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Queens of the Stone Age Information
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'Queens of the Stone Age' is a rock music band from the United States, formed in 1997.
Originally formed under the name Gamma Ray by guitarist Josh Homme and drummer Alfredo Hernandez to outgrow the stoner rock label that had begun to envelop previous band Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age developed a style of riff-oriented, monotonous, heavy and repetitious 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". This label no longer holds true and has since been discarded, as the band is now widely considered one of the most eclectic and innovative bands in the often generic hard rock landscape.
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 were threatening to sue. According to Josh and former bassist Nick Oliveri the name origins are thus:
:"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." - Nick (2000)
:"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 also just 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 is happy and it's more of a party. Kings of the Stone Age, is too lopsided." - Josh (2000)
Their self-titled debut album, Queens of the Stone Age, was recorded with just Josh and drummer Alfredo Hernandez and released in the fall of 1998, at which time former Kyuss bassist Nick Oliveri and guitarist Dave Catching joined and touring commenced.
Breakthrough and rising to success (2000-2004)
Over the next couple of years the line-up changed, something that would happen a lot in the band's future with Homme being the consistent member; 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." - Josh (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.'" - Josh (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 former 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.
Frequent touring for Rated R generated support for the band, and grew with former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's joining in late 2001/early 2002 to record their third album. Songs for the Deaf was released in August, and also featured ex-Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan, a floater since Rated R. Although Songs for the Deaf gained major attention, Grohl returned to his other projects. Former Danzig drummer Joey Castillo filled his spot during the European leg of the supporting tour and joined the band full time. 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 with a string of headline dates in Australia in January of 2004, after which Oliveri was fired for what was said to be disrespect of the group's fans and excessive partying. But in July 2005, Homme claimed in a radio interview that Oliveri was fired when he was convinced that Oliveri 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.'" (Josh Homme to Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1, July 6th 2005 )
Post Oliveri (2005-present)
Homme, along with Eleven multi-instrumentalist Alain Johannes, A Perfect Circle guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, and Castillo, recorded a new album for 2005 called 'Lullabies to Paralyze' (taken from a lyric on the last song of the album Songs for the Deaf).
:"I also like that the title bridges this record and the last record in that it™s a lyric from 'Mosquito Song'." - Josh (2005)
Despite Lanegan reportedly turning down an invitation to remain with the band, he recorded vocals on new tracks and is appearing with the band on tour as scheduling and his health permit. It was rumored that Homme fired Lanegan, however this was just a rumor:
:"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." - Josh (2005, during the same interview linked above)
Lullabies to Paralyze was leaked onto the internet during Feb 2005, and then officially released on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005 in the USA, debuting in the number 5 slot on the Billboard Music Chart.
In fall 2005, the group supported Nine Inch Nails on their North American tour of With Teeth.
The band released a live album/dvd set called Over The Years And Through The Woods on the 22nd of November.
Lineup
'Current lineup:'
* Joshua Homme - Vocals/Guitar/Bass (1997-)
* Mark Lanegan - Guest vocals (2000-)
* Troy Van Leeuwen - Guitar/Bass/Lap Steel (2002-)
* Joey Castillo - Drums (2002-)
* Alain Johannes - Bass/Guitar (2005-)
* Natasha Shneider - Keyboards/Vocals (2005-)
'Previous Members:'
Guitarists
* Brendon McNichol - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards/Vocals (2000-2002)
* Dave Catching - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards/Vocals (1998-2000)
* John McBain - Guitar (1997-1998)
Bassists
* Nick Oliveri - Bass/Vocals (1998-2004)
* The Kid - Bass (1998)
* Mike Johnson - Bass (1998)
Drummers
* Dave Grohl - Drums (2002)
* Gene Trautmann - Drums (1999-2002)
* Nick Lucero - Drums (studio drummer on Rated R)(2000)
* Alfredo Hernandez - Drums (1998-1999)
* Matt Cameron - Drums (1997)
Other
* Mario Lalli - Guitar/Lap Steel/Keyboards (Dave Catching was in Europe from April 10-27 Lalli was his replacement) (1999 for 17 days)
Discography
Albums
Studio Albums
* 1998 - Queens of the Stone Age
* 2000 - Rated R
* 2002 - Songs for the Deaf US #17, UK #4
* 2005 - Lullabies to Paralyze US #5
Live Albums
* 2005 - Over The Years And Through The Woods
Others
* 1996 - If Only Everything (under the name Gamma Ray)
* 1997 - Split EP (Kyuss / Queens Of The Stone Age (Gamma Ray Sessions))
* 1998 - Split EP (Queens of the Stone Age/Beaver)
* 2004 - Stone Age Complications (Rarities, Lmtd. Edition)
Singles
'From Queens of the Stone Age:'
* 1999 - "If Only"
'From R:'
* 2000 - "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" UK #31
* 2000 - "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" (EU and Australia only, released in Australia in 2001)
'From Songs for the Deaf:'
* 2002 - "No One Knows" US #51, UK #15
* 2003 - "Go With the Flow" UK #21
* 2003 - "First It Giveth" UK #33
'From Lullabies to Paralyze:'
* 2005 - "Little Sister" US #88, UK #18
* 2005 - "In My Head" UK #44
* 2005 - "Burn the Witch"
DVDs
* 2005 - Over The Years And Through The Woods (Live)
Musical Equipment
Josh mostly uses Ampeg amplifiers. Previously he recorded and gigged with an Ovation GP guitar, but has since 'retired' that instrument. He currently uses a Maton Mastersound MS520 electric guitar, which he can be seen playing in the video clip for No One Knows. His guitars are usually tuned two whole steps down to C Tuning. Troy has been using several guitars, among them a Yamaha AES1500, a Gibson Les Paul and also a Chandler lap steel guitar.
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