Queens of the Stone Age Totally Explained

Everything about Queens Of The Stone Age totally explained

Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA or simply Queens) are a rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997.
Originally formed under the name Gamma Ray by guitarist Josh 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". The band is frequently described as stoner rock, although they reject the term.
Their sound has since evolved to incorporate a variety of different styles and influences.

History

Early career (1996–1999)

Queens of the Stone Age began with Josh 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 was threatening to sue:
Gamma Ray, a two-track EP Featuring songs "Born to Hula" and "If Only Everything" (Which would later appear on their self title as 'If Only'), released in January 1996, featuring Joshua Homme (Kyuss), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), Van Conner (Screaming Trees) and John McBain (Monster Magnet). The band's first live appearance was probably November 20, 1997, at OK Hotel in Seattle, Washington. In December of the same year, the band released a split EP, Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age, which was the first official release by the band under the name Queens of the Stone Age, and featured three tracks from the Gamma Ray sessions as well as three Kyuss tracks recorded in 1995 just prior to their break-up.
The band released their self-titled debut, Queens of the Stone Age (1998) on Loose Groove records (the album was also released on vinyl by Man's Ruin Records), which was recorded with Homme handling both guitar- and bass guitar-playing duties (though basswork is credited to Homme's alter-ego, Carlo Von Sexron), Alfredo Hernández on the drums, and included several other instrumental and vocal contributions by Chris Goss and Hutch. Prior to forming Queens of the Stone Age, Homme had played with the Screaming Trees as a backing guitarist for two years of touring and asked Screaming Trees vocalist 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". From this point forward, the band's line-up would change frequently. By the time their second album was being recorded, Hernández was no longer in the band.

Rated R (1999–2001)

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 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 can't I do the same?"
Towards the end of the Rated R tour, the band's 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." The band decided to tattoo themselves with the starting time of the performance, "Freitag 4.15":
Songs for the Deaf (2001–2004) 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 Dean Ween on guitar. Deaf' was a critical and commercial success and its popularity peaked when the album reached gold status in 2003, with sales peaking at over 900,000 copies. The singles "No One Knows" and "Go with the Flow" became hits on radio and MTV, with the former peaking just outside of the Billboard Top 40. 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 BBC Radio 1 interview that Oliveri was fired when Homme had become convinced that he'd been physically abusive to his (Oliveri's) girlfriend. Homme said, "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.'" Oliveri countered in the press that the band had been "poisoned by hunger for power" and that the band without him was "Queens Lite;" later Oliveri softened his opinion and said, "My relationship with Josh is good. The new Queens record kicks ass." As of October 2006, Oliveri remains interested in rejoining the band.

Lullabies to Paralyze (2004–2006)

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.
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:
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. Later in February, teaser videos surfaced showing Homme, Castillo, Van Leeuwen and Johannes in studio,. 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, and in what might be an example of Homme's dry wit, deceased humorist Erma Bombeck. 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, however due to schedule conflicts he stated he wouldn't 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:
Duluth, Minnesota. The tour has since been extended to other areas, such as the United Kingdom, where the band played more shows than on any of their previous UK tours. The band toured in Australia in late March to early April of 2008, on the V festival tour including a string of side shows. Throughout the beginning of May 2008, the band completed the Canadian leg of it's touring.

Style

QOTSA has long been known for many distinctive elements in their music, most notably their lyrical imagery. The opening song usually sets the tone for the album, while the closing song is usually epic, longer than most the others, and brings a sort of "closing" to the album as opposed to being another song.

Contributors

Contributors are listed by their instruments, period of live appearances and studio/recording appearances. Records are abbreviated as follows: K/Q– Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age; QotSA - Queens of the Stone Age; Split – The Split CD; R - Rated R; SftD - Songs for the Deaf; LtP - Lullabies to Paralyze; EV - Era Vulgaris.
Current touring line-up
The live band touring in support of Era Vulgaris is as follows:

John McBain – guitar, vocals (live appearance 1997)
Chris Goss - guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, production (various live performances 2001-2006); K/Q, QotSA, R, SftD, LtP, EV
Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo) - guitar, backing vocals; SftD
Bassists

Alain Johannes – bass, guitar, backing vocals (toured 2005-2006); SftD, LtP, EV
Dan Druff – bass (live member 2005)
Nick Oliveri – bass, vocals (toured 1998–2004); R, SftD
Mike Johnson – bass (live appearance 1998)
Van Conner – bass (live appearance 1997-1998); K/Q
Drummers

Dave Grohl – drums, percussion, backing vocals (toured 2002, live appearance 2007); SftD
Gene Trautmann – drums, percussion (toured 1999–2002); R, SftD
Nick Lucero – drums, percussion; R
Barrett Martin - drums, percussion; R
Alfredo Hernández – drums (toured 1998–1999); K/Q, QotSA, Split
Matt Cameron – drums (live appearance 1997), vocals (live appearance 1997 - to sing "Anderson Anderson")
Vic the Stick - drums; K/Q
Keyboardists

Natasha Shneider – keyboards, backing vocals (toured 2005); SftD
Vocalists

Mark Lanegan – vocals (toured 2001-2005, live appearance 2007 T in the Park festival); R, SftD, LtP, EV
John Garcia - vocals (live appearance 2005 - to sing Kyuss covers "Thumb", "Hurricane" and "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop")
Pete Stahl - vocals (live appearance 1998-1999 - to sing Desert Sessions covers "Cake (Who Shit on the?)", "at the helm of hells ships" and "Nova")
Discography

Date of release Title Record label
September 22, 1998 Queens of the Stone Age Mans Ruin Records/Loose Groove Records/Roadrunner 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

January 22 2006 Over the Years and Through the Woods Interscope Records

June 12, 2007 Era Vulgaris Interscope Records

Award nominations

Grammy Awards of 2003 - Best Hard Rock Performance - "No One Knows"
Grammy Awards of 2004 - Best Hard Rock Performance - "Go With the Flow"
Grammy Awards of 2006 - Best Hard Rock Performance - "Little Sister"
Grammy Awards of 2008 - Best Hard Rock Performance - "Sick, Sick, Sick"Further Information
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