Queens of the Stone Age Alive in the Catacombs on June 5th , an audiovisual document of their legendary performance in the tunnels of the famous Catacombs of Paris.
Recorded in July 2024, Alive in the Catacombs showcases the band as never before seen or heard. This utterly unique experience features a carefully curated setlist spanning the band's entire catalog, with each song epically reinvented to suit the Catacombs' setting. The result is an unprecedented incarnation of Queens of the Stone Age at their most intimate—and, ironically, in front of their largest audience to date. “The biggest crowd we’ve ever played for,” says vocalist Joshua Homme , surrounded by millions of human remains.
The Catacombs of Paris form a 320 km underground ossuary, with walls built from the skulls and bones of millions of people buried there in the 18th century. Homme, fascinated by the site since his first visit almost 20 years ago, dreamed of performing there—but until then no artist had received permission to do so. This unprecedented authorization was granted, and the result is a performance shaped entirely by the space.
“We are so stripped down because that place is stripped down. That makes the music stripped down, the words too… It would be ridiculous to try to play rock there. All the decisions were made by that space. It dictates everything. You do what it tells you to do,” Homme reflects.
Directed by Thomas Rames and produced by La Blogothèque , the film was conceived with absolute respect for the natural acoustics and atmosphere of the location—including the sounds of dripping water, resonances, and silences that are part of the narrative. The instrumentation was adapted: a three-piece string section joins the band, which uses chains and chopsticks as improvised percussion, and even a car battery to power an electric piano. Each song was recorded live, without overdubs or edits.
The film will be released by the band in partnership with Matador Records and will be available for purchase or rental on the website qotsa.com , where pre-orders are already possible. Those who purchase by June 7th will have exclusive access to behind-the-scenes footage, full streaming, and a download option. An audio-only version will be announced soon.
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