Josh Homme facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Josh Homme
Homme performing in December 2017
Born	Joshua Michael Homme (1973-05-17) May 17, 1973 (age 52) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Other names	Baby Duck Carlo Von Sexron Töôrnst Hülpft Ginger Elvis
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Brody Dalle ​ ​ (m. 2005; sep. 2019)​
Children	3
Musical career
Origin	Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock desert rock stoner rock hard rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar drums
Labels	Beggars Banquet Bongload Chameleon Dali Elektra Interscope Ipecac Loosegroove Southern Lord Matador Rekords Roadrunner Man's Ruin

Joshua Michael Homme (born May 17, 1973) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is also a record producer. He is best known as the founder of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age. He formed this band in 1996 and is its only continuous member. In Queens of the Stone Age, he mainly sings and plays guitar.

Josh Homme also plays drums in the rock band Eagles of Death Metal, which he helped start in 1998. He began his music journey as a co-founder and guitarist for the band Kyuss from 1987 to 1995. Later, he played guitar for Screaming Trees from 1996 to 1998 before starting Queens of the Stone Age. Since 1997, he has led a musical project called The Desert Sessions. In 2009, he formed the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones. He has also worked with famous artists like Iggy Pop, Royal Blood, Foo Fighters, and Arctic Monkeys.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Joshua Michael Homme was born in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 1973. He grew up in the Palm Desert, California area. His family was well-known in the region. His grandfather, Clancy "Cap" Homme, was an early settler in the Valley. A private street and a park are named after him.

Josh's family moved often because of his father's job. He learned to "create his own fun" growing up in the desert. He started playing music not for fame or money, but for the love of it. He thought he would become a contractor like his dad.

He also spent time in Idaho. There, he saw Carl Perkins perform at a music festival. He bought his first electric guitar, an Ovation Ultra GP, in a music store in Sandpoint. Josh started playing guitar at age nine. His parents said no to a drum kit. He took guitar lessons for a few years. His teacher focused on polka music. This led to his unique playing style. He joined his first band, Autocracy, in 1985 when he was 12. Even after becoming successful, he worked on his grandfather's farm. He did this until he was 25, when the first Queens of the Stone Age album came out. He wanted to stay grounded.

Music Career Highlights

Kyuss: Early Band Days (1987–1995)

In 1987, at 14, Homme formed a heavy metal band called Katzenjammer. He was the guitarist. They were with schoolmates John Garcia, Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri, and Chris Cockrell. The band changed its name a few times, eventually becoming Kyuss.

By the early 1990s, Kyuss gained a strong following. They often drove to isolated desert spots. They would plug into generators to perform. These "generator parties" became famous stories in rock culture. The band was known for its heavy, unique sound. Chris Goss became their mentor. He helped them sign with a label and produced their music. Since Homme was under 18, his parents signed the contract. Kyuss released four albums. The last three helped define the stoner rock genre.

Queens of the Stone Age: A New Chapter (1996–Present)

Queens of the Stone Age performing at the 2007 Eurockéennes; from left to right: Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman

When Kyuss broke up in 1995, Homme moved to Seattle, Washington. He thought about leaving music. He studied business at the University of Washington. There, he reconnected with old friends. He joined Screaming Trees as a rhythm guitarist for the 1996 Lollapalooza tour. He became good friends with singer Mark Lanegan.

Homme decided to form his own band, Gamma Ray, in 1996. After a legal issue with another band named Gamma Ray, it became Queens of the Stone Age. Their first release was a compilation EP in 1997. The band's first album, Queens of the Stone Age, came out in 1998. Homme initially wanted other singers. But he ended up singing for the first time. The band grew to include former Kyuss members.

Their next album, Rated R, used more instruments. It had a relaxed, psychedelic sound. It became their first mainstream hit. Songs for the Deaf (2002) gained even more attention. It focused on Homme's memories of desert drives. He listened to Spanish radio stations during those trips.

After Songs for the Deaf, Homme faced challenges within the band. He considered ending Queens of the Stone Age. But he decided to continue. He wrote their next album, Lullabies to Paralyze. It was a big success, reaching number five on the Billboard 200 chart.

Their fifth album, Era Vulgaris, came out in 2007. After touring, the band took a break. This break lasted six years. In 2010, Homme started performing more live shows with QOTSA. They re-released their first two albums. They toured playing the debut album from start to finish.

On June 4, 2013, Queens of the Stone Age released ...Like Clockwork. It received high praise and topped the Billboard 200 charts. This album featured many guest artists. These included Elton John, Dave Grohl, and Homme's wife, Brody Dalle. Their seventh album, Villains, was released in 2017. It was produced by Mark Ronson. In 2018, the band covered an Elton John song for a tribute album.

The Desert Sessions: Musical Exploration (1997–Present)

Homme performing at the 2011 Eurockéennes

Homme started The Desert Sessions in 1997 in Joshua Tree, California. He calls it a "musical collective series that cannot be defined." He said it's about playing music for music's sake. Recordings are made quickly, often in hours. The musicians change constantly. Many artists from the Palm Desert Scene have contributed.

After a long break, Homme announced new Desert Sessions material in 2014. In 2019, he posted hints on Instagram. Desert Sessions Volumes 11 & 12 were released on October 25, 2019.

Eagles of Death Metal: A Fun Side Project (1998–Present)

In 1998, Homme formed Eagles of Death Metal with his friend Jesse Hughes. It started as a joke band within The Desert Sessions. Their first recordings appeared on Volumes 3 & 4 that year. Hughes writes and sings for the band. Homme produces and plays drums, bass, and other instruments.

The band has released four albums. Homme doesn't tour regularly with them due to his other commitments. But he sometimes joins them for live shows. He has said, "This isn't a side project for me. I'm in two bands."

Them Crooked Vultures: A Supergroup (2009–2010, 2022)

In July 2009, it was announced that Homme, Dave Grohl, and John Paul Jones were recording together. Their project was called Them Crooked Vultures. They first performed live in Chicago in August 2009. Their album, Them Crooked Vultures, was released in November 2009.

The band went on a world tour. They performed on Saturday Night Live and at festivals. Them Crooked Vultures won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2011. The band was inactive for a while. But Homme, Grohl, and Jones have all said they want to work together again. In September 2022, Them Crooked Vultures reunited for tribute shows for Foo Fighters' late drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Other Musical Adventures

Homme in July 2007

Homme has worked with many other artists. These include Foo Fighters, PJ Harvey, Trent Reznor, Lady Gaga, and Arctic Monkeys. He contributed to the soundtrack for the 2002 film The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. He also worked on music for video games that were not used.

In 2009, he remixed a song for The Prodigy. He also produced most of the Arctic Monkeys album Humbug. He later sang on some of their songs. Homme has appeared at many Arctic Monkeys concerts.

In 2010, Homme appeared on the TV show Tosh.0. He also provided theme songs for Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 and Anthony Bourdain's travel show Parts Unknown. In 2012, he played guitar on a song for Mondo Generator. This was the first time he worked with Nick Oliveri and John Garcia since 2004.

In 2012, Homme appeared in a music video for Glen Campbell. He also had a cameo in a Jack White music video. In 2013, Homme contributed to the soundtrack for Dave Grohl's documentary Sound City: Real to Reel. He was interviewed for the film and collaborated on a song called "Mantra."

Homme has appeared in several TV comedies. These include Toast of London, Comedy Bang! Bang!, and Portlandia. In 2015, he started hosting a weekly radio show called The Alligator Hour with Joshua Homme on Apple Music's Beats 1. He plays a wide variety of songs and shares his thoughts.

In March 2016, Homme released a surprise album with Iggy Pop called Post Pop Depression. They toured to support the album. The making of the album was filmed for a documentary called American Valhalla. In 2017, Homme composed music for the German film In the Fade. In 2018, he sang a song for the video game Red Dead Redemption 2. In 2020, he worked with Run the Jewels on their album RTJ4. In 2021, he produced songs for Royal Blood's album Typhoons.

Musical Style and Equipment

Homme's music is often described as alternative rock, desert rock, hard rock, and stoner rock. He used to be private about his musical equipment. He felt his sound was important and took years to develop. He didn't want to share his "secrets."

However, in the 2010s, he became more open. He tends to look for unusual or unique equipment. He avoids common choices used by other guitarists. He has said he owns many guitars, but only a few are "really good." He prefers "weird Japanese guitars" or those with an interesting history.

Giving Back: Charity Work

In 2013, Homme helped start the Sweet Stuff Foundation. This charity helps musicians, recording engineers, and their families. It provides support when they are dealing with illness or disability.

Personal Life

Homme in July 2007

Homme met Australian singer Brody Dalle in 1996. They reconnected in 2003 and started dating. They married on December 3, 2005. They have three children: a daughter named Camille (born 2006) and two sons named Orrin (born 2011) and Wolf (born 2016). They separated in 2019.

Homme has described himself as socially liberal. He believes music should be a fun place for people. He owns a few motorcycles and a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. He received the car as a gift when he was 14.

Homme has used several nicknames over the years. He used "Carlo Von Sexron" for some album credits. His wife and bandmates call him "(King) Baby Duck." He is also known as "The Ginger Elvis."

He faced a serious health challenge in 2010. This experience greatly influenced his 2013 album ...Like Clockwork. He credits Transcendental Meditation with helping him recover.

Homme has over 20 tattoos. On his knuckles, he has his grandparents' nicknames and his sons' names. He has his daughter's name over his heart. He shares a "Baby Duck" tattoo with his Eagles of Death Metal bandmate Jesse Hughes. He also shares a "Freitag 4:15" tattoo with former Queens of the Stone Age bandmates Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan. This tattoo reminds them of a challenging show in Germany.

Discography

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Josh Homme para niños