Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1996. The band frequently changes its line-up, and its records often include guest appearances. The only permanent member of the band is founder Josh Homme, with guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen having been a member since the release of the band's third studio album, Songs for the Deaf, in 2002. Bassist Michael Shuman and keyboardist and guitarist Dean Fertita both joined the band in 2007 to tour in support of its fifth studio album, Era Vulgaris (2007). In 2013, Queens of the Stone Age recorded the album ...Like Clockwork (2013) and Jon Theodore joined as permanent drummer the following year.

History Queens of the Stone Age was founded by Homme after the breakup of Kyuss, under the name Gamma Ray. This new band released a self titled EP. featuring Matt Cameron of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, Van Conner from Screaming Trees, and percussionist Victor Indrizzo.

After German band Gamma Ray threatened to sue over the name, Homme changed it to Queens of the Stone Age. The band's first live appearance was on November 20, 1997, at OK Hotel in Seattle, with Cameron on drums, Mike Johnson of Dinosaur Jr. on bass and John McBain of Monster Magnet on guitar. Queens of the Stone Age released their self-titled debut in 1998. Homme played most instruments with Alfredo Hernández contributing drums.

Soon after the recording sessions were finished for the album, former Kyuss bassist Nick Oliveri joined the group, and touring commenced with a band consisting entirely of ex-Kyuss members. Dave Catching, a former Kyuss guitar tech, joined shortly after. From this point forward, the band's line-up would change frequently; by the time their second album was being recorded, Hernández had left the group to play in other bands.

Gene Trautmann joined as Hernández's replacement, playing on Rated R (2000) alongside Homme, Oliveri and Catching. Brendon McNichol replaced Catching for touring. Mark Lanegan joined the band in 2001 as vocalist. Dave Grohl replaced Trautmann in late 2001, in time for recording Songs for the Deaf (2002). Troy Van Leeuwen replaced McNichol after the albums release.

Mid-way through touring, Grohl was replaced by Joey Castillo. After the tour finished in 2004, Oliveri was fired by Homme, his initial replacement was guitar tech Dan Druff, before Alain Johannes joined full-time in 2005, alongside Natasha Shneider on keyboards. Lanegan left in 2005. Following a tour in 2006, Shneider also left, followed by Johannes in 2007. Their replacements were Dean Fertita and Michael Shuman respectively.

Castillo left the band in 2012, mid-way through the recording of ...Like Clockwork (2013). He was replaced by Grohl for the remaining sessions, with Jon Theodore joining as the band's permanent drummer the following year.

Members

Current members ImagesNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJosh Homme1996–presentall Queens of the Stone Age releasesTroy Van Leeuwen2002–presentAll Queens of the Stone Age releases from Lullabies to Paralyze (2005) onwardsMichael Shuman2007–presentDean FertitaJon Theodore2013–present

Former members ImagesNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAlfredo Hernández1998–1999drumsQueens of the Stone Age (1998)Dave Catching1998–2000 Gene Trautmann1999–2001drumsNick Oliveri1998–2004 Mark Lanegan2001–2005 Rated R (2000), Songs for the Deaf (2002), Lullabies to Paralyze (2005), Era Vulgaris (2007), ...Like Clockwork (2013)Dave Grohl2001–2002 Joey Castillo2002–2012Alain Johannes2005–2007 Natasha Shneider2005-2006

Touring members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsNotesMatt CamerondrumsPlayed drums during live appearances in 1997 and 2008.John McBain1997guitarMade live appearances with the band in 1997 and co-wrote "Regular John".Mike JohnsonPerformed with the band on their first ever shows in 1997 and was credited for sitting on a sofa during the recording of the self-titled record and provided backing vocals on the track "Leg of Lamb" on Rated R.Pete Stahl1998–1999lead and backing vocals Contributed backing vocals to the track, "Lost Art of Keeping A Secret", on Rated R, and the B-sides, "Ode to Clarissa" and "Born to Hula". Stahl also toured with the band from 1998 to 1999 to perform backing vocals on various songs and performed lead vocals on Desert Sessions songs that were played, including "Cake (Who Shit in The?)" and "At the Helm of Hells Ships". He made a further live appearance on September 25, 2000, to perform "Nova".Mario Lalli 1999Filled in for Dave Catching who was touring in Europe with earthlings? between April 10 and May 14, 1999.Brendon McNichol 2000–2002Replaced Dave Catching during live performances and also recorded parts of Songs for the Deaf before leaving the band.Dan Druff 2004Was a longtime guitar tech for Queens since Rated R. After Oliveri's departure from the band in 2004, Dan Druff briefly joined the touring line up playing bass and guitar.Trent Reznor 2014Played keys on My God Is the Sun live at the Grammy Awards in January 2014 and produced the bonus track "Era Vulgaris" from the album of the same name as well as contributing vocals and drum programming on "Kalopsia" and background vocals on "Fairweather Friends" from ...Like Clockwork.

Timeline

Contributors

Guitarists Chris Goss – A long time collaborator with the band throughout their career, contributing on every album previous to ...Like Clockwork with various instruments, mainly guitars, and co-producing Rated R and Era Vulgaris together with Josh Homme as the Fififf Teeners. Has also made several live appearances throughout the band's career. Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo) – Played guitar and provided backing vocals during the recording of Songs for the Deaf. Billy Gibbons – Recorded "Burn the Witch", as well as the bonus tracks, "Precious and Grace" and "Like a Drug" for Lullabies to Paralyze. Also made live appearances in 2005 which can be seen in the bonus footage on the Over the Years and Through the Woods DVD. Aaron North – Made guest appearances with the band at various performances in 2005. Lindsey Buckingham – Played guitar on My God Is the Sun live at the Grammy Awards in January 2014.

Bassists Milo Beenhakker – Performed on the track "18 A.D" which appeared on the Burn One Up! album in 1997. Van Conner – Performed on the Gamma Ray EP and the Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age.

Drummers/Percussionists Victor Indrizzo – Recorded on the Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age split and the Gamma Ray EP. Eva Nahon – Recorded drums for the track "18 A.D" which appeared on the Burn One Up! album in 1997. Nick Lucero – Played drums on six tracks and percussion on two tracks in session during the recording of Rated R. Barrett Martin – Recorded percussion on two tracks and vibes on two tracks as well as steel drums on one track on Rated R.

Keyboardists Hutch – Queens sound engineer since its inception in 1998. Also recorded piano for "I Was a Teenage Hand Model" from their self-titled album. Elton John – Recorded piano and vocals on the track, "Fairweather Friends", on ...Like Clockwork.

Vocalists

Blag Dahlia – Lead vocals on "Punk Rock Caveman Living in a Prehistoric Age" in San Francisco in 2000. Tobey Torres – Backing vocals on "Quick and to the Pointless" at Reading Festival 2001. John Garcia – contributed backing vocals to 1997's "Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age" split EP and made a live appearance on December 20, 2005, performing Kyuss songs with the band. Wendy Rae Moan – Contributed backing vocals to the tracks, "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" and "Quick and to the Pointless", on Rated R. Nick Eldorado – Contributed backing vocals to the tracks, "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" and "Quick and to the Pointless", on Rated R. Rob Halford – Contributed backing vocals to the track, "Feel Good Hit of the Summer", on Rated R. Brody Dalle – Contributed backing vocals to two of the band's studio albums: Lullabies to Paralyze and Era Vulgaris. Also appeared live with Queens to sing lead and backing vocals at the tribute concert for Natasha Shneider in 2008. Shirley Manson – Contributed backing vocals to the track, "You Got a Killer Scene There, Man...", on Lullabies to Paralyze. Julian Casablancas – provided backing vocals to "Sick, Sick, Sick" on Era Vulgaris, and played casio guitar on the same track. Also appeared at the Pearl Jam Twenty Festival in 2011 to sing on "Sick, Sick, Sick". Serrina Sims – Contributed backing vocals to the track "Make It wit Chu" on Era Vulgaris. Also sang backing vocals at the tribute concert for Natasha Shneider in 2008. Liam Lynch – Contributed backing vocals to the track, "Make It wit Chu" on Era Vulgaris. PJ Harvey – Vocals on several songs from Desert Sessions Volumes 9 & 10, vocalist on "Make it wit Chu" and one of her own songs at the tribute concert for Natasha Shneider in 2008. Jesse Hughes – Backing vocals on "Make it wit Chu" and lead vocals on Eagles of Death Metal song "Speaking in Tongues" at the tribute concert for Natasha Shneider in 2008. Bobby Gillespie – Sang lead vocals on the Brian Eno cover Needles in the Camel's Eye, which is the B-side to Make it Wit Chu. Eddie Vedder – Backing vocals and cowbell on "Little Sister" at the Pearl Jam Twenty Festival in 2011 and at Lollapalooza Chile in 2013. Alex Turner – Contributed backing vocals to the track, "If I Had a Tail", on ...Like Clockwork, and co-wrote the lyrics to "Kalopsia" on the same album. Jake Shears – Provided co-lead vocals to the track "Keep Your Eyes Peeled", on ...Like Clockwork. Contributed lead vocals to the Desert Sessions track "Something You Can't See", on Vols. 11 & 12, along with backing vocals for several other songs on the same album. Nikka Costa – Contributed backing vocals on Villains. Matt Sweeney – Contributed backing vocals on Villains. Fred Martin – Contributed backing vocals on Villains. Tai Phillips – Contributed backing vocals on Villains. Faith Matovia – Contributed backing vocals on Villains.

Lineups +PeriodMembersStudio releases1996–1998 Josh Homme – vocals, guitar, bassnone1998 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, piano Alfredo Hernández – drums Queens of the Stone Age (1998)1998–1999 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano Alfredo Hernández – drums Dave Catching – guitar, keyboards, lap steel, backing vocals Nick Oliveri – bass, backing & lead vocalsnone1999–2000 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano Dave Catching – guitar, keyboards, lap steel, backing vocals Nick Oliveri – bass, backing & lead vocals Gene Trautmann – drums Rated R (2000)2000–2001 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano Nick Oliveri – bass, backing & lead vocals Gene Trautmann – drumsnone2001–2002 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano Nick Oliveri – bass, backing & lead vocals Gene Trautmann – drums Mark Lanegan – lead & backing vocalsnone2002 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, piano Nick Oliveri – bass, backing & lead vocals Mark Lanegan – lead & backing vocals Dave Grohl – drums, percussion Troy Van Leeuwen – guitar, keyboards, lap steel, backing vocals Songs for the Deaf (2002)2002–2004 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, piano Nick Oliveri – bass, backing & lead vocals Mark Lanegan – lead & backing vocals Troy Van Leeuwen – guitar, keyboards, lap steel, backing vocals Joey Castillo – drums, percussionnone2004–2005 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, bass, piano Mark Lanegan – lead & backing vocals, keyboards Troy Van Leeuwen – guitar, keyboards, lap steel, bass, backing vocals Joey Castillo – drums, percussion Lullabies to Paralyze (2005)2005–2006 Josh Homme – lead vocals, guitar, bass, piano Troy Van Leeuwen – guitar, keyboards, lap steel, bass, backing vocals Joey Castillo – drums, percussion Natasha Shneider – keyboards, backing vocals