While in high school, Josh got together with locals Brant Bjork, Chris Cockrell, (later Nick Oliveri), and John Garcia resulting in the formation of Kyuss (firstly known as "Sons of Kyuss" - name Kyuss comes from a creature from Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game). QOTSA 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 QOTSA. The band originally formed under the name Gamma Ray, but almost faced a lawsuit from the European metal band of the same name.
QOTSA 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), Joey Castillo (Drums), Michael Shuman (Bass/Backing Vocals) and Dean Fertita (Keyboards/Guitar/Backing Vocals).
Notable previous members include Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Dwarves, Mondo Generator), Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden), and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan [Band]).
Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri were seen as the only two consistent QOTSA members. 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. His unique "howling" singing style made him easily distinguishable on songs such as "Six Shooter" from the album Songs for the Deaf; however, he also displays a more melodic singing style in Rated R songs such as "Auto Pilot" and "Gonna Leave You".
After recording three albums and six years of touring with QOTSA, Oliveri exited the group in early 2004 due to a conflict between him and front man Homme. He allegedly developed a pattern of destructive behavior that Homme couldn't handle. Homme stated: "Everywhere we go, Nick is a like a whirlwind passing through. And I'm sick of being the one that has to clean up the mess all the time." Josh claimed that he was fed up with Oliveri's disrespect towards their fans and the destruction that he caused at gigs. However, a year later, Homme told Zane Lowe from BBC Radio 1 that he and Nick had actually fallen out over several third party claims that Oliveri was violent towards his (Josh Homme's) girlfriend (an accusation which Nick strongly denies). In 2005, QOTSA released their first album after Oliveri's departure, "Lullabies to Paralyze".
Homme has also produced an album for Millionaire, organized the Desert Sessions and contributed to various other projects such as Chris Goss' Masters of Reality and the recently formed 515ers. Homme also runs the label Rekords Rekords, which has released Likehell, Fatso Jetson, Mondo Generator and his musical improv series Desert Sessions. He also plays drums in and produces Eagles of Death Metal, along with his friend Jesse Hughes.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Queens of the Stone Age
Tokio Hotel
Bill Kaulitz once appeared in the German Talent Show StarSearch in 2003, where he performed "It's Raining Men".
Later in 2003, the group was signed by Peter Hoffmann by Sony BMG in Hamburg. The band was soon called Tokio Hotel (German for Tokyo Hotel) because of the liveliness of the city, and because of the constant touring. Bill Kaulitz co-wrote the majority of the debut album Schrei (Scream) with the help of professionals. Their first single Durch den Monsun (Through The Monsoon) was a success as it hit #1 on the German music charts in 8/26/05. It also hit #1 on the Austrian music charts. Their second single Schrei (Scream) reached #5 on the German music charts and their third single, Rette Mich (Rescue Me), reached #1. Their fourth and last single of their debut album Schrei called Der Letzte Tag (The Last Day) reached #1 too.
Their sophomore album Zimmer 483 (Room 483) was released on 2/23/07. They released their first single from their sophomore album in 1/6/07, called Übers Ende der Welt (Over The End Of The World; but actually called Ready, Set, Go). It reached #1. Their second single from the sophomore album Spring Nicht (Don't Jump) premiered at VIVA Live on 3/12/07 and was released on 4/7/07.
An English album is anticipated to be released on May 21st, and a tour in United States is expected to take place in the autumn of 2007.
Kasabian
Kasabian are:
* Tom Meighan - Lead vocals & Backing vocals
* Sergio Pizzorno - Guitar, Synths, Backing vocals & Lead vocals
* Ian Matthews - Drums & Percussion
* Christopher Edwards - Bass
* Jason Mehler - Guitar (only at live shows)
The band has been compared with the likes of Primal Scream, with their similar electronica-indie rock fusion and Oasis, with whom they share their confidence, vision, swagger and rough vocal style. Some influence can be seen from their days supporting Vitriol I.D.
It has been speculated that the name "Kasabian" is taken from the getaway driver (named Linda Kasabian) for the Tate murders committed by the Manson Family.
Their first album was simply "Kasabian", and in 2004 recieved lacklustre reviews. However, tracks such as Cutt Off and L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever) reached the UK top 10, and with 2 more top 20 hits and the album peaking at #4 in the UK Album Charts, they defied the critics.
Their new album, "Empire", was released on the 28th of August 2006. The first single from the album, also titled "Empire", was widely regarded as a musical success, with its change of beat reminiscent of "Take Me Out", and its catchy chorus. This was then followed by the release of the single, "Shoot The Runner" and most recently, "Me Plus One".
Travis
Fran Healy (vocals/guitar/occasional piano), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar/backing vocals), Dougie Payne (bass/backings vocals/and mean glockenspiel) and Neil Primrose (drums).
They have had a number of very successful albums to date: Good Feeling (1997), The Man Who (1999), The Invisible Band (2001) and 12 Memories (2003), as well as a compilation album titled Singles (2004).
Travis released their 5th studio album The Boy With No Name on May 7th 2007.
The first single from the new album, Closer was released in the UK on April 23rd.
Smashing Pumpkins
Less influenced by punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had a densely layered and guitar-heavy sound, grunge, heavy metal, power pop, psychedelic rock, shoegazer-style production and, in later recordings, electronica. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgan's songs ranged from angry (Bullet With Butterfly Wings) to dour (Disarm) to jubilant (Cherub Rock).
Selling more than 13 million albums in the United States alone, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, diminishing sales, drug problems, cultural vitality, and what is speculated to be improper treatment from their record company, hampered the band in their later years, leading to a 2000 break-up.
The band's final album, "MACHINA II / The Friends And Enemies of Modern Music" was unofficially released on vinyl in 2000, prior to their break-up, with the record company refusing to back the band with a pressing. Only 25 copies were made, each signed by the band. The album was then released across various fan sites by the group, as a final tribute to the band's supporters.
Problems have been seen since then with Billy Corgan and James Iha (who later joined A Perfect Circle, as Maynard liked his work with the Pumpkins), and D'arcy (the original bassist for the Pumpkins), both of whom started their own record companies after the breakup. (Bickering, etc. There was one report that Corgan has asked Iha to rejoin, in an attempt to get the Pumpkins back together, and he outright refused.)
Billy Corgan would continue from there with his independent work, first as Zwan, and then later simply as Billy Corgan. Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer of the Smashing Pumpkins, formed the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, and Corgan recorded with them on a song entitled Loki Cat.
In mid-april 2006 The Smashing Pumpkins reunited with original members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin. They performed live for the first time in 6 and a half years on May 22, 2007 in Paris, France. There, the band unveiled new members Jeff Schroeder and Ginger Reyes, who took over second guitarist and bassist duties, respectively.
The band's 6th album, called 'Zeitgeist', has been released in 2007.
http://www.smashingpumpkins.com
http://www.myspace.com/smashingpumpkins