Queens of the Stone Age - Band Profile

Queens of the Stone Age are one of the most innovative rock bands around. Formed in 1997, they are still going strong, even after a major lineup changes.

The band were formed in California in 1997 and originally were called Gamma Ray, although this was changed as there was a German band with the same name. The founding member was Josh Homme, who used to be in Kyuss and Mark Lanegan’s band The Screaming Trees.

Debut album Queens of The Stone Age was released in 1998. This was the year that fellow Kyuss member Nick Oliveri joined the band - a guy well reputed for performing at gigs naked.

Rated R was released in 2000 and included hits such as Monsters in the Parasol, Feel Good Hit of the Summer and The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret. Songs for the Deaf was released in 2002 - which included the talents of Mark Lanegan, Dave Grohl and Troy Van Leeuwen from A Perfect Circle.

In 2004 Nick Oliveri was dismissed from the band, for unknown reasons. The following year Lullabies to Paralyse was released. Era Vulgaris was released in 2007 and was seen as much darker than the bands previous work.

All the current and previous band members are also involved in a lot of other bands such as Mondo Generator and The Eagles of Death Metal.

The band has released five studio albums: Queens of the Stone Age (1998), Rated R (2000), Songs for the Deaf (2002), Lullabies to Paralyze (2005) and Era Vulgaris (2007).

The band also have released a number of official t-shirts for Men and Women.