Queens of the Stone Age: 20 Interesting Facts

Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated as QOTSA) is an American rock band who have been around since the mid 1990s. This band is one of my favourite bands and they’re definitely on my bucket list of bands that I want to see live.

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this band, but today my aim is to change that…

Here are 20 Interesting Facts that you might not have known about Queens of the Stone Age

1. After Kyuss disbanded in 1995, Josh Homme briefly toured as a guitarist with Screaming Trees. Subsequently, he formed a new band named Gamma Ray, but due to a legal threat from the German power metal band Gamma Ray in 1997, they changed their name. The new name, Queens of the Stone Age, originated from a nickname given to Kyuss by their producer, Chris Goss.

2. The current members of the band are Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore.

3. Alfredo Hernández, Nick Oliveri, Mark Lanegan, Gene Trautmann, Dave Grohl, Joey Castillo, Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider are all former members of Queens of the Stone Age.

4. To date the band has released 8 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) and In Times New Roman… (2023)

5. Josh Homme crafted the lyrics “Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana, Ecstasy, and Alcohol” for “Feel Good Hit Of The Summer” by recounting the substances in his system following a three-day binge.

6. Josh Homme is recognized for his eccentric comments, and Glastonbury 2011 was no exception. During the same performance where Beyoncé was headlining the Pyramid Stage, he bluntly exclaimed, “F*** Beyoncé!”

7. Prior to their headline performance at Glastonbury 2011, Queens of the Stone Age permitted fans to vote for their favorite songs from their entire discography. The selected songs were then compiled into a 10-song “best of” set, resulting in one of their most impressive performances to date.

8. Josh Homme experienced complications during a knee operation in 2010, leading to his death on the operating table. Fortunately, he joined the ranks of individuals like Slash, who have undergone a similar experience of being resuscitated. This incident served as a catalyst for the creation of …Like Clockwork.

9. The ominous and blood-stained animation accompanying the release of …Like Clockwork and singles like “My God Is The Sun” was crafted by a young British artist named Boneface.

10. Their inaugural album track, ‘Mexicola,’ took its name from a mixed drink composed of tequila, lime juice, and cola.

11. During the UK tour for Queens of the Stone Age‘s Songs For The Deaf, a large group from a hard-of-hearing support organization attended, mistakenly thinking it was intended for them. One individual even held a balloon to sense the vibrations. Ultimately, they were provided with a refund.

12. In an interview on Later with Jools Holland, Josh Homme playfully mentioned influencing the Arctic Monkeys, resulting in each member gradually relocating to Los Angeles.

13. Josh Homme took up playing the guitar because his parents opposed having a drum kit in the house.

14. Bread achieved a #1 hit in 1970 with the easygoing favorite “Make It With You,” where the singer pursues a romantic connection with a “live in the moment” approach. In a similar vein, “Make It Wit Chu” conveys a comparable message, as he sings about the sun and the moon in his endeavor to connect with the girl. He has described it as “one of the best songs about intimacy.”

15. Queens of the Stone Age gained attention with their initial albums but achieved their first significant hit with “No One Knows” on their third album, Songs For The Deaf.

Despite their radio-unfriendly reputation, the song climbed steadily, reaching #1 on the Modern Rock Chart and peaking at #51 on the Hot 100 about six months after the album’s release in March 2003. The band continued to create unpredictable and unconventional rock music, staying true to their dedicated fan base, which appreciated their deviation from the prevailing trends of teen pop and R&B dominating the airwaves.

16. Dave Grohl, renowned as the drummer for Nirvana and frontman of the Foo Fighters, played drums on “No One Knows” and several other tracks on Queens of the Stone Age’s album, Songs For The Deaf.

17. “If I Had a Tail” showcases Dave Grohl on drums and includes harmonized “ooh la las” featuring a gang chorus led by Arctic Monkeys‘ frontman Alex Turner, Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees, and former Queens of the Stone Age member Nick Oliveri.

18. Lead vocalist Josh Homme has explained that the band’s 2005 track “Little Sister” drew inspiration from the “kind of sexual twist” present in the song of the same name recorded by Elvis Presley in 1961.

19. “First It Giveth” delves into the impact of drugs on the creative process, illustrating how they can initially spark ideas but later nullify all the inspiration they provided.

20. Songs for the Deaf has sold more than 2.4 million copies to date.

Well, there you have it, 20 interesting facts you might not have known about Queens of the Stone Age. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.

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