Josh Homme
The desert-rock architect whose sludgy riffs and subversive pop sensibilities rebuilt modern hard rock in his own idiosyncratic image.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American musician·Birthday: May 17·Generation X
Biography
Josh Homme emerged from the sun-baked generator parties of the California desert with Kyuss, a band that defined a slow, heavy, and psychedelic sound. After their dissolution, he didn't just start a new band; he engineered a philosophy. Queens of the Stone Age, formed in 1996, became his vehicle for intelligent, groove-laden, and deceptively melodic rock that prized feel over brute force. As the band's only constant member, Homme operates as a sonic director, curating a rotating cast of musicians to serve his vision of 'robot rock'—music that swings with a cold, precise heat. His influence extends through collaborations with Iggy Pop, his drumming in Eagles of Death Metal, and the founding of the Desert Sessions, making him a central node in an expansive and influential rock network.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Josh was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded and leads Queens of the Stone Age, whose 2002 album 'Songs for the Deaf' is widely considered a modern rock masterpiece.
- Co-founded the eclectic musical collective 'The Desert Sessions', which has released multiple volumes since 1997.
- Produced and played on Iggy Pop's critically acclaimed 2016 album 'Post Pop Depression'.
- Led Queens of the Stone Age to multiple Grammy nominations, including a win for 'No One Knows' in 2003.
Did You Know?
He stands 6'5", a fact often noted given his role as a frontman and guitarist.
Homme briefly attended college to study music but dropped out to tour with Kyuss.
He is a licensed pilot and has flown planes for many years.
The recurring character 'The Ginger Devil' in the TV show 'Sons of Anarchy' was loosely based on him by his friend and show creator Kurt Sutter.
“"Rock and roll should be heavy enough for the boys and sweet enough for the girls. That way everyone's happy and it's not about one specific thing."”
