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...
Running Joke
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I looked under the stairs
The king and the pawns
Were caught unawares
Standing in the shadows
A whisper to be
Just fishing in the darkness
Oh, possibilities
Just
Look
At you now
Yeaaaaah
Look at you now
Yeah
Ooooh
Look at you now
Among such style and grace
Our highest hopes
None standing still
The running joke
Where goes the warm embrace it fades
Without return
That lives to slip through fingertips and burn
Just
Look
At you now
Ooooooh
Look at you now
Ooooooh
Look at you now
Ooooooh
Look at you now
The lyrics of the Queens of the Stone Age's song Running Joke depict the journey of one's life, from childhood to adulthood, and the realization of how things have changed. The opening lines of the song, "When I was a little boy, I looked under the stairs. The king and the pawns were caught unawares, standing in the shadows, a whisper to be, just fishing in the darkness, oh, possibilities" paint a picture of a child exploring and being curious about the world around them. The reference to chess pieces and fishing in the dark suggests that the child is becoming aware of the hidden complexities of the world.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to focus on the present, commenting on the "style and grace" around them and the "highest hopes" they had. However, they note that "none standing still, the running joke," implying the inevitability of change and progress. The second half of the song takes a more melancholic tone, acknowledging the fleeting nature of life and relationships with lines such as "where goes the warm embrace it fades, without return, that lives to slip through fingertips and burn." Ultimately, the repeated refrain "look at you now" suggests a realization that life is constantly moving forward, whether we're ready for it or not.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a little boy
Reflecting on my childhood, a time when my curiosity would lead me to explore hidden corners of my house
I looked under the stairs
My childhood explorations led me to look in unexpected places
The king and the pawns
Even the leaders and followers can be caught off guard
Were caught unawares
Caught off guard, when they least expected it
Standing in the shadows
Observing from a position of not being fully known or recognized
A whisper to be
A suggestion or possibility to be explored
Just fishing in the darkness
Searching for new ideas in less explored areas
Oh, possibilities
Expressing a sense of hope and fascination for new ideas
Among such style and grace
Surrounded by beauty and elegance
Our highest hopes
Our aspirations and goals for the future
None standing still
Perpetual motion and progress, nothing stays the same
The running joke
A recurring theme or humor that persists and repeats itself
Where goes the warm embrace it fades
The comfort and support that we seek may not last forever and can fade away
Without return
Once something is gone, it may not come back
That lives to slip through fingertips and burn
The good things in life can be fleeting, and we may not realize their true value until they are gone
Just look at you now
Reflecting on the present moment and how things have changed or stayed the same
Ooooh look at you now
Expressing surprise or wonder at the current state of things
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@eggrolldog
I can't describe the high I get when I find a QOTSA song I haven't heard. And that happens pretty much never. Pure joy. Thank you!
@martymars
hell ya
@whatilearnedalongtheway4857
SAME
@EASTON1970
First time here too🤘
@jeepmor
endorphin rush peaking, have to get back to you.....
@pizzalazio2280
It's like co co co coocaaaiiiinnnneeeee
@Levente20
josh the modern day rock king. seriously no one comes even close to this guy talent
@jarnicules
damn right he and QOTSA can do it all.
@dEAthlikEstAtic
only other person imo is joey jordison.
@hamptonrogers3478
@♡•Angelina•♡ did Joey play other instruments or have multiple bands? (Genuinely wondering here, RIP btw)