Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated QOTSA) is an American rock band formed in 1996 in Palm Desert, California. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout multiple line-up changes. The current line-up consists of Homme alongside Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, lap steel, keyboard, percussion, backing vocals), Michael Shuman (bass guitar, keyboard, backing vocals), Dean Fertita (keyboards, guitar, percussion, backing vocals), and Jon Theodore (drums, percussion). The band also has a large pool of contributors and collaborators. Queens of the Stone Age are known for their blues, Krautrock and electronica-influenced style of riff-oriented and rhythmic hard rock music, coupled with Homme’s distinct falsetto vocals and unorthodox guitar scales.
Formed after the dissolution of Homme’s previous band Kyuss, the band originated from the Palm Desert music scene. Their self-titled debut album was recorded with former Kyuss members Alfredo Hernández on drums and Homme on all other instruments. Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan joined as additional vocalists for Rated R, which was commercially and critically successful, and featured their breakout single “The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret”. Songs for the Deaf was released in 2002 to universal acclaim and commercial success, and featured Dave Grohl on drums and contributions from Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider. Following Oliveri and Lanegan’s departures, Homme was the primary singer for 2005’s Lullabies to Paralyze and 2007’s electronic-influenced Era Vulgaris.
After a few years of inactivity, …Like Clockwork was released in 2013 and Villains in 2017 with Mark Ronson as producer for the latter, both of which received critical acclaim.
The band have been nominated for Grammy Awards seven times; four times for Best Hard Rock Performance, twice for Best Rock Album, and once for Best Rock Performance.
