Legendary Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil attended Queens of the Stone Age’s show in Seattle a couple of days ago. He was photographed backstage with QOTSA drummer Jon Theodore, Eagles of Death Metal bassist Jennie Vee, and Seattle Mariners baseball legend/Soundgarden photographer Randy Johnson.
Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age’s ties go back to QOTSA’s formation, as Matt Cameron played drums at some of the band’s early performances in Seattle shortly after Soundgarden’s breakup. At the time, the band was known as Gamma Ray.
Cameron first performed with Gamma Ray/QOTSA on November 20, 1997 at the OK Hotel in Seattle, with Mike Johnson and John McBrain also featured in the lineup. That same lineup also performed at the OK Hotel on December 11, 1997.
Queens of the Stone Age opened for Soundgarden on their reunion tour in summer 2011.
Times Colonist reports that Queens of the Stone Age returned to the stage in Victoria BC for the first time since Josh Homme kicked photographer Chelsea Lauren during a performance in Los Angeles last month. The review states:
Queens of the Stone Age’s first Victoria concert since 2008 was also the band’s first concert and public appearance since the Dec. 9 incident, and eyes were certainly on Homme heading into the show.
He didn’t address the audience until two songs in, and when he did it was brief. “It’s wonderful to be here,” he said. “Thank you so much.” He would later introduce the song, I Sat By the Ocean, with cryptic words (“Sometimes things go wrong, and when they’re wrong it’s too late”) that seemed to address the kick. Homme grew more chatty as the night developed, but for the most part the band spoke with its fingers and feet before 5,670 fans on this night.
Perhaps that was the right approach, especially for a band coming out of a dark period of heavy criticism. Theirs was a thunderous 90-minute appearance, with some of the heaviest bass I’ve ever heard from a rock band in the arena, and some of the mightiest riffs. Musically, it was a triumphant return. Slow as molasses in some spots, but triumphant nonetheless.
Watch video from the show below.
