Decisive · Garage Revival & Mass Alt
Queens of the Stone Age
Josh Homme’s desert-rock project after Kyuss. From Queens of the Stone Age (1998) through Songs for the Deaf (2002), down-tuned repeating riffs and rotating lineups defined the band; Homme later carried related methods into Them Crooked Vultures.
Landmark
No One Knows · 2002
Stop-start riff and Homme hook; main Songs for the Deaf radio single.
Opened
Kyuss-related desert rock refined for rock radio; rotating cast around Homme.
01 / 06
After Kyuss: desert rock as repeating riffs
Homme formed Gamma Ray, then renamed Queens of the Stone Age after a legal conflict. Debut QOTSA (1998) and Rated R (2000) use C tuning, repeating riffs, and sparse vocal delivery. Nick Oliveri joins on bass—high harmonies and aggression against Homme’s low register. Mark Lanegan guests on vocals. Desert rock here means groove hypnosis, not jam sprawl.
02 / 06
Songs for the Deaf: Grohl on drums
Homme produces and Grohl drums on Songs for the Deaf (2002)—No One Knows and Go with the Flow hit US rock radio. The mix is dry and mid-forward; riffs repeat with micro-variation rather than long solos. The album title references desert highway radio static as a production idea. Kyuss is the prior band for Homme and Oliveri. Grohl and John Paul Jones meet Homme again in Them Crooked Vultures. Humbug is the Arctic Monkeys session.
03 / 06
Homme network and Them Crooked Vultures
Lullabies to Paralyze (2005) and Era Vulgaris (2007) rotate lineups; Troy Van Leeuwen adds second-guitar texture. Homme’s producer credits and Grohl’s drum guest spot feed the personnel for Them Crooked Vultures (2009). QOTSA remains Homme’s primary band—riff discipline and dry desert production as constants.
04 / 06
No One Knows
Grohl on drums; stop-start riff and desert-dry mix on Songs for the Deaf.
05 / 06
Go with the Flow
Melodic chorus over a repeating verse riff—Homme’s pop sense inside stoner rock.
06 / 06
Little Sister
Bo Diddley beat in a 2:40 hard-rock single from Lullabies to Paralyze.
01 / 06
After Kyuss: desert rock as repeating riffs
Josh Homme’s desert-rock project after Kyuss. From Queens of the Stone Age (1998) through Songs for the Deaf (2002), down-tuned repeating riffs and rotating lineups defined the band; Homme later carried related methods into Them Crooked Vultures.
Lineup versions
Songs for the Deaf era
Peak2001–2004
Oliveri/Lanegan/Grohl period; Homme desert riff writing. Oliveri and Grohl are the Songs for the Deaf chairs. Castillo, Van Leeuwen, Fertita, and Shuman are the names after that album. The book does not print each join year.
- Josh HommeVocals, Guitar
- Nick OliveriBass, Vocals
- Mark LaneganVocals
- Dave GrohlDrums
Quotes
“The riff has to hypnotize before it rocks.”
— Josh Homme, 2002 · Press interview excerpt
“Songs for the Deaf was a radio play with distortion.”
— Josh Homme, 2002 · Studio interview excerpt
Scenes
| Year | Track | On stage | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | No One KnowsFrom Songs for the Deaf; Grohl on drums; stop-start riff, desert-dry mix. | Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri, Dave Grohl | |
| 2002 | Go with the FlowMelodic chorus over a repeating verse riff; Homme’s pop sense inside stoner rock. | Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri, Dave Grohl | |
| 2005 | Little SisterFrom Lullabies to Paralyze; Bo Diddley beat in a 2:40 hard-rock single. | Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Joey Castillo |