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...
Regular John
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who are you boy?
Bet I know what you're up to
Can I come along
Your home number's on the wall
I just had to call, had to
I'm not the only one
Who will run with a knife
[Chorus]
Open up your eyes
Open up your room
Open up your arms
One six two seven eight
Two six three seven eight nine
Where's your daddy now
I heard he ran away
Who are you girl?
'Cause I'm so bored with myself
Anyway
Any time and any place
I'll just hang around
[Chorus]
One six two seven eight
Two six three seven eight nine
[Chorus]
Open up your eyes
Open up your room
Open up your arms
Open up your door
Open up your eyes
Open up your room
The lyrics of "Regular John" by Queens of the Stone Age seem to be about a person who is bored with their life and seeking some kind of danger or excitement. The chorus asks the listener to open up their eyes, room, and arms - perhaps suggesting a desire for a more open, adventurous attitude towards life. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is intrigued by a girl and a boy, wondering what they are up to and wanting to join in. The line "I'm not the only one who will run with a knife" may be a metaphor for taking risks or engaging in dangerous behavior.
The bridge of the song adds a sense of melancholy to this otherwise upbeat and energetic track. The singer seems to be reaching out to the girl again, asking who she is and expressing boredom with themselves. The repeated phrase "any time and any place, I'll just hang around" suggests a kind of aimlessness or lack of direction. In the final chorus, the singer asks the listener to open not just their eyes, room, and arms, but also their door - perhaps urging them to take risks and venture out into the world.
Overall, "Regular John" is a song that seems to grapple with the desire for excitement and the fear of boredom, and encourages the listener to live more openly and boldly.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you girl?
The singer is curious about the identity of the girl.
Who are you boy?
The singer is also curious about the identity of the boy.
Bet I know what you're up to
The singer is confident in their ability to guess what the others are doing.
Can I come along
The artist wants to join in on the activity.
Your home number's on the wall
The artist has found the others' phone number written somewhere.
I just had to call, had to
The singer couldn't resist calling the number.
I'm not the only one
The singer knows they're not the only person interested in the others.
Who will run with a knife
The artist is questioning which one of them is bold enough to take risks.
[Chorus] Open up your eyes Open up your room Open up your arms
The artist is encouraging the others to be open and welcoming.
One six two seven eight Two six three seven eight nine
The artist is reciting a phone number or address.
Where's your daddy now I heard he ran away
The singer is making a reference to the others' past or family situation.
Who are you girl? 'Cause I'm so bored with myself Anyway Any time and any place I'll just hang around
The artist is repeating their earlier question to the girl, and adding that they're bored and willing to hang out anytime, anywhere.
[Chorus] Open up your eyes Open up your room Open up your arms
The singer is repeating their encouragement for the others to be open and welcoming.
One six two seven eight Two six three seven eight nine
The singer is repeating the phone number or address.
[Chorus] Open up your eyes Open up your room Open up your arms Open up your door Open up your eyes Open up your room
The singer is ending the song with a repetition of their encouragement to be open and welcoming, and adding a command to open the door.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH HOMME, ALFREDO HERNANDEZ, JOHN MCBAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind