A Newbie's Guide to the Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA)

A Newbie's Guide to the Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA)

      Welcome to the Newbie's Guide to QOTSA. If you've just heard No One Knows on the radio and decided that QOTSA is the band for you, then you've come to the right place to get your basic questions about the band answered. Please go to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for more in-depth answers to your questions as well as nuggets of info about the band. Please read this guide and the FAQ before you post questions to any message boards.

The Newbie's Guide to Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA)

1. Who are the Queens of the Stone Age?
2. Isn't Dave Grohl in this band?
3. What Kind of guitar does Josh Homme play?
4. If I go see QOTSA live, will Dave Grohl be there?
5. Why do so many people sing on the album?
6. Do they have any other albums?
7. When are they coming to my town?
8. Where can I meet other QOTSA fans?
9. I want to know more!

1. Who are the Queens of the Stone Age?

The Queens of the Stone Age are a band from California. They formed in 1997. They have released three albums.

The Queens of the Stone Age are:


Josh Homme: vocals, guitar


Nick Oliveri: vocals, bass

Josh formed QOTSA and recruited Nick along the way. Since then the rest of the band has changed a lot. Now, however, they may have found a permanent, solid band. The current lineup is Josh, Nick, and:

Mark Lanegan (vocals on Song for the Dead, Hangin Tree, God is in the Radio, and Song for the Deaf)
Joey Castillo (drums)
Troy Van Leeuwen (keyboards, guitar)

Mark used to be in a band called the Screaming Trees. He also has a solo career. Joey has been in Danzig, a band called Goatsnake, and some other bands. Troy was in A Perfect Circle, and is in Enemy.

2. Isn't Dave Grohl in this band?

No, but he used to be. Dave Grohl joined QOTSA in late 2001 to make Songs for the Deaf. He plays drums on the album. Then he joined the band for a short North American club tour as their drummer in May and June 2002, followed by a few European shows with the band. Dave Grohl played his last show with QOTSA on July 28, 2002 in Japan. He will probably never join them on the road again. Whether he will join them as a guest drummer on a future album is unknown. Dave had never ever planned to quit the Foo Fighters and join QOTSA permenantly. Joey Castillo is now the drummer for QOTSA.

3. What kind of guitar does Josh Homme play?

This is a very common question for newbies, mostly because of the awesome tone Josh Homme's guitar has, and although giving out this information for everyone to see will now raise the price of the guitar another $1000, here it goes. Josh plays a 1980's Ovation GP as his main guitar. For more information visit the equipment section.

4. If I go see QOTSA live, will Dave Grohl be there?

No. Dave Grohl played his last show with QOTSA in July 2002. He will probably never join them on tour again. Don't worry, he still likes QOTSA. He simply has his own band to keep him busy.

5. Why do so many people sing on the album?

Because QOTSA likes to have guests come in to make records with them. They also like to invite their guests to join the band for a time. They like to bring guest singers and guitar players in to make sure their sound is always changing and growing. QOTSA is the kind of band that doesn't make the same album twice, and their changing line-up is part of the reason why they keep changing. Have they finally found a lineup they like with Josh, Nick, Mark, Troy, and Joey? We'll see.

Three people sing on Songs for the Deaf: Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri, and Mark Lanegan. Here is a list of who sings what on each song:

You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar... - Nick Oliveri
No One Knows - Josh Homme
First It Giveth - Josh Homme
Song for the Dead - Mark Lanegan
Sky is Fallin - Josh Homme
Six Shooter - Nick Oliveri
Hangin Tree - Mark Lanegan
Go with the Flow - Josh Homme
Gonna Leave You - Nick Oliveri
Do It Again - Josh Homme
God is in the Radio - Mark Lanegan
Another Love Song - Nick Oliveri
Song for the Deaf - Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan
Mosquito Song - Josh Homme


For more detailed information about these tracks and who sings/plays what on the album, as well as who the radio DJs are, please visit the Songs for the Deaf page in the Discography.

6. Do they have any other albums?

Yes. QOTSA has released three albums (click on the album name to get more info on each album):

Queens of the Stone Age (1998)
Rated R (2000)
Songs for the Deaf (2002)

You may not be able to find the first two albums in stores in your area, but you can find them online.

Click here to buy Rated R at amazon.com
Click here to buy Queens of the Stone Age at amazon.com


7. When are they coming to my town?

You can check out all of the upcoming QOTSA show dates here.

8. Where can I meet other QOTSA fans?

You can meet other QOTSA fans on the QOTSA message board at QOTSA.com. Don't go there and ask any questions until you read all of this guide and the QOTSA FAQ on this site. You will be taunted and shunned if you ask basic questions that are answered either here or in the FAQ.

9. I want to know more!

Visit the FAQ.

What's Next

Now that you've read this guide, you should have a better idea about who QOTSA is. Any further questions are probably answered in the FAQ. Pick up their CDs, and go and see them live if you can. They're pretty fuckin good.

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