Josh Homme discography
Josh Homme's discography comprises his extensive contributions as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer to numerous rock bands, collaborative projects, and solo endeavors, spanning stoner rock, alternative rock, and hard rock genres from the early 1990s onward.[1] Homme rose to prominence as the lead guitarist for Kyuss, the pioneering stoner rock band, where he performed on all four of their studio albums: Wretch (1991), Blues for the Red Sun (1992), Welcome to Sky Valley (1994), and ...And the Circus Leaves Town (1995).[2] In 1996, he founded Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA), serving as the band's sole constant member, primary songwriter, and frontman; QOTSA has released eight studio albums to date, including Queens of the Stone Age (1998), Rated R (2000), Songs for the Deaf (2002), Lullabies to Paralyze (2005), Era Vulgaris (2007), ...Like Clockwork (2013), Villains (2017), and In Times New Roman... (2023).[3] Homme co-founded Eagles of Death Metal in 1998 with Jesse Hughes, contributing guitar, drums, production, and songwriting to their four studio albums: Peace, Love & Death Metal (2004), Death by Sexy (2006), Heart On (2008), and Zipper Down (2015).[4] His collaborative efforts include organizing The Desert Sessions, an improvisational collective he initiated in 1997 at Rancho De La Luna studio, resulting in 12 volumes of releases paired as six albums from 1998 (Volumes 1 & 2) to 2019 (Volumes 11 & 12), featuring guests like PJ Harvey, Billy Gibbons, and Matt Berry.[5] In 2009, Homme formed the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl on drums and John Paul Jones on bass, releasing their self-titled debut (and only) studio album that year, which debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200.[6] As a producer, Homme has worked on notable albums such as Arctic Monkeys' Humbug (2009) and Iggy Pop's Post Pop Depression (2016), the latter of which he also co-wrote and performed on alongside bandmates Dean Fertita and Matt Helders.[1] Homme's solo output is more limited, primarily consisting of soundtrack compositions like The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002, with Marco Beltrami) and In the Fade (2017).[7]Performer and songwriter credits
Kyuss
Kyuss was formed in Palm Desert, California, in 1987 as Katzenjammer by teenage musicians including guitarist Josh Homme, bassist Chris Cockrell, drummer Brant Bjork, and rhythm guitarist Nick Oliveri, with John Garcia joining as vocalist shortly after; the band renamed itself Sons of Kyuss in 1990, inspired by a Dungeons & Dragons character, marking Homme's foundational role as lead guitarist and primary songwriter.[8][9][10] The group's early sound drew from the Palm Desert Scene's generator parties in remote desert locations, blending heavy metal, punk, and psychedelia into what would become known as desert rock. Homme's innovative guitar techniques, such as tuning down to C and amplifying through bass cabinets for a thick, distorted tone, were central to this raw, improvisational style.[11][12] The band's debut EP, Sons of Kyuss, was released in 1990 on Chameleon Music Group (later reissued in 1993), featuring Homme on guitar and co-writing most tracks alongside bandmates; it captured their nascent heavy, sludgy sound with five songs clocking in at over 20 minutes of jamming. The tracklist is as follows:| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Deadly Kiss" | Chris Cockrell | 5:05 |
| 2 | "Window of Souls" | Josh Homme | 4:23 |
| 3 | "King" | John Garcia | 3:07 |
| 4 | "Isolation Desolation" | Josh Homme | 6:05 |
| 5 | "I'm Not" | Sons of Kyuss | 4:35 |
| 6 | "32°" | Josh Homme | 2:23 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "(Beginning of What's About to Happen) Hwy 74" | Josh Homme | 4:43 |
| 2 | "Love Has Passed Me By" | Homme, Brant Bjork | 3:12 |
| 3 | "Son of a Bitch" | Homme, John Garcia | 3:32 |
| 4 | "Black Widow" | Nick Oliveri | 3:38 |
| 5 | "N.O." | Homme | 4:30 |
| 6 | "Green Machine" | Bjork | 3:19 |
| 7 | "50 Million Year Trip (Long Distance Call)" | Homme | 5:12 |
| 8 | "Isolation Desolation" | Homme | 5:17 |
| 9 | "Born Too Slow" | Homme, Garcia | 3:58 |
| 10 | "Allen" | Homme | 1:49 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Thumb" | Bjork | 4:43 |
| 2 | "Green Machine" | Bjork | 3:38 |
| 3 | "Molten Universe" | Homme | 2:48 |
| 4 | "50 Million Year Trip (Long Distance Call)" | Homme | 5:12 |
| 5 | "Thong Song" | Homme | 3:47 |
| 6 | "Supa" | Homme | 6:10 |
| 7 | "100°" | Homme, Garcia | 2:30 |
| 8 | "Green Rooster" | Homme, Bjork | 3:02 |
| 9 | "White Line" | Homme | 3:52 |
| 10 | "Black Widow" | Oliveri | 3:35 |
| 11 | "Writhe" | Homme | 3:39 |
| 12 | "Capsized" (hidden) | Homme, Garcia | 1:36 |
| 13 | "Allen" (hidden) | Homme | 1:49 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hurricane" | Homme, Garcia | 2:41 |
| 2 | "One Inch Man" | Garcia, Reeder | 3:30 |
| 3 | "Thee Ol' Boozeroony" | Reeder | 2:47 |
| 4 | "Gloria Lewis" | Reeder | 3:39 |
| 5 | "Phototropic" | Reeder | 3:41 |
| 6 | "El Rodeo" | Reeder | 2:30 |
| 7 | "(He) Waits" | Homme | 1:40 |
| 8 | "Stage III" | Homme | 3:15 |
| 9 | "Size Queen" | Homme | 2:53 |
| 10 | "Catamaran" | Hernández, Arce, Loya, Lalli | 2:39 |
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age was founded by Josh Homme in 1996 following the breakup of Kyuss, initially conceived as a solo project where Homme served as the primary songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.[29] The band's debut album, Queens of the Stone Age (1998), released on Loosegroove Records, featured Homme performing all instruments and writing every track. The tracklist includes: "Regular John," "Avon," "If Only," "You Would Know," "The Bronze," "How to Handle a Rope," "Mexicola," "Open Air Society," "You Can't Have It All," "These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For," and "I Was a Teenage Hand Model."[30] The sophomore effort, Rated R (2000), marked the band's signing to Interscope Records, with Homme handling lead vocals, guitar, bass on select tracks, and co-production alongside Eric Valentine. Key tracks encompass "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret," "No One Knows," "Tension Head," "Monsters in the Parasol," "Better Living Through Chemistry," "Feel Good Hit of the Summer," "The Sky Is Fallin'," "I Think I Lost My Headache," "Leg of Lamb," "Auto Pilot," "Quick and to the Pointless," "In the Fade," and "Sourced."[31] Homme's songwriting emphasized a shift toward more experimental rock elements, blending stoner rock roots with pop sensibilities.[32] Songs for the Deaf (2002), another Interscope release, showcased Homme's expanded collaborative approach, co-writing and co-producing with drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Nick Oliveri, while Homme provided lead vocals and guitar throughout. The album's tracklist features radio vignettes framing songs like "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire," "No One Knows," "Another One Bites the Dust" (Queen cover), "Song for the Dead," "The Sky Is Fallin'," "Six Shooter," "Drug Skunk," "Long Slow Goodbye," "Go with the Flow," "Gonna Leave You," "Do It Again," "God Is in the Radio," "A Song for the Deaf," and "Mosquito Song." This era solidified Homme's role as the band's creative anchor amid rotating lineups.[33] Following Oliveri's departure, Homme assumed greater leadership for Lullabies to Paralyze (2005, Interscope), producing the album and writing most material, with contributions from new members like Alain Johannes and Joey Castillo. The tracklist comprises "This Lullaby," "Medication," "Everybody Knows That You Are Insane," "Tangled Up in Plaid," "Burn the Witch," "Someone's in the Wolf," "Skin on Skin," "Broken Box," "Little Sister," "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (Stooges cover), "Lock the Doors," "Blood on the Outside," and "Long Slow Goodbye." Band changes, including the exit of key collaborators, underscored Homme's persistent creative control.[34] Era Vulgaris (2007, Interscope) highlighted Homme's production and songwriting, with guest appearances from Julian Casablancas and Mark Lanegan, though Homme remained the core vocalist and guitarist. Tracks include "Turnin' on the Screw," "Sick, Sick, Sick," "White's Apache," "3's & 7's," "Make It wit Chu," "3 to 2," "The Ghosts... Didn't Help the Case," "I'm Designer," "Run, Pig, Run," "Suture Up Your Future" (remix), "Battery Acid," "Make It wit Chu" (remix), "The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died," and "Era Vulgaris" (hidden track). Homme's credits emphasized his oversight of the album's eclectic, synth-infused sound.[32] After a hiatus, ...Like Clockwork (2013, Matador) reflected Homme's personal recovery from health issues, with him writing introspective lyrics and producing alongside collaborators including Elton John on piano for "Fairweather Friends" and Alex Turner on "I Appear Missing." The tracklist: "I Sat by the Ocean," "My God Is the Sun," "I Appear Missing," "Kalopsia," "...Like Clockwork," "Fairweather Friends," "If I Had a Tail," "The Vampyre of Time and Memory," "The Evil Has Landed," "Villains of Circumstance" (hidden), and "Our Veins Are Greedy for Love." Lineup stability with Troy Van Leeuwen and Jon Theodore reinforced Homme's central role.[33] Villains (2017, Matador) saw Homme co-produce with Mark Ronson, integrating synth elements into his guitar-driven songwriting and vocals. Notable tracks: "Feet Don't Fail Me," "The Way You Used to Do," "Domesticated Blind," "Fortress," "Head Like a Haunted House," "Un-Reborn Again," "Hideaway," "The Evil Has Landed," "Deserve You," "Villains of Circumstance," and "Endless Nameless" (hidden). Homme's direction maintained the band's alternative rock evolution.[35] The 2023 album In Times New Roman... (Matador, released October 6), featured Homme's introspective lyrics addressing personal challenges like health struggles and family issues, with him as lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and producer. The full tracklist is: "Obscenery," "Paper Mâchéte," "Negative Space," "Time & Place," "Made to Parade," "Carnavoyeur," "What the Peephole Say," "Sicily," "Emotion Sickness," and "Las Vegas."[36][37][38] EPs such as Gamma Ray (2010, Interscope) exemplify Homme's continued songwriting and performance, featuring tracks "My God Is the Sun" and "White City," both written and performed by Homme with band support. Other EPs like Go with the Flow (2002) and No One Knows (2002) similarly credit Homme as key composer and vocalist.[39] In 2025, Alive in the Catacombs (Matador), a live album and film, captured performances from July 8, 2024, sessions in the Catacombs of Paris—the first authorized musical event there—with Homme directing the reimagined setlist drawn from In Times New Roman... and classics. The tracklist includes: "Running Joke / Paper Mâchéte," "Kalopsia," "Villains of Circumstance," "Suture Up Your Future," and "I Never Came."[40][41][42] Throughout the band's history, Homme has been the sole constant member, maintaining primary creative control despite frequent lineup changes, including departures of Oliveri (2004), Johannes (2005), and Fertita (2023), allowing him to evolve QOTSA from stoner rock origins to a versatile alternative rock force.[29][32]Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal emerged as a collaborative side project in 1998, co-founded by Josh Homme and longtime friend Jesse Hughes in Palm Desert, California. In the band, Homme primarily handles drums—often under pseudonyms like Carlo Von Sexron or Baby Duck—but also contributes guitar on select tracks, production, and co-songwriting alongside Hughes, who leads on vocals and guitar. The duo's garage rock sound draws from bluesy riffs and punk influences, infused with tongue-in-cheek humor and exaggerated swagger that sets it apart from the heavier, more introspective style of Homme's main band, Queens of the Stone Age. This playful dynamic underscores the project's emphasis on raw, unpolished energy over technical complexity. Additionally, the 2019 release EODM Presents: Boots Electric Performing the Best Songs We Never Wrote includes covers of songs co-written by Homme from his QOTSA catalog.[43][4] The band's debut, Peace Love Death Metal (2004, AntAcid Audio), marked their first full release after initial jam sessions, with Homme producing the album and drumming on most tracks while co-writing several, including "I Only Want You" and "So Easy." He also layered in guitar parts on songs like "Speaking in Tongues," which features guest appearances from Brody Dalle on backing vocals and Tim Van Hamel on guitar. The 13-track effort captures the duo's early chemistry through high-octane numbers like "Kiss the Devil" and "English Girl," blending surf-rock bounce with irreverent lyrics.[44][45] Death by Sexy (2006, Downtown Records) built on this foundation, with Homme expanding his role to full production and prominent guitar work, including the searing lead on the single "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)," which he co-wrote with Hughes. The album's 13 songs, such as "Cherry Cola" and "This Love," maintain the humorous edge—evident in titles like "Don't Speak (I Came to Make a Bang!)"—while Homme's contributions add a sleazy, riff-driven punch. Guests like Jack Black on backing vocals further amplify the project's party-rock vibe.[46][47] By Heart On (2008, Downtown Records), Homme's commitments to other projects led to rotating drummers for live and recording duties, though he remained central as producer, engineer, mixer, and co-writer on all 12 tracks, including "Wannabe in L.A." and "Now I'm a Fool." The album refines the garage punk formula with glam-tinged hooks and boogie rhythms, highlighted in "High Voltage" and "Cheap Thrills," while occasional live overlap with Queens of the Stone Age members like Troy Van Leeuwen added continuity to performances. Homme's slide guitar and vibraslap accents enhance the raw, flirtatious tone.[48] Following a seven-year hiatus, Homme rejoined Hughes for Zipper Down (2015, Ipecac Recordings), producing and engineering the 10-track return to form, where the duo handled all instrumentation and co-wrote originals like "Complexity" and "Silverlake (K.S.O.F.M.)." The album recaptures the project's unfiltered energy through punky anthems such as "I Love You All the Time" and a cover of Duran Duran's "Save a Prayer," with Homme's guitar and drum work driving the humorous, high-stakes delivery.[49]Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures was formed in 2009 as a collaborative supergroup featuring Josh Homme on lead vocals and guitar, Dave Grohl—Homme's prior collaborator on Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf—on drums, and John Paul Jones on bass.[50][51] The trio's partnership began with informal jam sessions in Los Angeles, evolving into a full band without a predefined leader, emphasizing collective creativity from the outset.[52] The band's sole studio album, Them Crooked Vultures, was released on November 17, 2009, by Interscope Records.[50] Homme contributed lead vocals and guitar across all tracks, while co-writing every song alongside Grohl and Jones, resulting in a 13-track collection that showcases the group's unified vision.[53] The full tracklist is as follows:| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I" | 5:10 |
| 2 | "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" | 4:07 |
| 3 | "New Fang" | 3:49 |
| 4 | "Dead End Friends" | 3:16 |
| 5 | "Elephants" | 6:50 |
| 6 | "Scumbag Blues" | 4:27 |
| 7 | "Caligulove" | 4:55 |
| 8 | "Gunman" | 4:47 |
| 9 | "Hurricane" | 6:14 |
| 10 | "Bandoliers" | 4:30 |
| 11 | "Reptiles" | 4:15 |
| 12 | "Interlude with Ludes" | 3:24 |
| 13 | "Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up" | 7:49 |
The Desert Sessions
The Desert Sessions is a series of collaborative recording projects initiated by Josh Homme in August 1997 at the Rancho de la Luna studio in Joshua Tree, California, designed as invitation-only jam sessions to foster spontaneous songwriting and genre experimentation among rotating guest musicians from the rock, stoner, and alternative scenes. Homme, drawing from his experiences with Kyuss and emerging Queens of the Stone Age, organized these retreats to create music free from commercial pressures, often recording over short intensive periods with a focus on improvisation and collective creativity; the project emphasizes Homme's role as host, primary songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (primarily guitar and vocals), arranger, and producer across all volumes.[5][59][60] Volumes 1 and 2, released together in 1998 by Man's Ruin Records, mark the project's debut and feature Homme on guitar and production alongside a core group including bassist Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden), drummer Alfredo Hernández (Kyuss), and vocalist Pete Stahl (Goatsnake/earthlings?), with additional contributions from John McBain (Monster Magnet) on guitar. The instrumental-driven tracks, such as "Four Bones" and "Status: Ships Commander," capture the raw, desert-rock energy of the initial sessions, limited to 1,000 vinyl copies each for Volumes 1 (Instrumental Driving Music for Felons) and 2 (Status: Ships Commander Butchered). Homme's pseudonyms like "Carlo Von Sexron" appear in credits, underscoring the playful, anonymous spirit.[61] Volumes 3 and 4, also issued in 1998 by Man's Ruin Records, expand the collaborative format with guests including Peter Stahl on vocals, Chris Goss (Masters of Reality) on production and keyboards, and Jesse "The Devil" Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) on drums and vocals. Homme contributed guitar, drums, and co-writing on tracks like "Nova," "Avon," and "The Gosso King of Crater Lake" from Volume 3 (Set Coordinates for the White Dwarf!!!), while Volume 4 (Hard Walls and Little Trips) includes "Powdered Wig Machine" and "Eros and Astraea," blending psychedelia and punk influences in similarly limited-edition releases. These volumes highlight Homme's growing emphasis on vocal-driven songs and shared songcraft.[62][63] Volumes 5 and 6, compiled and released in 2001 by Ipecac Recordings after initial 1999 sessions, introduce broader star power with guests such as PJ Harvey on vocals for the standout "Crawl Home," alongside Blag Dahlia (The Dwarves), Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson), and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees). Homme handled arrangements, guitar, and production, shaping tracks like "Covered in Punks' Blood" and "Sounds Like a Dog" into a mix of gritty rock and experimental edges across the two-disc set. The sessions' spontaneity is evident in the diverse instrumentation and rapid composition process.[5][64] Volumes 7 and 8, released in 2001 by Homme's own Rekords Rekords imprint in partnership with Southern Lord Records, incorporate covers alongside originals, featuring guests like Dean Ween (Ween), Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), and Josh Freese (The Vandals). Homme directed the six-day recording at Joshua Tree, contributing guitar, vocals, and production on tracks such as "If I Had a Tail" and "The Bloody Dollar," which blend folk-tinged ballads with heavier riffs. This pairing underscores the project's evolution toward more structured yet improvisational output.[65][66] Volumes 9 and 10, released together in 2003 by Ipecac Recordings following February sessions, reunite PJ Harvey for co-writing and vocals on several tracks, joined by Dean Ween, Alain Johannes (Eleven), Twiggy Ramirez (A Perfect Circle), and Joey Castillo (Queens of the Stone Age). Homme's multi-instrumental work and production shine in songs like "Dead in Love," "Powdered Wig Machine," and "I Wanna Make It Wit Chu," exploring disco, punk, and soul elements over 12 tracks plus bonuses. These volumes represent a high point in the early era's collaborative density.[5][67] After a 16-year hiatus, Volumes 11 and 12 emerged in October 2019 via Matador Records, recorded over six days in December 2018 at Rancho de la Luna with a contemporary lineup including Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) on guitar and vocals for "Move Together," Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) on "Something You Can't See," Les Claypool (Primus) on bass, Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint) on drums, and Mike Kerr (Royal Blood) on "Crucifire." Homme provided vocals, guitar, and production across the eight-track set, which includes "Noses in Roses, Forever" and "If You Run" (feat. Libby Grace), reviving the project's ethos with fresh, eclectic rock explorations.[68] Spanning 12 volumes in total, The Desert Sessions prioritize unpolished creativity over polished albums, with some tracks like "I Wanna Make It Wit Chu" later reappearing on Queens of the Stone Age releases. The format's enduring appeal lies in its ability to capture fleeting musical synergies among diverse talents under Homme's guidance.[60][59]Solo and additional performance credits
Film scores and soundtracks
Josh Homme has ventured into film scoring as a composer and performer, creating original music that incorporates his signature guitar-driven style adapted for cinematic contexts, often featuring sparse arrangements and atmospheric elements distinct from his rock band work. His contributions span limited-release soundtracks from 2002 to 2017, emphasizing ambient textures and narrative-driven compositions outside his primary album projects.[7] In 2002, Homme co-composed the score for The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, directed by Peter Care, collaborating with composer Marco Beltrami on a soundtrack released by Milan Records. The album features Homme's original tracks such as "The Atomic Trinity," "Hanging," "Francis and Margie," "Stoned," and "All the Same," where he handled guitar, writing, and performance alongside collaborators Brad Wilk on drums and Nick Oliveri on bass. These pieces blend rock instrumentation with subtle, tension-building motifs suited to the film's coming-of-age themes of rebellion and mischief.[69][70] Homme's involvement in the 2012 film End of Watch, directed by David Ayer, included co-writing and performing the track "Nobody to Love" with composer David Sardy, released as a bonus on the Lakeshore Records soundtrack. This contribution integrates Homme's guitar and electronic elements into the film's gritty police procedural atmosphere, providing a haunting, minimalist underscore that echoes the score's overall intensity without dominating the compilation.[71][72][73] His most extensive solo film scoring effort came in 2017 with In the Fade (original German title Aus dem Nichts), directed by Fatih Akin, for which Homme composed the original music, released on Milan Records in collaboration with Bombero International. The soundtrack album comprises 14 tracks, including Homme's instrumental cues like "The End," "In Slow Motion," "Blood on the Wall," "Dreaming in the Rain," "Suicide," "Dead Man Walking," "I Knew," "The Chase," and "End Credits," interspersed with licensed songs such as Faith No More's "Superhero" and Queens of the Stone Age's "The Bronze." Homme employed guitar loops and ambient soundscapes to evoke the film's themes of grief and vengeance, creating a brooding, electronic-infused palette that supports the emotional narrative arcs.[74][75][76] These film projects highlight Homme's ability to translate his experimental approach from Queens of the Stone Age into more restrained, atmospheric scoring, with releases characterized by their boutique nature and focus on enhancing visual storytelling through innovative guitar textures.[77]Guest appearances
Josh Homme has contributed his guitar playing, vocals, and occasional drumming to numerous studio albums by other artists, spanning rock, alternative, and pop genres. These guest spots often arose from his extensive network of collaborations, showcasing his ability to blend his signature riff-heavy style with diverse projects. From early stoner rock influences to high-profile pop crossovers, Homme's performances added texture and energy to tracks without overshadowing the lead artist. The following table catalogs selected guest appearances from 1998 to 2022, focusing on verified instrumental and vocal contributions on studio albums, with track-specific credits where available.[7]
These contributions demonstrate Homme's range, from heavy rock with Iggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne to pop-infused tracks with Lady Gaga, often bridging underground and mainstream scenes. While some overlaps exist with his production work (detailed in other sections), these focus solely on his on-record performances.[1]
Note: Homme also contributed drums to The Strokes' B-side "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology" on the 2006 "You Only Live Once" single, outside main album tracks.[78]