While speaking during a recent interview with Guitar World, Nick Oliveri talked about his relationship with Josh Homme after leaving Queens of the Stone Age. Oliveri was dismissed in 2004, after being part of the band’s iconic ‘Songs for the Deaf’ lineup with Dave Grohl and Mark Lanegan. Oliveri appeared for a one off reunion at a QOTSA show in Los Angeles in 2014, but he’s never permanently rejoined the band.
Oliveri told Guitar World there’s no bad blood between he and Homme, and that their time together was very important to him. Oliveri mentioned that any past issues are behind them, and he has no hard feelings. It’s been a tough time for QOTSA recently, as Josh Homme underwent surgery recently..
Oliveri also said that whenever he meets with Homme, it’s like nothing has changed, and they still keep in touch by phone. Oliveri wishes Homme well, and joked that he hopes Homme will take Oliveri’s band, Mondo Generator, on tour with him. This would provide great exposure for Mondo.
“We accomplished more, I think, than we ever accomplished outside of knowing each other within other bands. So, I don’t know… I’ve got nothing bad to say about the dude,” the musician said about Homme. “We’ve had our moments; it’s all water under the bridge, and everything’s good.”
“We still pick up where we left off whenever we see each other,” Oliveri noted about his current relationship with Homme. “We still talk on the phone. We’re still good friends. Josh is a good dude, and we get along well. I wish him all the success in the world; I just wish he’d take Mondo Generator [Oliveri’s band named after the Kyuss song] on tour with them [Laughs].”
In 2002, Queens of the Stone Age released their third album, Songs For The Deaf, and went on tour. After the tour, Josh Homme fired Nick Oliveri due to allegations of abuse against Oliveri’s girlfriend.
In a 2005 interview with Billboard, Homme explained his decision to fire Oliveri. He said he had warned Nick about a rumor he heard, stating,
“If I ever find out this is true, I can’t know you, man.” Homme emphasized that music and his personal life are intertwined, and extreme actions dictate the rules.
Homme further described an incident involving Oliveri and Mark Lanegan in England, where Oliveri faced a serious situation. Homme said,
‘That’s not music anymore. They don’t understand what it’s like to sit there and feel helpless. When you have your chance to make your statement, which for me was firing Nick, that’s what I did.”
