Queens of the Stone Age Launch ‘Catacombs Tour’ After Once-in-a-Lifetime Paris Show
In July of 2024, Queens of the Stone Age were forced to cancel the majority of their tour dates after frontman Josh Homme fell deathly ill. It was right around the same time that they were supposed to play a special performance in the Paris Catacombs, the famed system of tunnels and chambers for the dead under France’s capital. The band had worked with French authorities for years to get the opportunity. That’s why Homme broke out of the emergency room to go play the show.
The result is Alive in the Catacombs, a new live album accompanied by an intimate documentary called Behind the Scenes: Alive in Paris and Before. While the band has played some astounding shows in remarkable places, they say that this is “QOTSA as you’ve never seen or heard them before.”
“Every aesthetic decision, every choice of song, every configuration of instruments… absolutely everything was planned and played with deference to the Catacombs — from the acoustics and ambient sounds — dripping water, echoes and natural resonance — to the darkly atmospheric lighting tones that enhance the music,” the band’s website explains.
The band stripped back their heavier sound and added a string section to fit the space. Even so, Michael Shuman‘s rich bass tone is especially present to add warmth to the band.
“We went deep on this one,” he wrote on Instagram. “Once in a lifetime experience and can’t wait for everyone to get a taste.” ‘
Check out his groove on the opening track, “Running Joke/Paper Machete”:
Now, the band has announced The Catacombs Tour, which will bring the new song arrangements around North America this fall. Beginning October 2nd in Chicago, Illinois, the tour will spend six dates heading Northeast. They’ll break for a month before hitting three dates in California, heading to Texas, and wrapping things up in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 21st.
Alive in the Catacombs is out now digitally (Apple Music and Amazon Music) with the documentary streaming on the Queens of the Stone Age website.
Alive in the Catacombs EP Track List:
- Running Joke/Paper Machete
- Kalopsia
- Villains of Circumstance
- Suture Up Your Future
- I Never Came
Queens of the Stone Age “The Catacombs Tour” 2025 Dates:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 10/02/25 | Chicago,IL | Chicago Theatre |
| 10/03/25 | Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre |
| 10/05/25 | Toronto, ON | Massey Hall |
| 10/07/25 | Philadelphia, PA | The Met |
| 10/08/25 | Boston, MA | Wang Theatre - Boch Center |
| 10/10/25 | New York, NY | Beacon Theatre |
| 11/08/25 | Santa Barbara, CA | Arlington Theatre |
| 11/10/25 | San Francisco, CA | Davies Symphony Hall |
| 11/11/25 | Los Angeles, CA | Dolby Theater |
| 11/19/25 | Austin, TX | Bass Concert Hall |
| 11/21/25 | New Orleans, LA | Saenger Theatre |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
