Queens of the Stone Age have paused their European tour so that singer Josh Homme can return immediately to the US for emergency surgery.
“We made every effort to keep going and play for you, but it is no longer an option to continue,” the alternative rock band said Tuesday in a social media post, confirming the cancellation of eight additional shows this summer.
“Queens is heartbroken to not be able to play for you. We apologize for any inconvenience and share your frustration and disappointment,” the post read.
The band, whose other members are guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, bassist Michael Shuman, keyboardist Dean Fertita and drummer Jon Theodore, will no longer perform at festivals in France and Slovakia this week due to the singer-guitarist’s departure. Shows in Berlin, Austria, Romania, Croatia and Greece have also been canceled, according to the announcement, which urged ticket holders to visit their respective festival websites for more information. Ticket holders for the band’s headlining shows will be contacted directly from their point of purchase, the post said.
Last Friday, the “No One Knows” and “The Way You Used to Do” band canceled its performance at Italy’s AMA Festival “due to illness,” though it did not indicate in the announcement who had fallen ill. As of Wednesday, dates for August shows in Europe and shows in North America, which are scheduled through November, were still listed on the Queens of the Stone Age website.
A spokesman for the group did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times' request for additional comment.
Homme, 51, who grew up and began his music career in Palm Desert, was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 but said he had recovered after undergoing surgery. It's unclear if his recent emergency surgery is related, as no details were given about the emergency procedure.
After founding the pioneering stoner metal group Kyuss in the mid-'90s, Homme rose to prominence in 2001 with Queens of the Stone Age's “Rated R” album. He has also played with Eagles of Death Metal and supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, produced albums by Iggy Pop and Arctic Monkeys, and is known for embracing the avant-garde.
Last summer, Queens of the Stone Age released “In Times New Roman…”, their long-awaited eighth studio album. The group’s first LP in six years reflected the tumultuous years in which Homme lost several close friends, including Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins, Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan and actor and bar owner Rio Hackford.
Homme was also involved in a contentious custody battle over his three children with his ex-wife, Brody Dalle. He and Dalle, lead singer of the Distillers, divorced in 2019 after about 15 years of marriage and amid allegations of alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence. Then, after completing the QOTSA album but before its June 2023 release, Homme was diagnosed with cancer.
The Times pop music critic Mikael Wood contributed to this report.
