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Eagles of Death Metal

From Alfawiki
Eagles of Death Metal
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1998
Headquarters
Palm Desert, California
,
United States
ProductsRock music

Eagles of Death Metal is a rock group originating from Palm Desert, California, established in 1998 by Jesse Hughes (vocals, guitar) and Josh Homme (drums). Hughes and Homme remain the sole consistent members, although Homme seldom joins live performances due to his commitments with Queens of the Stone Age. The current touring ensemble includes Hughes alongside Leah Bluestein (drums), Scott Shiflett (guitar), Jennie Vee (bass), and Rex Roulette (guitar).

Contrary to what their name suggests, Eagles of Death Metal do not play death metal; the title is intended as a playful joke. Homme has characterized their music as combining "bluegrass slide guitar with stripper-style drum rhythms and vocals reminiscent of Canned Heat." Hughes is recognized for his dynamic interaction with audiences during concerts.

Name origin

The band has provided multiple accounts explaining their name, all revolving around the idea of a humorous fusion or death metal interpretation of the band Eagles. In a video interview at a Converse Music event held in London, Hughes described witnessing a man dancing to "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions, who labeled it "death metal." Homme responded, "No, it’s not. This is like the Eagles of death metal." Another version states that the name originated when a friend attempted to introduce Homme to death metal by playing a track from the Polish band Vader, leading Homme to dub Vader "the Eagles of death metal," which sparked Hughes's curiosity about what a blend between the Eagles and death metal might sound like.

Early years (1998–2003)

Formed in Palm Desert, California, Eagles of Death Metal initially appeared on Josh Homme’s The Desert Sessions Volumes 3 & 4. Although Homme’s attention shifted toward the rising success of Queens of the Stone Age, he reaffirmed his dedication to Eagles of Death Metal in 2008, stating, "This isn’t just a side project for me. I’m part of two bands. I experience musical schizophrenia, and this is one of those facets."

Peace, Love, Death Metal (2004–2005)

Their debut album, Peace, Love, Death Metal, was released in March 2004. Multiple tracks were utilized in American television commercials for companies such as Ask.com, Comcast, Payless ShoeSource, Nissan Motors, Budweiser, Pontiac, and Wendy's. Their songs also featured in marketing campaigns for movies including Thank You for Smoking and Grindhouse, with promotional discs for the latter distributed at Hot Topic. The album’s opening track, "I Only Want You," was included on the soundtrack for the PS2 title Gran Turismo 4 and was used by Microsoft in advertisements promoting Windows 8. Additionally, "Miss Alissa" appeared in Nike’s 2014 FIFA World Cup promotional video titled "Winner Stays," which highlighted football stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

Death by Sexy (2006–2007)

The group's sophomore album, Death by Sexy, was launched on April 11, 2006. They joined The Strokes as a supporting act on tour and subsequently led a U.S. tour with The Giraffes as their opening act. Later, they opened for Peaches and shared the stage with Joan Jett. In the autumn of 2006, they briefly served as the opening act for Guns N' Roses, but this engagement concluded after just one performance when Axl Rose famously labeled them "Pigeons of Shit Metal," a phrase the band later embraced for their merchandise.

Several songs from this album received notable commercial placements: "Chase the Devil" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Project 8; "Don't Speak (I Came to Make a Bang!)" appeared in Electronic Arts' Need for Speed: Carbon; "Cherry Cola" was included in a Microsoft Zune advertising campaign; and "Don't Speak" was utilized in both the film Epic Movie and a Guy Ritchie-directed Nike commercial promoting UEFA Euro 2008. Additionally, "I Want You So Hard" was incorporated into HBO's True Blood, while "I Got A Feeling (Just Nineteen)" featured in season 2 of Criminal Minds.

Heart On (2008–2009)

Prior to releasing their third studio album, on October 21, 2008, the band performed live at the Hollywood & Highland Virgin Megastore to coincide with the launch of the video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles. The album's lead track, Wannabe in L.A., was included not only in this game but also featured in Guitar Hero 5 and DiRT 2. Other songs such as "I'm Your Torpedo" and "High Voltage" appeared in the 2009 movie Whip It, while "Now I'm A Fool" was part of the soundtrack for Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Furthermore, "High Voltage" was used in a 2010 digital campaign for Head & Shoulders.

Heart On officially dropped on October 28, 2008 (with a Canadian release on November 4) and was accompanied by a North American tour. The band also delivered a live webcast performance for Fuel.tv in February 2009 and later toured as an opening act for Arctic Monkeys.

In 2010, bassist Brian O'Connor, who toured with the band, underwent chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis. To support his treatment, Josh Homme collaborated with Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones to organize a benefit concert at London's Brixton Academy. During O'Connor's recovery period, Abby Travis took over bass duties.

September 2011 saw Jesse Hughes release his first solo record, titled Honkey Kong, under his solo alias Boots Electric.

Zipper Down (2013–2015)

On October 19, 2013, Hughes posted studio session clips on his Instagram, signaling that work on a new album was underway. Josh Homme announced two headline shows across the UK scheduled for mid-2015, including performances at London's KOKO and Glasgow's The Garage, along with an appearance on the second stage at the Download Festival. In June 2015, the band confirmed that their album Zipper Down would be released on October 2. The lead single "Complexity" debuted on Pitchfork Media ahead of the album launch.

Bataclan attack (2015)

On November 13, 2015, while Eagles of Death Metal played to a full house of approximately 1,500 fans at the Bataclan in Paris, Islamist militants launched a deadly assault, resulting in the deaths of nearly 90 attendees. The attackers indiscriminately opened fire and detonated explosives as police intervened. Band members Hughes, guitarist Eden Galindo, and drummer Julian Dorio managed to escape to the backstage area; bassist Matt McJunkins and guitarist Dave Catching also survived by finding refuge and were later evacuated by law enforcement. Tragically, the band's merchandise manager Nick Alexander was among those killed.

Following the incident, Jon Morter initiated a Facebook campaign to boost the band's rendition of Duran Duran's "Save a Prayer" to the top position on the UK Singles Chart. With backing from Duran Duran’s lead singer Simon Le Bon, proceeds from the track were pledged to charitable causes. The single ultimately reached number 53.

On November 18, Eagles of Death Metal released a statement expressing gratitude toward police and supporters for their assistance during the crisis. In an interview with Vice, Hughes conveyed his resolve to complete their European tour as a tribute to the victims. Homme urged fellow musicians to cover "I Love You All the Time," with all proceeds benefiting his Sweet Stuff Foundation, which supports those affected.

Musical acts including Florence and the Machine, My Morning Jacket, and Kings of Leon joined in recording charity covers as part of this initiative.

On December 7, Eagles of Death Metal returned to the stage in Paris at the AccorHotels Arena, performing alongside U2—their first live appearance since the attack, though without Homme. Together they performed Patti Smith’s "People Have the Power" before delivering their own "I Love You All the Time." Hughes announced intentions to revisit Paris in February 2016, and the band also made a solemn visit back to Bataclan to pay respects to those lost.

Aftermath of the attack and the Nos Amis Tour (2016–2018)

By December 2015, Eagles of Death Metal resumed touring Europe under the new title "Nos Amis Tour" ("Our Friends Tour"). A notable highlight was their concert on February 16 at Paris’s Olympia, where individuals who had tickets for the November Bataclan show were granted free entry.

In March 2016, Jesse Hughes controversially accused certain Bataclan security personnel of complicity in the attack. His remarks sparked widespread criticism and led to an apology from Hughes. Subsequently, the band was removed from the lineup of the Rock en Seine festival. When Bataclan reopened in November 2016, reports suggested Hughes and another band member were barred from entering due to his statements; however, their manager clarified that Hughes had not attempted to gain access.

A documentary directed by Colin Hanks, titled Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends), premiered on HBO in February 2017. It detailed both the band’s journey and events following the Bataclan tragedy. The group supported Mastodon on their Spring 2017 U.S. tour and introduced Jennie Vee as their new bassist. On March 28, 2017, filmmaker Jay Chandrasekhar announced that Eagles of Death Metal would compose the soundtrack for Super Troopers 2.

On April 26, 2017, Spanish authorities disclosed that one of nine suspects arrested for the March 2016 Brussels bombings had been observed near the venue where Eagles of Death Metal performed in Barcelona in September 2016. This surveillance contributed to subsequent arrests made in Barcelona.

On December 31, 2018, Eagles of Death Metal held a New Year’s Eve concert at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California. During this performance, they revived "Kiss the Devil" after a three-year hiatus. Jesse Hughes addressed the crowd, stating that they were reclaiming a song that had been taken from them and expressed appreciation for fans sharing this moment.

Style and influences

Despite their name, Eagles of Death Metal do not perform death metal; the title is intended as a playful joke. Their musical style blends a Rolling Stones-inspired vibe with garage rock undertones. Their sound draws from bluegrass and funk, and has been characterized as a combination of punk, rockabilly, and the boogie rock reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. According to NPR, they fall under the hard rock genre, while Pitchfork describes them as a "cartoon-like, sensual blues-rock act" featuring a "cock-rock" style that lacks seriousness. CNN categorizes them as an alternative rock group, and Rolling Stone identifies them as "boogie-rock revivalists." Additionally, Spin refers to them as an "elevated desert rock duo." Various sources have also labeled their music as rockabilly, psychobilly, and "rockabilly-metal," highlighting the band's wide-ranging influences and cross-genre appeal.

Official members

  • Jesse Hughes, also known as The Devil or Boots Electric – lead vocals, guitar, bass, and multiple instruments (1998–present)
  • Josh Homme, known by aliases such as Carlo Von Sexron, DP Pete, Baby Duck, and Zombie Zebra – drums, bass, backing vocals, guitar, and various instruments (1998–present)

Current live members

Former members and collaborators

Studio albums

External links

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