Queens of the Stone Age

Born from the desert rock scene in Palm Desert, California in the late 1990s, Queens of the Stone Age was built around guitarist and singer Josh Homme following his time in Kyuss. The band, with a rotating lineup, has included bassist Nick Oliveri, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, keyboardist Dean Fertita and drummers Joey Castillo and Jon Theodore, with recurring collaborations from Mark Lanegan and Dave Grohl. From the debut album “Queens of the Stone Age” (1998) and “Rated R” (2000), QOTSA established a hybrid rock—rooted in stoner heritage—characterized by repetitive riffs, a pronounced groove and vocal melodies often sung in falsetto. “Songs for the Deaf” (2002) expanded this approach into a denser sound, blending hard rock energy, near‑pop structures and psychedelic touches; “Lullabies to Paralyze” (2005) and “Era Vulgaris” (2007) reinforced the project’s darker, more experimental side. With “...Like Clockwork” (2013) and “Villains” (2017) the band refined a more open take on alternative rock and R&B influences while maintaining a constant focus on guitar textures and hypnotic rhythmic motifs, continued in 2023 with “In Times New Roman…”. The group remains closely associated with international rock scenes and major festivals, where this riff‑centered aesthetic and rhythmic tension form the core of its identity.