Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age speaks on music’s influence
‘Kids are an unfinished gift and whatever can pinball them in the right direction, I’m in,’ Josh Homme said of the museum’s new music exhibit.
Vickie Connor, The Desert Sun
Queens of the Stone Age has canceled the remaining eight shows on its European tour as lead singer Josh Homme “immediately” returns home for emergency surgery.
In a post on social media, the American rock band wistfully informed fans of the decision to cancel the shows. “Every effort was made to push through and play for you, but it is no longer an option to continue,” the statement read.
USA TODAY has reached out to the band’s reps for comment.
The canceled dates include festivals in France, Czechia and Slovakia, as well as headlining performances in Croatia and Greece throughout July. Ticket holders for festivals are expected to visit the specific festival website for updated information.
This follows the announcement that the band pulled out of AMA Music Festival in Italy on July 5 “due to illness.”
The band did not disclose the nature of Homme’s surgery. Last year, he shared that he’s been diagnosed with cancer and recovered successfully, but did not reveal which kind of cancer.
In 2023, the band released its eighth studio album, and first album in six years, “In Times New Roman…” along with a string of North American and European dates, including those affected by this cancellation.
According to the Queens of the Stone Age’s website, the band is still slated to play a number of festivals and headline shows in August, kicking the rest of the summer off with Way out West Festival in Sweden.
Tour cancelations have circulated throughout the summer, with Pink pausing her Summer Carnival Tour last month due to an unspecified health issue.
“If we put ourselves in their shoes, we would want to be able to have a private life especially when dealing with sensitive or difficult issues,” Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY. “Yes, they have chosen to lead a life that is more in the public eye but they have not forfeited their human need to draw a distinct line between themselves and those who are interested in them.”