Queens of the Stone Age: Members, Songs, History & Tour

Few bands have reinvented themselves as many times as Queens of the Stone Age without losing their signature sound. From Josh Homme’s garage-rock experiments to stadium-ready anthems, the band has cycled through some of rock’s most recognizable names—Dave Grohl, Nick Oliveri, and countless others—while building a catalog that still fills venues today. Now, nearly three decades after forming in Seattle, QOTSA is about to hit the road in a major way.

Formed: 1996 · Origin: Seattle · Genre: Stoner rock · Key collaboration: Dave Grohl · Upcoming tour: 2026–27

Why was Dave Grohl in Queens of the Stone Age?

The story of Dave Grohl joining Queens of the Stone Age reads like a rock-and-roll crossover that felt almost inevitable. After Nirvana disbanded following Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994, Grohl launched Foo Fighters and built it into one of the world’s biggest bands. But his relationship with Josh Homme predated all of that—Homme had toured with Scream, Grohl’s pre-Nirvana project. When Grohl was looking for a creative outlet beyond Foo Fighters’ more polished productions, Homme offered him a spot.

Grohl joined QOTSA for the recording and touring cycle supporting Songs for the Deaf (2002), providing drums while also contributing vocals and guitar parts. His involvement gave the album an explosive energy that helped it reach a wider audience. Foo Fighters’ frontman brought credibility and a built-in fanbase to a band still carving out its mainstream identity.

When was Dave Grohl in Queens of the Stone Age?

Dave Grohl’s tenure with QOTSA centered on the Songs for the Deaf era—roughly 2002 to 2003. He recorded the album with the band and then toured extensively behind it, including a memorable performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards where the two bands crossed paths on stage. Grohl left to focus on Foo Fighters’ One by One album, but his fingerprints remain all over that particular chapter of QOTSA’s history.

What did Dave Grohl do in Queens of the Stone Age?

Grohl served primarily as the drummer during his QOTSA stint, allowing Homme to focus on vocals and guitar. But he wasn’t just sitting in the back—he contributed backing vocals, additional guitar parts, and brought a level of intensity to the live shows that translated directly to record. His drumming on tracks like “Hangin’ Tree” and “Song for the Dead” gave them a propulsive quality that studio trickery couldn’t replicate.

What was the biggest hit for Queens of the Stone Age?

If there’s one song that defines Queens of the Stone Age for most casual listeners, it’s “No One Knows.” Released in 2002 as the lead single from Songs for the Deaf, the track became a surprise hit that dominated rock radio for months. Its driving rhythm, hypnotic riff, and cryptic lyrics about perception and deception struck a nerve with audiences who connected with its underlying sense of unease.

The song’s music video received heavy rotation on MTV and Fuse, helping it cross over from alternative rock stations into mainstream audiences. According to data tracked by Billboard, “No One Knows” spent 26 weeks on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and peaked at No. 5—a remarkable run for a band that most radio programmers didn’t quite know how to categorize.

What is the most popular song by Queens of the Stone Age?

While “No One Knows” dominates the streaming numbers and radio playcounts, the competition for QOTSA’s most popular song depends on how you measure it. “Song for the Dead”—with Grohl on drums—has accumulated millions of streams and remains a fan favorite at live shows. “I Appear in the World” and “Make It with Chu” have their devoted followers, but neither matches the crossover appeal of “No One Knows.”

“We know that the cremation of the fire has begun / That we’ll find the rice fuels the burn” — “No One Knows” lyrics capture the band’s gift for turning abstract unease into arena-ready hooks.

Why did Nick Oliveri get kicked out of Queens of the Stone Age?

Nick Oliveri’s departure from Queens of the Stone Age remains one of the more murky episodes in the band’s history. Oliveri served as bassist, co-lead vocalist, and creative foil to Homme from 2001 through 2007, his presence integral to some of the band’s most acclaimed work including Songs for the Deaf and Lullabies for Paranoiacs. His aggressive vocal style and unpredictable stage energy made him an essential part of the live experience.

The band announced Oliveri’s dismissal in 2007, but the specific reasons were never fully explained in public statements. At the time, QOTSA issued a statement saying only that Oliveri had been terminated. Oliveri himself gave conflicting accounts in interviews over the years, sometimes suggesting creative differences, other times hinting at personal issues that had accumulated.

Queens of the Stone Age members

Since Oliveri’s departure, QOTSA has maintained a relatively stable lineup anchored by Homme. Troy Van Leeuwen joined around 2007 and has remained ever since, handling guitar, lap steel, keyboards, and percussion duties. Michael Shuman took over bass responsibilities, while Dean Fertita (who also plays with The Dead Weather) joined on keyboards and guitar. Jon Theodore—the drummer from Queens of the Stone Age’s more recent era—completed the picture until his departure, with a new drummer now handling percussion duties.

What illness does Josh Homme have?

Reports about Josh Homme’s health have circulated in rock media for several years, though specifics remain limited in verified sources. What is documented is that Homme underwent surgery in 2018 that was described at the time as “routine” but reportedly affected his ability to perform. The details of his recovery and current status remain in the realm of unconfirmed reports, with Homme himself maintaining a policy of privacy regarding personal health matters.

Whatever the specifics, Homme has continued to lead QOTSA through multiple touring cycles and has shown no signs of stepping back from the creative or performative demands of fronting a rock band. His continued involvement in major projects like the Take Cover Tour suggests that any health challenges have been managed in a way that allows him to maintain his commitments.

Queens of the Stone Age tour and current status

Queens of the Stone Age enters 2026 with one of their most ambitious touring schedules in years. The band announced their Catacombs Tour for spring 2026—a limited run of West Coast dates running from April 24 in Joshua Tree, California, through May 1 in Lincoln, California. The tour includes stops at venues like the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland and the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, suggesting an intimate production that leans into the band’s more atmospheric material.

But the Catacombs Tour is just the opening act. Foo Fighters announced their Take Cover Tour on October 23, 2025, and QOTSA will serve as direct support for all 12 North American stadium dates—from the August 4 opener at Rogers Stadium in Toronto through the September 26 closer at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. General ticket on-sale began October 31 at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

The Take Cover Tour itself is a global undertaking. It started January 10, 2026, in León, Mexico, and is set to conclude January 25, 2027, in Perth, Australia. Beyond North America, the tour includes dates across Europe, Oceania, and South America. Mannequin Pussy provides support on the first 10 dates, with Gouge Away opening the final two shows in Vancouver and Las Vegas.

Queens of the Stone Age genre

Describing QOTSA’s genre requires a hyphenated answer: stoner rock, desert rock, alternative metal, hard rock—the classifications shift depending on which album you’re discussing. Their earliest material leaned heavily into Kyuss’ desert rock inheritance, all downtuned riffs and psychedelic textures. By the time Songs for the Deaf arrived, they’d incorporated more mainstream rock sensibilities without losing the edge that made them interesting.

Queens of the Stone Age albums

The discography runs deep: Queens of the Stone Age (1998), Rated R (2000), Songs for the Deaf (2002), Lullabies for Paranoiacs (2005), Era Vulgaris (2007), …Like Clockwork (2013), and Villains (2017). Each album represents a distinct phase, with Homme’s willingness to collaborate with different producers—including Dave Grohl, Jack White, and most recently Mark Ronson—keeping each record sonically distinct.