How an ancient place of death made Josh Homme feel alive
'I'm so proud of the film because it's either 'I hate it' or 'Holy s—, that was intense,'' he says. 'It's nothing in between.'
Advertisement
The inspiration for 'Alive in the Catacombs,' which comes accompanied by a behind-the-scenes documentary (and a five-song EP due Friday), stretches back two decades to a trip to Paris when a long line stymied Homme's attempt to visit the historical site. Yet he sees a certain poetry in the fact that the show — with radically stripped-down renditions of tunes like 'Villains of Circumstance' and 'Suture Up Your Future' — came together only as he found himself in a health crisis that forced Queens to postpone the remaining dates of its 2024 tour. With Homme having recovered from cancer, the band will return to the road this week for its first shows in nearly a year.
How arduous was it to convince the Parisian officials to let you shoot in the catacombs?
It was a f— nightmare. There's a national attitude that's pervasive in France where you ask a question and the first reaction is, 'Ask him over there.' The runaround, as we would call it. We received the runaround for many years.
Are you attracted to spooky spots in general?
I love when music is scary. I recall hearing the Doors as a young boy and being like, 'Whoa.' And they're so consistently terrifying — I've always been obsessed with that. My vision of Queens, when it's perfect, is: There's a hill with the sun behind it, and this crippled army of minstrels comes over the horizon. The townspeople go, 'S—, grab the kids.' When we sound like that, we're at our best.
What's a place in L.A. that might be comparable to the catacombs?
There are some Steinbeck-y hobo hotels. And in the right light the Hollywood Forever cemetery has a certain ominous beauty. But that feels too simple. I grew up working on a tree farm, and there's something about the uniformity of a tree farm that I find terrifying. Further out, the oil fields of Kern County are like dinosaur relics — scabs on the surface of the earth.
Advertisement
Seems reasonable to ask why someone in such perilous physical shape would want to spend time in a place defined by death.
Having worked on this for the better part of 20 years, the chances that when it finally occurs, I would be dealing with the very issue that is why it exists — I mean, the chances are almost zero. That plays into my romantic side, and I don't see the value in running hypotheticals about why it's happening. I'd rather hold it close and say, 'I'm supposed to be here,' accept that and feel empowered by it. There were a lot of people who love me that were saying I shouldn't do this. And I respect that. But it does ignore the point — like, how many signs do you need?
I saw the behind-the-scenes film —
I watched it once, and I can never watch it again. I see how medicated I was. I know that vulnerable is the way to go, but I don't do a lot of sorting through things in hindsight — it makes me uncomfortable. I'm uncomfortable with the documentary.
Why put it out?
Because that's what this is. I was uncomfortable in the catacombs too.
Read more: A timeline of Sly Stone's career in 10 essential songs
Advertisement
You don't play guitar in the movie. Did it feel natural for you to sing without holding one?
It didn't in earlier years, but now it's as natural as anything else. I'm sort of slowly falling out of love with the guitar. I'll just use any instrument. I don't play them all well, but it doesn't really matter — it's whatever will get the idea across.
Who were some of your models for the kind of singing you're doing?
I've always loved [Jim] Morrison and his poetry. Sometimes the music isn't great in the Doors, but it's all in support of someone that I do believe is a true poet. The words are the strongest part of that band.
Your crooning made me want to hear you do an album of standards.
I was talking about this with my old man today. He's like, 'You're not gonna retire,' and I was like, 'Oh, yes, I am — I'm going to Melvyn's in Palm Springs to be like [sings], 'Fly me to the moon…''
You grew up in Palm Desert. This might be an underappreciated aspect of your lineage.
KDES 104.7, baby. The DJ would be like, 'Are you by the pool? Well, you should be.' Very Robert Evans.
Advertisement
Are there Queens songs you knew wouldn't work in the catacombs?
We didn't think of it that way. The people in there, they didn't choose to be there, so what would they want to hear? I chose things about family, acceptance, the difficulties in life and the way you feel the moment they're revealed — and the way you feel the moment they're over. My first thought was: How do I emotionally get on my knees and do the very best I can to present something that these people have been longing for? It felt very religious.
Do you believe in God?
I believe in God, but God is everything I can't understand.
Do you think there's an afterlife?
I believe there's a return to something. Is it like, 'Oh my God, Rodney Dangerfield!'? That's not what I believe. But the energy that keeps you and I alive, it can't simply disappear. You must just go home to the big ball somewhere.
Last time you and I spoke, you told me you you'd learned to pursue your art with less of the reckless abandon of your youth. I wondered how that figured into your decision to call off shows last year after Paris.
By the time we walked down the steps into the catacombs, we all knew in the band that it was over. The morning we were supposed to play Venice [a few days before the Paris gig], I just couldn't take it anymore, so I was like, 'Take me to the hospital.' But I realized there was nothing that could happen for me there. I said, 'Bathroom?' and I had them pull the car up and we left.
Advertisement
Does that seem irresponsible in retrospect?
No, because they didn't know what was going on and they didn't have the ability to know. I was like, 'I made a mistake — I should have just kept going.' We went to the next show in Milan because Paris was so close. You work on something for all these years, and now you can almost see it. You're gonna turn around because it's hard? You can't go two more hours? My old man says, 'Quitting on yourself is hardest the first time, and it's easy every time after that.'
Whoa.
Is that wrong? That's the guy that brought me up, and he's proud to be here tonight. So did I make a mistake or not? I'm not sure what I would have done if I'd walked away.
You've been reluctant to get too specific about your illness.
It doesn't matter. Who cares? It was hard and it was dangerous. Big f— deal.
Queens is about to get back onstage.
We're gonna finish what we started. I thought I was gonna be out of commission for 18 months or two years — that's what I was told.
Advertisement
How'd you take that?
I wasn't looking for high-fives. But it ended up being seven months. I've changed so many things, and I feel so good.
Are you writing songs?
Lots. The great part about these physically or mentally dangerous situations is that now I feel super-alive and ready to go. I spent a lot of months bedridden, and now that I'm not, I'm very much like a rodeo bull. Not the rider — the bull. When you open that gate, I will destroy.
Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eater
3 hours ago
- Eater
10 Recent Chicago Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know in August
is the Associate Editor for Eater's Midwest region, and has been covering Chicago's dining scene for over a decade. Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report, a curated roundup of recent restaurant openings big and small across Chicago. Did we miss a spot? Drop a note at the tipline or email chicago@ and we'll consider it for the next update. GOLD COAST — Private members club Astor Club has introduced a new dining experience led by a prominent Chicago chef. Trevor Teich, who earned a Michelin star at his Bucktown fine dining restaurant Claudia, now leads the club's culinary program. At The Chef's Table, he presents a tasting menu that showcases seasonal ingredients and French technique. The exclusive 10-seat communal experience is priced at $325 per person. 24 E. Goethe Street. IRVING PARK — After a decade in Lincoln Square, Southern comforts specialist Luella's has relocated to Irving Park. Drop in during breakfast or brunch hours to try Darnell Reed's lineup of favorites, including chicken and waffles, crab-stuffed shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, and peach cobbler French toast. 4114 N. Kedzie Avenue. LOGAN SQUARE — A pair of Sushi Dokku vets have brought an affordable omakase restaurant to Logan Square. Omakase Box offers a 15-course chef's counter experience for $98 per person. There's also an al la carte menu featuring starters like edamame and miso soup, and a variety of nigiri and hand rolls. 3038 W. Armitage Avenue. NORTH CENTER — A taste of the Southwest has come to North Center with The Western Bar & Kitchen. Opened by a pair of hospitality veterans, the project offers Sonoran-influenced dishes like oysters chile rellano; barbecue prawns with mojo de ajo; and a burger with gruyere, bacon jam, and watercress. Drinks emphasize agave-based spirits, while downstairs features pool and cocktail lounges. In the fall, a theater space will debut at The Western and be the new home of CIC Theater. 4301 N. Western Avenue. OLD TOWN — A new omakase experience helmed by Mari Katsumura (Yūgen, Entente) has opened. Shō is a 12-seat restaurant that marries Japanese tradition with global influences. The 10-course menu features more than just nigiri — there are hot and cold dishes, pressed hand rolls, and fruit-forward desserts. The beverage program highlights sakes, grand cru Champagne, rare Japanese whiskies, and creative cocktails. 1531 N. Wells Street. RIVER NORTH — Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley has moved into the former Katana space next to the House of Blues Chicago. The new home has a larger footprint, private dining areas, and a patio. Diners can expect the same Southern favorites on the menu, like fried green tomatoes, fried catfish, jerk lamb chops, and shrimp and grits. There's also lunch and weekend brunch service. Kitchen + Kocktails was previously located a few blocks away on Wabash Avenue. 339 N. Dearborn Street. WEST LOOP — Stephen Sandoval's (Diego, Entre Sueños) Latin steakhouse has arrived, taking over the former Komo space. Reflecting the chef's roots, Trino pays homage to Argentine techniques, with steaks seared on a plancha and paired with a variety of sauces. Non-beef options include focaccia fry bread, lamb empanadas, and pork milanesa, while the beverage program spotlights spirits and drinks from Mexico, Galicia, and Argentina. The interior features art by Raspy Rivera, as well as a mural on the ceiling of the bar. 738 W. Randolph Street. WEST LOOP — David and Anna Posey are set to open a neighborhood bistro just a few doors down from the couple's Michelin-starred restaurant Elske on August 22. Despite the name, Creepies aims to be a warm and welcoming space with Midwestern charm. Chef de Cuisine Tayler Ploshehanski will run the kitchen and serve dishes like tarte flambée; Parisian gnocchi with gruyere, ham, and egg yolk; and roasted chicken with liver and wine sauce. 1360 W. Randolph Street. WEST TOWN — Bocadillo Market, the Spanish restaurant that closed in Lincoln Park at the end of 2024, has made a comeback. The new location serves bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches), tapas, pastries, and coffee during the daytime. A family-style dinner series will debut in September, running on weekends. 1117 W. Grand Avenue. GLENVIEW — Ballyhoo Hospitality's latest restaurant has landed in Glenview. Jackman & Co. is an elevated British gastropub offering dishes such as red curry prawns, fish and chips, and vindaloo mussels alongside daily specials like a Sunday roast. Emerald green, gold accents, and dark woods define the restaurant's interior, which seats 187 guests across the dining room and lively bar area. There's also a large patio that overlooks the North Branch of the Chicago River. 1749 Glenview Road.
Time Magazine
4 hours ago
- Time Magazine
Breaking Down the Ending of Netflix's Tense Political Thriller 'Hostage'
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Hostage. Netflix's political thriller series Hostage follows the newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones), as she faces an unimaginable threat: Her husband, Alex (Ashley Thomas), is kidnapped during a trip to French Guiana, where he and other doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières were providing vaccinations to a local community. The kidnapping quickly escalates into an international crisis when Abigail and French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy)—who had been visiting the UK to negotiate a political deal—are confronted by a group of masked kidnappers making impossible demands under threat. Abigail must choose between saving her husband, which would require resigning as Prime Minister, and protecting her country. Vivienne, meanwhile, is blackmailed to refrain from interfering in Alex's rescue. The kidnappers possess a compromising video involving her and her stepson, Matheo, threatening to release it if Vivienne helps Abigail. The stakes are heightened by domestic turmoil. The UK is facing a severe national healthcare crisis, and Abigail is criticized by citizens for failing to deliver on her campaign promise to prioritize healthcare. Her cuts to the military budget have also created discontent within the armed forces, generating instability that the kidnappers exploit to advance their plan. Let's break down how all the major plotlines are resolved in Hostage, which dropped all five of its episodes on Aug. 21. Are Alex and the doctors rescued? Alex and the doctors kidnapped in French Guiana are successfully rescued by a military unit coordinated by President Toussaint. Despite being blackmailed, Vivienne decides to intervene, fully aware of the risks to her political standing and personal safety. During the rescue, one of the doctors is fatally shot by a kidnapper, who is later killed by the French team. After the rescue, the survivors return to the UK. Vivienne and Abigail manage to reach an important political agreement: France will supply vital medications to the UK, allowing the government to control the healthcare crisis, in turn helping to stem the tide of criticism of Abigail's leadership. What happens at 10 Downing Street? After the doctors are rescued, the kidnappers leak the compromising video of Vivienne and Matheo to the press: It shows Matheo lying in bed next to Vivienne and giving her a kiss. Discovering the leak and seeing reporters outside his apartment, Matheo takes a laptop left by his girlfriend—containing sensitive files—to 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official residence, where his stepmother is present. At Downing Street, Matheo reveals that he discovered his girlfriend, Saskia Morgan, had begun spying on him months before they started dating. Saskia, a former British Army Corporal from the 3rd Battalion of the Highland Guards, had been dismissed along with her battalion due to Abigail's cuts to the military budget. Earlier, we learn that Vivienne's chief of staff is in fact an informant for John Shagan (Martin McCann)—another former soldier who will turn out to be involved in this larger scheme of violence and destabilization. Saskia turns out to be connected to Shagan. But why would someone leave behind a laptop containing incriminating information against themselves? Before our protagonists have time to ponder this, the laptop explodes. In the final episode, it is revealed that a fatality resulted from the explosion: Vivienne Toussaint has died. Abigail is no longer Prime Minister, and Dan Ogilvy, the Secretary of Defense, becomes the interim Prime Minister and declares a state of emergency in the country. As a result, the military is back under control, and Abigail secretly meets with her trusted team to try to uncover who is behind all the violence. Who's behind the chaos and kidnappings? The primary force behind the kidnappings is Shagan, a former British soldier of the 3rd Battalion—the same battalion Saskia served in— whose life was shattered years before Abigail became Prime Minister. As a junior minister, Abigail faced a military crisis in Belize. She was the most senior official available and authorized the evacuation of British troops, leaving behind local civilians, including Shagan's pregnant fiancée. When she was killed in the aftermath, Shagan held Abigail personally responsible. Driven by grief and rage, he meticulously began planning attacks targeting Abigail and her loved ones. Shagan, however, was not acting alone. General Joseph Livingston (Mark Lewis Jones), his former commanding officer in Belize, had his own motives. Frustrated by Abigail's military budget cuts, Livingston sought to destabilize the country, believing it needed to be 'brought to its knees' to prove what a blunder the cuts had been. He orchestrated events using Shagan and other former soldiers affected by the cuts to pressure Abigail politically. Discovering Livingston's involvement, Abigail infiltrates the Ministry of Defense to confront him with the help of a loyal staffer. During the confrontation, Ogilvy learns about Livingston's connection to Shagan through Kofi, Abigail's chief of staff. Furious at the accusations, Livingston orders Abigail removed but inadvertently reveals knowledge of the explosive laptop. Ogilvy then orders Livingston's arrest, and Abigail returns to her role as Prime Minister. What happens to John Shagan? After Livingston's arrest, Shagan and some of his team, including Saskia, remain at large. They locate Alex, Abigail's husband, and Sylvie, their teenage daughter, along with Matheo, in an isolated house. Saskia is ordered to kill Sylvie and Matheo if necessary, while Shagan holds Alex hostage and forces him to call Abigail. Unbeknownst to them, Matheo secretly contacts the police. When Saskia discovers this, it is too late: an armed unit is already approaching. During a physical confrontation, Matheo forces Saskia to retreat, and Sylvie seizes the opportunity to grab Saskia's gun. Abigail arrives and heads directly to the room where Shagan is holding Alex. It is here that Shagan's motive for revenge, the death of his pregnant fiancée, is revealed to the other characters. As Shagan prepares to stab Abigail, he hears the police arriving. He wrongly accuses Abigail of calling them, unaware that Matheo is responsible. Alex attacks Shagan, starting a struggle. Sylvie, Abigail and Alex's daughter, enters the room with a gun. Shagan deliberately provokes Sylvie, trying to manipulate her into shooting—even though he risks being killed—by bringing up her grandfather's death, which he ordered and Saskia carried out, to destabilize her family. Unable to resist, Sylvie shoots Shagan in the chest, ending his campaign of vengeance. The police then storm the room and secure Sylvie. How does Hostage end? In the final moments of Hostage, Abigail addresses the nation outside Downing Street, announcing a general election and promising a mandate of transparency, honesty, and accountability. The finale highlights Abigail's resilience: she has survived personal loss, political betrayal, and a national crisis, emerging stronger and determined to rebuild both her career and family life.
Cosmopolitan
5 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
‘Hostage' Cast: All the Stars From Suranne Jones' New Netflix Thriller and Where You've Seen Them Before
The high-stakes political thriller Hostage has officially landed on Netflix. Starring and executive produced by Suranne Jones, the series follows a tense state visit thrown into chaos when the French president's trip to the UK is disrupted by a kidnapping and blackmail plot. Written by Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies and Treason), Hostage delivers gripping drama with a standout performance from Jones at its core. It also stars familiar faces from the TV worlds of Bridgerton and Braveheart. Read on for everything you need to know about the cast, including the characters they play and where you've seen them before. Below is the full cast list: For more on the main cast, keep scrolling.
