighter and leaner than Lullabies to Paralyse (sic) while going yet further into Hansel and Gretelish strangeness."^[17] Homme has described the record as "dark, hard, and electrical, sort of like a construction worker". ^[18]

[edit] Lineup

[edit] Current lineup

The most recent line up was:

• Joshua Homme - Vocals/Guitar/Bass (1997–present)
• Troy Van Leeuwen - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards/Bass/Vocals (2002–present)
• Joey Castillo - Drums (2002–present)
• Alain Johannes - Bass/Guitar/Vocals (2005–Present)

[edit] Former members

Vocalist

• Mark Lanegan - Vocals (2001–2005) - (Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan Band)

Guitarists

• Brendon McNichol - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards (2000-2002) - (Masters of Reality, Rattlebone)
• David Catching - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards (1998-2000) - (Eagles of Death Metal, Mondo Generator, earthlings?)
• Mario Lalli - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards (1999) - substituted for Dave Catching who was touring in Europe with earthlings? between April 10 and April 27, 1999 - (Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man)
• John McBain - Guitar/Vocals (1997) (Monster Magnet, Wellwater Conspiracy)

Bassists

• Dan Druff - Bass (2005)
• Nick Oliveri - Bass/Vocals (1998–2004) - (Kyuss, Mondo Generator, Dwarves)
• Van "The Kid" Conner - Bass (1997) - (Screaming Trees)
• Mike Johnson - Bass (1998) - (Dinosaur Jr, Mark Lanegan Band)

Drummers

• Dave Grohl - Drums (2002) - (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Probot)
• Gene Trautmann - Drums (1999-2002) - (Eagles of Death Metal)
• Alfredo Hernandez - Drums (1998-1999) - (Kyuss, Che)
• Matt Cameron - Drums (1997) - (Soundgarden, Wellwater Conspiracy, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Geddy Lee)

Keyboard player

• Natasha Shneider - Keyboards/Vocals - (2005) - (Eleven)

[edit] Studio contributors

• Joshua Homme - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboard, Piano, Backing Vocals (1997-present) - Featured on Burn One Up compilation, Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age, QOTSA/Beaver Split, Self Titled, Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, Stone Age Complication, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Dave Catching - Guitar, Piano, Percussion, Lap Steel, Radio DJ (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005) - Featured on Burn One Up compilation ("18 A.D."), Self Titled, Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Eva Nahon - Drums (1997) - Featured on Burn One Up compilation ("18 A.D.")
• Milo Beenhakker - Bass (1997) - Featured on Burn One Up compilation ("18 A.D.")
• Vic The Stick - Drums (1997) - Featured on Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age
• John Garcia - Backing Vocals (1997) - Featured on Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age
• Van "The Kid" Conner - Bass (1997) - Featured on Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age
• Alfredo Hernandez - Drums (1998) - Featured on QOTSA/Beaver Split, Self Titled
• Chris Goss - Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals, Piano, Percussion, Radio DJ (1998, 2000, 2002, 2005) - Featured on Self Titled, Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Fred Drake - Drums, Lead Vocals (1998) - Featured on Self Titled
• Mike Johnson - "Sofa", Backing Vocals (1998, 2000) - Featured on Self Titled, Rated R
• Hutch (Patrick Hutchinson) - Piano (1998) - Featured on Self Titled
• Nick Oliveri - Bass, Lead Vocals, Guitar, Backing Vocals (2000, 2002, 2004) - Featured on Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, Stone Age Complication
• Mark Lanegan - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals (2000, 2002, 2005) - Featured on Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Gene Trautmann - Drums, Percussion (2000, 2002) - Featured on Rated R, Songs for the Deaf
• Rob Halford - Backing Vocals (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Wendy Ray Moan (Wendy Rae Fowler) - Backing Vocals (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Nick Lucero - Drums, Percussion (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Nick Eldorado - Backing Vocals (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Pete Stahl - Backing Vocals (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Barrett Martin - "Vibes", Percussion (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Scott Mayo - Baritone Sax (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Fernando Pullum - Flugal Horn (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Reggie Young - Horns (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Marek - "Noise" (2000) - Featured on Rated R
• Dean Ween - Guitar (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Alain Johannes - Guitar, Bass, E-Bow, Theremin, Lap Steel, Keys, Flute, Marxophone, Radio DJ (2002, 2005) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Natasha Shneider - Keys, Organ, Radio DJ (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Brendon McNichol - Lap Steel (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Paz Lenchantin - Strings (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Anna Lenchantin - Strings (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Molly Maguire - Accordion (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• John Gove - Horns (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Kevin Porter - Horns (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Brad Kintscher - Horns (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• C-Minus - Radio DJ (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Twiggy Ramirez - Radio DJ (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Blag Dhalia - Radio DJ (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Casey Chaos - Radio DJ (2002) - Featured on Songs for the Deaf
• Troy Van Leeuwen - Guitar, Bass, Lap Steel, Keys, Backing Vocals (2004, 2005) - Featured on Stone Age Complication, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Joey Castillo - Drums, Percussion, Cowbell, Keys (2004, 2005) - Featured on Stone Age Complication, Lullabies to Paralyze
• Billy F. Gibbons - Guitar, Backing Vocals (2005, 2006) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze
• Jesse Hughes - Flute (2005) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze
• Brody Dalle - Backing Vocals, Hand Claps (2005) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze
• Shirley Manson - Backing Vocals, Hand Claps (2005) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze
• Jack Black - Marching (2005) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze
• The Main Street Horns - Tubas & Baritone Trombone (2005) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze
• Joe Barresi - Triangle (2005) - Featured on Lullabies to Paralyze

[edit] Selected discography

Further information: Queens of the Stone Age discography

Date of release	Title	Record label
September 22, 1998	Queens of the Stone Age	Mans Ruin Records
June 6, 2000	Rated R	Interscope Records
August 27, 2002	Songs for the Deaf	Interscope Records
March 22, 2005	Lullabies to Paralyze	Interscope Records
TBA	Era Vulgaris	Interscope Records

[edit] See also

• Kyuss
• The Desert Sessions
• Eagles of Death Metal
• Screaming Trees
• A Perfect Circle
• Eleven
• Palm Desert Scene

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Official sites

• qotsa.com - the official QOTSA site. (Flash required)
• rekordsrekords.com - the band's record label. (Flash required)
• Queens of the Stone Age at MySpace

Unofficial sites

• qotsakyuss.free.fr/ Current working location of the original thefade.net.
• thefade.net New version of site with new ownership due to previous occupants losing the domain name.
• qotsa.mskiteonline.com is dedicated to QOTSA and closely related bands.
• qotsa-news.com specializes in QOTSA news.

v • d • e Queens of the Stone Age
Joshua Homme | Joey Castillo | Troy Van Leeuwen | Alain Johannes
Dave Grohl | Nick Oliveri | Natasha Shneider | Dave Catching | Mark Lanegan | Alfredo Hernandez | Gene Trautmann | Brendon McNichol | John McBain
Discography
Studio albums: Queens of the Stone Age | Rated R | Songs for the Deaf | Lullabies to Paralyze | Era Vulgaris
EPs: Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age | Stone Age Complications
Singles: "If Only" | "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" | "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" | "No One Knows" | "Go with the Flow" | "First It Giveth" | "Little Sister" | "In My Head" | "Burn the Witch"
DVDs: Over the Years and Through the Woods
Related articles
Kyuss | The Desert Sessions | Eagles of Death Metal | Mondo Generator | Screaming Trees | Rekords Rekords
Categories
Queens of the Stone Age Albums | Queens of the Stone Age Songs