Queens of the Stone Age is a rock band from Palm Desert, California, United… Read Full Bio ↴Queens of the Stone Age is a rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States. The band is frequently labeled stoner rock, although they reject the label. They developed a style of riff-oriented, heavy music which the band's founder and mastermind Josh Homme described as "robot rock", saying that he "wanted to create a heavy sound based on a solid jam, just pound it into your head". Since then, their sound has evolved to incorporate a variety of different styles and influences.

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...

I'm Designer
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My generation's for sale
Beats a steady job
How much have you got?

My generation don't trust no one
It's hard to blame
Not even ourselves

The thing that's real for us is: fortune and fame
All the rest seems like work
It's just like diamonds
In shit

I'm high class, I'm a whore
Actually both
Basically, I'm a pro
We've all got our own style of baggage
Why hump it yourself?

You've made me an offer that I can refuse
'Cause either way I get screwed
Counter proposal: I go home and jerk off, uh

It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
You don't own, you don't own, you don't own, you don't own
You don't own what none can buy
You don't own
(You don't own)
Neither do I

High and mighty, you say selling out is a shame
Is that the name of your book?
Push a silver spoon in your ass
No more holding us
Down, dog, down, mutt, nice mutt

You're insulted you can't be bought or sold
Translation: offer too low
You don't know what you're worth
It isn't much
My piano's for sale
How many times must I sell myself
Before my pieces are gone?
I'm one of a kind! I'm designer!

Never again will I repeat myself
Enough is never enough
Never again will I repeat myself

It used to be the plan was screwing the man
Now it's have sex with a man
(After he buys your dot-com for sale at a low, low price)

It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
You don't own, you don't own, you don't own me
You don't own what none can buy
You don't own...

You don't own what none can buy
Neither do I

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Queens of the Stone Age's song I'm Designer are a commentary on the modern culture of consumerism and the value placed on wealth and fame. The opening lines critique the idea that a steady job is seen as less desirable than fame and fortune, exemplified by the line "my generation's for sale, beats a steady job, how much have you got?".

The song continues with the insight that the culture of the day breeds distrust and doubt in one another, with the lines "my generation don't trust no one, it's hard to blame, not even ourselves". The metaphorical imagery of "diamonds in shit" in reference to the value placed on wealth and fame is used to drive home the message that there is a contradiction between the real value and worth of something and the perceived value of it.

The chorus provides the repetition of the phrase "it's truly a lie, I counterfeit myself" to drive home the idea that in this culture, people are not genuine and true to themselves. Instead, they counterfeit themselves to fit into the current mold of what society deems to be valuable. The closing lines "neither do I" communicate a sense of hopelessness and resignation towards the culture of consumerism.

Line by Line Meaning

My generation's for sale
My peer group is willing to compromise their values and principles for monetary gain

Beats a steady job
It's more appealing than working a stable 9-5 job

How much have you got?
What's your net worth? Are you worth our loyalty?

My generation don't trust no one
We're skeptical of everyone, including ourselves

It's hard to blame
Our generation has been betrayed and let down too many times to trust blindly

Not even ourselves
We don't even trust our own intentions or motives

The thing that's real for us is: fortune and fame
Money and recognition are the only true measures of success for us

All the rest seems like work
Other values, like integrity and compassion, require effort and sacrifice

It's just like diamonds
We see money and fame as precious commodities, even if they are surrounded by bad situations

In shit
Despite the dirt and imperfections, we find value in this pursuit

I'm high class, I'm a whore
I have high standards but I'm willing to break them for the right price

Actually both
I'm self-aware and don't see a difference between the two

Basically, I'm a pro
I've perfected my skills in compromising my values for success

We've all got our own style of baggage
We each have our own past experiences and issues that shape our worldview

Why hump it yourself?
Why carry the heavy burden of success alone when you can sell out and have someone else carry it for you?

You've made me an offer that I can refuse
Your offer is too low and not worth my time or effort

'Cause either way I get screwed
Both options presented will ultimately result in me being taken advantage of or exploited

Counter proposal: I go home and jerk off, uh
I'd rather do something pleasurable for myself than waste time on a meaningless deal

It's truly a lie
My image and persona are not genuine and authentic

I counterfeit myself
I create a fake persona for the sake of success and recognition

You don't own, you don't own, you don't own, you don't own
No one has complete control or ownership over me

You don't own what none can buy
True ownership and control cannot be achieved through the acquisition of tangible possessions

Neither do I
I also don't have complete ownership or control over myself due to societal pressures and expectations

High and mighty, you say selling out is a shame
You express disdain and disapproval towards those who compromise their values for success

Is that the name of your book?
You're being hypocritical and possess your own selfish interests

Push a silver spoon in your ass
You come from privilege and have never had to worry about compromising your values for monetary gain

No more holding us
We won't let ourselves be controlled or influenced by others anymore

Down, dog, down, mutt, nice mutt
We won't let others use us or manipulate us like obedient dogs

You're insulted you can't be bought or sold
You take pride in being uncorrupted by money and fame

Translation: offer too low
In reality, you don't have the same opportunities as we do and that is your greatest strength

You don't know what you're worth
You undervalue your own accomplishments and talents

It isn't much
Our generation's understanding of our own worth and value is shallow and limited

My piano's for sale
Even my most prized possessions are up for sale

How many times must I sell myself
How many more compromises and betrayals must I endure to achieve success and recognition?

Before my pieces are gone?
Before all that is left of me is the fake persona and image that I've developed for success

I'm one of a kind! I'm designer!
I believe I'm special and unique because of my ability to compromise and sell myself for success

Never again will I repeat myself
I won't compromise my values and sell myself out again

Enough is never enough
We are trapped in a cycle of greed and pursuit of success that can never be satisfied

It used to be the plan was screwing the man
Our original goal was to rebel against the establishment and societal norms

Now it's have sex with a man
Now our goals have been reduced to superficial success and recognition

(After he buys your dot-com for sale at a low, low price)
Success and recognition are only achieved through the compromise of one's values and selling out to the highest bidder

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH HOMME, JOEY CASTILLO, TROY DEAN VAN LEEUWEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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