QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - VILLAINS

Queens of the Stone Age (abbreviated QOTSA or QotSA) is an American rock band formed in 1996 by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme following the breakup of his previous band Kyuss. Although originally associated with Seattle due to early activity there, the project is most closely linked to the Palm Desert, California rock scene. Homme has remained the only constant member through numerous lineup changes. Since 2013, the core lineup has consisted of Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, lap steel, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals), Michael Shuman (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), Dean Fertita (keyboards, guitar, percussion, backing vocals), and Jon Theodore (drums, percussion). The band emerged from the Palm Desert music scene and evolved from Homme’s post-Kyuss project Gamma Ray, which released the "Gamma Ray EP" in 1996 and included early versions of songs such as "Born to Hula". The project changed its name in 1997 after legal pressure from the German band Gamma Ray. The name Queens of the Stone Age was taken from a nickname for Kyuss coined by producer Chris Goss. The first release under the new name was the song "18 A.D.", which appeared on a compilation album. Early live performances featured rotating musicians including Matt Cameron, Mike Johnson, and John McBain, reflecting the project’s flexible lineup in its formative period. The band's self-titled debut album, "Queens of the Stone Age" (1998), was recorded largely by Homme, who performed most instruments except drums, handled by former Kyuss member Alfredo Hernández. After the album's release, Nick Oliveri joined on bass and later became a co-lead vocalist, contributing to the band’s touring lineup alongside Dave Catching. The follow-up album "Rated R" (2000), released through Interscope Records, expanded the band's profile and featured contributions from musicians including Mark Lanegan and various guest instrumentalists. The album included the song "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" and received positive critical reception. The third album, "Songs for the Deaf" (2002), marked a commercial breakthrough and featured Dave Grohl on drums along with contributions from Mark Lanegan and other collaborators. The album included singles such as "No One Knows" and "Go with the Flow" and achieved gold certification in several markets. Following extensive touring, Nick Oliveri was dismissed from the band in 2004. Mark Lanegan also departed around this period after contributing to multiple releases. The fourth album, "Lullabies to Paralyze" (2005), was recorded with a shifting lineup including Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo, with additional contributions from Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider. The album debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 chart. The band continued with "Era Vulgaris" (2007), which featured further guest contributions and marked another period of lineup changes, with Michael Shuman and Dean Fertita beginning to take on more consistent roles in the touring lineup. In 2008, longtime collaborator Natasha Shneider died of cancer. Around this time the band’s activity slowed, with members engaging in side projects. Josh Homme also formed Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones during the hiatus period. In 2010, Homme experienced serious health complications following surgery and infection, resulting in a prolonged recovery period that influenced later songwriting. The band returned with a reissue of their debut album and resumed live performances in 2011. Work on a new album began in 2012, with contributions from returning collaborators including Dave Grohl, Nick Oliveri, and Mark Lanegan. The resulting album, "…Like Clockwork" (2013), was released on Matador Records and became the band’s first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. It included the song "My God Is the Sun" and featured multiple guest musicians. The album was widely regarded as a commercial and critical success. Their seventh studio album, "Villains" (2017), was produced by Mark Ronson and included the singles "The Way You Used to Do" and "The Evil Has Landed". The band continued extensive touring but also experienced controversy after Josh Homme was involved in an incident at a live performance in 2017, for which he later apologized. The eighth studio album, "In Times New Roman..." (2023), was released on Matador Records and included the singles "Emotion Sickness", "Carnavoyeur", and "Paper Machete". The album featured contributions from guest musicians including Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys. Touring in support of the album was interrupted by health-related cancellations affecting Homme, leading to postponements and cancellations of several shows. In 2025, the band announced a concert film titled "Alive in the Catacombs", recorded in the Paris Catacombs in 2024 and featuring acoustic arrangements with additional string musicians. The release was followed by plans for a related tour featuring rearranged versions of the band’s catalogue. Further touring activity has been scheduled for 2026. Queens of the Stone Age have received multiple Grammy nominations across categories including Best Hard Rock Performance, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Performance, and Best Rock Song. Their musical style is generally described as riff-driven rock with influences from blues rock, stoner rock, electronic music, and krautrock. The band is known for its rotating lineup of collaborators and its use of unconventional rhythms and vocal approaches, including Homme’s distinctive falsetto. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_of_the_Stone_Age Studio albums Queens of the Stone Age (1998) Rated R (2000) Songs for the Deaf (2002) Lullabies to Paralyze (2005) Era Vulgaris (2007) ...Like Clockwork (2013) Villains (2017) In Times New Roman... (2023) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.