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...
Millionaire
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, all right, it's Kip Kasper, KLONE Radio, LA's infinite repeat. How we feelin' out there? How's your drive-time commute? I need a saga. What's the saga? It's Songs for the Deaf. You can't even hear it!
Dead bull with the life from the low
I'll be massive conquistador
Give me soul and show me the door
Metal heavy, soft at the core
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Pressurize and neutralize
Deep fried, gimme some more
Space flunky, four on the floor
Fortified with the liquor store
This one's down, gimme some more
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Shrunken head, I love to adore
B-movie, gimme some gore
Gimme toro, gimme some more
B-movie, gimme some gore
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Gimme toro, gimme some more
Gimme toro, gimme some more
The opening lines of the song provide a humorous nod to the radio industry and the repetitive nature of mainstream music. The singer, Kip Kasper of KLONE Radio, introduces the concept of "Songs for the Deaf" as the ultimate paradox - music that can't even be heard. He uses this introduction as a commentary on the monotony of radio hits, emphasizing the lack of originality in commercial music.
With an abrupt transition, the lyrics shift to a series of surreal, nonsensical images that seem to embody the rebellious spirit that Kasper introduced. The "dead bull with the life from the low" is a vivid image that suggests a mix of death and vitality, while the "massive conquistador" implies an aggressive and powerful force. The repeated refrain of "gimme toro, gimme some more" adds to the chaotic, nonsensical tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead bull with the life from the low
Starting off strong and bold, the singer compares himself to a bull full of life and energy.
I'll be massive conquistador
The singer is taking on the persona of a conqueror, someone who is powerful and in control.
Give me soul and show me the door
The singer is asking for a spiritual experience, something that will truly move him, and then move on to the next thing.
Metal heavy, soft at the core
The artist is likening himself to metal - hard and tough on the outside, but with a softer, more vulnerable interior.
Gimme toro, gimme some more
The artist wants more, more, more - whether it's the thrill of the bullfight or something else entirely is up for interpretation.
Pressurize and neutralize
The singer is taking control of his environment, forcing things to happen his way and leveling the playing field.
Deep fried, gimme some more
The singer is indulging in the pleasures of life, both literally (with deep-fried food) and figuratively.
Space flunky, four on the floor
The artist could be referencing a specific dance style (four-on-the-floor refers to a steady, danceable beat), and then contrasts this with the idea of a slacker or a nobody.
Fortified with the liquor store
The artist is using alcohol as a way to cope with the world around him, to fortify himself and find the strength to keep going.
This one's down, gimme some more
The artist is ready to move on to the next thing or conquest, and isn't satisfied with just resting on his laurels.
Shrunken head, I love to adore
The singer is fascinated by the grotesque and the macabre, and finds beauty in the strange and unusual.
B-movie, gimme some gore
The artist is asking for the thrills and chills of a low-budget horror movie, reveling in the violence and spectacle of it all.
Gimme toro, gimme some more
The refrain repeats once again, emphasizing the singer's desire for something more - whether it's danger, thrills, or something else entirely.
Contributed by Alexander R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.