Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) have unveiled their most audacious and atmospherically charged live performance to date with the release of their new concert film, ‘Alive in the Catacombs.’ Available now for streaming and download exclusively via the band’s official website, this half-hour cinematic experience plunges viewers deep into the eerie intimacy of the Paris Catacombs, where Josh Homme and his bandmates delivered a truly unforgettable set in July 2024.
Alive in the Catacombs
Shot amidst the centuries-old ossuaries of the French capital, ‘Alive in the Catacombs’ captures QOTSA’s raw power in an unprecedented setting.
What was originally conceived as a unique stop on their ‘The End Is Nero’ tour unexpectedly became a pivotal moment, taking place just before Homme’s well-documented medical emergency and subsequent tour postponement.
“This was, without a doubt, the biggest audience we’ve ever played for,” Homme quipped about the six million souls whose skulls line the underground tunnels.
Far from a typical stripped-back acoustic session, the Thomas Rames-directed and Blogothèque-produced film showcases custom lighting, ambient acoustics, and even features an unexpected string quartet, transforming QOTSA’s blistering rock anthems into an ethereal and profoundly intimate experience.
Alive in Paris and Before
Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen highlights the profound shift in perspective within the accompanying mini-documentary, ‘Alive in Paris and Before,’ (directed by QOTSA’s longtime visual collaborator Andreas Neumann). “For once, we weren’t the main characters,” Van Leeuwen explains. “We were there to compliment and show deference to these people buried 20 metres underground since 1786.”
Paper Machete
The immersive film takes viewers on a haunting journey, with ghostly reimaginings of tracks like ‘Paper Machete’ and a more macabre rendition of ‘Kalopsia.’ The band’s performance of ‘Villains Of Circumstance’ — with its attack on “life in pursuit of a nameless prey” — resonates with unsettling profundity amidst the skeletal backdrop.
As Homme and co. rattle chains for ‘Suture Up Your Future’ and defiantly declare “when you say it’s dead and gone, yes, I know you’re wrong” on ‘I Never Came,’ the concert film beautifully conveys a humbling message: “you ain’t all that, we’ll all be bones eventually, but art is forever.”
Exclusive mini-documentary
‘Alive in Paris and Before,’ a 48-hour exclusive mini-documentary, offers a candid look into the emotional build-up to this extraordinary performance.
It delves into the band’s internal discussions surrounding Homme’s health, the difficult decision to pause touring, and the complex logistics of performing beneath Paris’ hallowed, haunted ground.
This companion piece reveals that the concept for this grisly performance had been 20 years in the making, only truly coming to fruition when Homme himself was at death’s door, battling cancer (from which he has since been given the all-clear).
QOTSA US Tour
The release of both films marks a powerful return for QOTSA as they prepare to kick off their rescheduled US tour. The highly anticipated run begins with dates in Boston on June 10-11, followed by stops in Atlantic City and Cincinnati, concluding in Chicago on June 21.
‘Alive in the Catacombs’ is an unmissable entry in QOTSA’s legendary live catalog, offering both longtime fans and curious newcomers a unique and chilling glimpse into the band’s artistic evolution.
Stream ‘Alive in the Catacombs’ now and experience rock ‘n’ roll among the dead.
