Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age
Left to right: Dean Fertita, Josh Homme, Jon Theodore and Michael Shuman performing in 2013
Background information
Also known as	Gamma Ray (1996–1997)
Origin	Palm Desert, California, United States
Genres	Alternative rock stoner rock hard rock alternative metal
Years active	1996 (1996)–present
Labels	Matador MCA Music, Inc. Interscope Rekords Rekords
Associated acts	Eagles of Death Metal Fififf Teeners Kyuss Ween A Perfect Circle Mondo Generator Sweethead The Dead Weather The Desert Sessions Them Crooked Vultures Screaming Trees Mini Mansions Failure Arctic Monkeys Gone Is Gone BL'AST! One Day as a Lion The Mars Volta
Website	qotsa.com
Members	Josh Homme Troy Van Leeuwen Dean Fertita Michael Shuman Jon Theodore
Past members	Mark Lanegan Dave Catching Brendon McNichol Nick Oliveri Alain Johannes Alfredo Hernández Gene Trautmann Dave Grohl Dean Ween Joey Castillo Natasha Shneider

Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1996. The band's line-up includes founder Josh Homme (lead vocals, guitar, piano), alongside longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, lap steel, keyboard, percussion, backing vocals), Michael Shuman (bass guitar, keyboard, backing vocals), Dean Fertita (keyboards, guitar, percussion, backing vocals), and recent addition Jon Theodore (drums, percussion).

Formed after the dissolution of Homme's previous band, Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age developed a style of riff-oriented, heavy rock music. Their sound has since evolved to incorporate a variety of different styles and influences, including working with ZZ Top member Billy Gibbons and steady contributor Mark Lanegan.

After the breakup of his previous band, Kyuss, in 1995, Josh Homme briefly joined Screaming Trees as a touring guitarist, before deciding to form a new band, Gamma Ray. In 1996 they released the eponymous Gamma Ray EP, featuring "Born to Hula" and "If Only Everything" (which would later appear on their self-titled debut as 'If Only'). The EP featured Matt Cameron of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, Van Conner from Screaming Trees, and percussionist Victor Indrizzo.

Gamma Ray changed their name in 1997 after the German power metal band Gamma Ray threatened to sue. The name "Queens of the Stone Age" came from a nickname given to Kyuss by their producer Chris Goss. Homme said of the name: "Kings would be too macho. The Kings of the Stone Age wear armor and have axes and wrestle. The Queens of the Stone Age hang out with the Kings of the Stone Age's girlfriends when they wrestle ... Rock should be heavy enough for the boys and sweet enough for the girls. That way everyone's happy and it's more of a party. Kings of the Stone Age is too lopsided."