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Queens of the Stone Age

Way back in November 2002, I found out that Queens of the Stone Age was headed to Norfolk. Fearing the show would sell out immediately, I headed to my local “ticketbastard” and got 2 tickets for the still yet to sell out show at the Norva on Monday, March 24. I got tickets number 1 and 2 and was amazed that nobody else had beaten me to the punch. I mean this is a band that has one of the most popular songs on the radio today. Yet I assume, still a band that “No One Knows”.

After many calls placed to Interscope Records, I was denied an interview with the QOTSA as they have now become superstars and probably have limited time to deal with the public. And even though they might be making piles of money nowadays, as opposed to 10 or so years ago, with the bandmates' former projects, it is my belief that the boys are still true to their music and not about to sell out (with the exception of a few shows here and there).

Question: It is the late 80’s, early 90’s…what is one of the first words that comes to mind musically? Come on it’s not a trick question. That’s right… "GRUNGE" …aaaagh! I’m not going to lie; I bought many of the “grunge” albums (i.e. Green River, Mudhoney, and every other album Mark Arm was on for that matter). But I was never closed minded to any one specific type of music. Especially when it came to other bands who deserved recognition but didn’t necessarily receive it. One of those bands was Screaming Trees. Sure they had the hit “Nearly Lost You” that was featured on the soundtrack for the Matt Dillon movie Singles , but they never got the respect they deserved and most people never heard from them again. Another band who fell into the same category was Kyuss. Now this band was well on their way to success. They never made it though because the only thing people even cared about in those days was the dreaded 6 letter “G” word and bad hip-hop music (i.e. Hammer, Vanilla, etc.).

Years later, former members of the two previously mentioned bands are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri put Kyuss aside and set forth to embark on a new musical journey called Queens of the Stone Age. They put out their first self-titled release in 1998 and saw fewer sales than previous Kyuss albums. They were recruited for the “Prince of F…ing Darfness’s” Ozzfest tour to play the 2 ^nd stage in 2000. At the same time they released their second effort, Rated R . In 2001 they recruited Mark Lanegan, former Screaming Trees vocalist, and Dave Grohl, former drummer of some little band out of Seattle to record their 3 ^rd effort titled, Songs For the Deaf . Homme had played as a second guitarist on Screaming Trees last tour when he needed work and returned the favor to Lanegan. The four members did a publicity tour before the album's release in 2002. Grohl then jumped off to pursue the “Foo” and then joining the Queens was longtime Muscle Metal God Danzig’s former drummer, Joey Castillo. This lineup also consists of Troy Van Leeuwen on keys and backup guitars to help fulfill the sound. Van Leeuwen was last seen as part of A Perfect Circle.

I have yet to see QOTSA, but got the chance to see Kyuss years ago when they opened up for J. Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. at the Boathouse. If they are anything as intense as Kyuss was, everybody is in for a treat. Although, Lanegan only makes an appearance a few times throughout the night expect great things from him as well as I have witnessed this first hand at the Boathouse, as well when Screaming Trees played with Alice In Chains and Gruntruck in 1992.

A little note before I go. When you miss the QOTSA show at the Norva, you can still see them on this year's Lollapalooza tour that is headed our way. But you will never get the full effect from these guys from the lawn. So get off your lazy butt and go get your tickets now as this show is sure to sell out.

Want To Go? Queens of the Stone Age, March 24, The NorVa.