While in high school, Homme got together with locals Brant Bjork, Chris Cockrell (later replaced by Nick Oliveri) and John Garcia resulting in the formation of Kyuss (firstly known as "Sons of Kyuss"). Queens of the Stone Age formed in 1997, rising from the ashes of Kyuss and began playing together during the now legendary Desert Sessions. Homme has drawn all of the members from that diverse group of musicians for Queens of the Stone Age. The band originally formed under the name Gamma Ray, but almost faced a lawsuit from the European metal band of the same name.
Queens of the Stone Age have gone through many line-up changes since first breaking into the hard rock scene. Their most recent line-up includes: Josh Homme (guitar, vocals), Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, lap steel, keyboards, backing vocals), Jon Theodore (drums, percussion), Michael Shuman (bass, backing vocals), and Dean Fertita (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals).
Former core members include Joey Castillo, Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider, Mark Lanegan, and Nick Oliveri, among other members and contributors. In 2002, regarding the band line-up, Homme said: "It really is more of a musical experiment… It keeps moving and reinventing itself. That way we never get painted into a corner."
Dave Grohl recorded drums, percussion and backing vocals on Songs for the Deaf and toured in support of the album in 2002 before returning to the Foo Fighters. Grohl also made a live appearance in 2007, to play Make It wit Chu, and recorded tracks on …Like Clockwork, following Joey Castillo's departure.
Mark Lanegan has long been an on/off vocalist for the band, toured from 2001 to 2005 and made live appearances in 2007 and 2010. He has recorded with the band on all albums except for their self-titled debut album. Lanegan has also played keyboards in live performances during the tour preceding the release of Lullabies to Paralyze, before Natasha Shneider joined the band.
Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri were seen as the only two consistent Queens of the Stone Age members. Oliveri had previously played alongside Homme in the band Kyuss and joined Queens of the Stone Age as its permanent bass guitarist and co-lead vocalist, in 1998, upon the release of its debut album, Queens of the Stone Age. Being friends since childhood, the two meshed well together. Oliveri's punk background brought an element of danger and attitude to the Queens' live shows. As the band's two core members, the duo recorded the breakthrough albums, Rated R and Songs for the Deaf, together. Oliveri's unique "howling" singing style made him easily distinguishable on songs such as Six Shooter from the album Songs for the Deaf; he also displays a more melodic singing style in Rated R songs such as Auto Pilot.
However, Homme fired Oliveri in 2004 for excessive partying and an alleged incident of domestic abuse (an accusation which Oliveri strongly denies). The duo repaired their friendship shortly afterwards. Oliveri, however, did not return to the band. In 2013, upon hearing that former contributor Dave Grohl was recording drums for the band's sixth studio album, …Like Clockwork, Oliveri asked Homme if he too could return on bass guitar. Homme ultimately did not grant Oliveri's request. He does, however, appear on backing vocals on the album track, If I Had a Tail.
Diskographie:
1997 - Kyuss / Queens of the Stone Age
1998 - Queens of the Stone Age / Beaver Split
1998 - Queens of the Stone Age
2000 - Rated R
2002 - Songs for the Deaf
2002 - Sample This School Boy
2002 - 2002-10-29: Rock City, Nottingham, UK
2002 - 2002-11-06: Stockholm, Sweden
2003 - Songs For The Deaf Tour Edition
2004 - Stone Age Complication
2005 - Lullabies to Paralyze
2005 - Lullabies To Paralize Tour Edition
2005 - MTV Unplugged (Berlin 2005-06-10)
2005 - Over the Years and Through the Woods
2006 - 2005-12-20: Los Angeles, CA, USA
2006 - Over The Years And Through The Woods
2007 - The Definitive Collection Of B-sides & Rarities
2007 - Era Vulgaris
2008 - Era Vulgaris Tour Edition
2013 - ...Like Clockwork
2017 - Villains
2023 - In Times New Roman...
Avon
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through a park in a haze
And I don't listen
For traffic going the same way
A simple system
Yeah
I string 'em up
I cut 'em down
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
A perfect vision
Some simple ways to let you know
Free range humans all cooped up
Naked clone is playing lame
Yeah
I string 'em up
I cut 'em down
Dare I say
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to
To to to
The lyrics to Queens of the Stone Age's song Avon depict a narrator who is observing someone else as they walk through a park in a hazy state. The singer does not pay attention to the traffic around them and instead focuses on "stringing up" and "cutting down" things - whether this refers to people, ideas, or something else is left ambiguous. The chorus of "to to to" is repeated throughout the song, adding to the hypnotic and almost robotic feel of the lyrics.
However, the second verse adds a new layer to the song. The singer mentions a "perfect vision" and "simple ways to let you know," but then talks about "free range humans all cooped up" and a "naked clone playing lame." These phrases suggest a criticism of conformity and societal pressures to fit into a certain mold. The repeated "to to to" becomes even more robotic and mechanical, perhaps representing the way people are expected to function in society.
Overall, the lyrics to Avon are intriguingly ambiguous and open to interpretation. They may represent a critique of society's pressure to conform, or they could be read as a commentary on power dynamics and control. Regardless of what the lyrics may mean, they are written in an evocative and memorable way that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you go
I notice that you are walking through a park in a foggy state of mind
Through a park in a haze
You are wandering through this park in a somewhat disoriented state
And I don't listen
I am not paying attention
For traffic going the same way
To the sound of cars following your same path
A simple system
An easy way of doing things
Yeah
Indeed
I string 'em up
I manipulate them into doing what I want
I cut 'em down
I bring them down if they cross or go against me
Dare I say
May I speak my mind?
To to to to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
A perfect vision
A flawless idea or mental image
Some simple ways to let you know
A few uncomplicated methods to make you aware
Free range humans all cooped up
People who once had freedom are now restricted
Naked clone is playing lame
A mindless copy is pretending to be authentic
Yeah
Indeed
To to to to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
To to to to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
To to to to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
To to to to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
To to to to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
To to to
Repeating the sound made during the instrumental part of the song
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Josh Homme
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iblis_moon
I see you go
Through a park in a haze
And I don't listen
For traffic going the same way
A simple system
Yeah
I string 'em up
I cut 'em down
Dare I say
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
A perfect vision
Some simple ways to let you know
Free range humans all cooped up
Naked clone is playing lame
Yeah
I string 'em up
I cut 'em down
Dare I say
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to to to
To to to
To to to
@Strength-Beyond-Strength
I wish they would go back to these tones and sounds.
@Papapannekoek
Right and while they are at it they should take snoop dogg with them in the time machine
@johntomas5170
So pure !
@Travist120
Omg you nailed it perfectly. I didn't know if I was the only one who noticed a stylistic difference.
@dildonicplague
I love it but absolutely love villians and in times new Roman too though
@bozomcfuckenstein676
That’s stupid.. just enjoy this. They moved on.. things change.. dipshit
@CrocsterS4
Queens most underrated song in existence. This is seriously amazing for what josh was doing when he first started Qostsa. What a masterpiece.
@RolanTHUNDER
Yeah! Sexy song ;)
@Michael-zz3pn
Love the change at :28
@leeham6230
He didn't single-handedly write these songs. The major lineup change going from SFTD to LTP proved that, as have the subsequent lineup changes.