Eagles of Death Metal

Eagles of Death Metal
SylviaBoBilvia · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Eagles of Death Metal
Caption	Eagles of Death Metal performing in 2016
Origin	Palm Desert, California
Genres	Rock music, Garage rock, Blues rock, Desert rock
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Downtown Records, Reprise Records, AntAcidAudio
Associated acts	Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Foo Fighters, Beck (musician)

Eagles of Death Metal are an American rock band formed in Palm Desert, California in 1998. Founded by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme, the group blends elements of garage rock revival, blues rock, and rockabilly into a tongue-in-cheek, party-oriented sound. Over multiple studio albums and international tours, the band has collaborated with figures from Queens of the Stone Age, The Dø, and Jack White's circle, and has been both commercially successful and subject to public controversies.

History

The band was conceived in the late 1990s during the Palm Desert Scene alongside acts such as Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, and Fatso Jetson. Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme recorded early material at Homme's Matador Studios and released their debut album through AntAcidAudio and Reprise Records in the early 2000s. Subsequent albums were produced with contributions from musicians affiliated with Queens of the Stone Age, Eddie Vedder, Alain Johannes, and Dave Grohl. International exposure increased with festival appearances at events like Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Reading Festival, and Lollapalooza; the band also toured with Foo Fighters, The Strokes, and Arctic Monkeys. A 2015 performance in Paris at the Bataclan became the site of a major terrorist attack, after which the band engaged with survivors, governments including France and United States Department of State delegations, and human rights organizations during recovery efforts. The band's later work and tours reflected these events, including benefit concerts involving figures from U2 and The Rolling Stones charities.

Musical style and influences

Musically, the group draws on the Palm Desert Scene's desert rock ethos and fuses elements associated with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Ike Turner, and Little Richard. Production techniques echo approaches used by Phil Spector and Rick Rubin, while arrangements reference rockabilly standards and blues traditions linked to Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Critics have compared their sound to contemporaries such as The Hives, The White Stripes, and Jet (Australian band), while observing lyrical nods to Tom Petty, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie. The band has cited influences ranging from The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson's harmonies, blending danceable grooves reminiscent of Funkadelic and the stripped-down approach of The Stooges.

Band members

Core membership centers on Jesse Hughes (lead vocals, guitar) and Josh Homme (guitar, backing vocals) though Homme's role shifted over time due to commitments with Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures. Touring and recording lineups have included members and collaborators from Foo Fighters (notably Dave Grohl), Eagles-adjacent session musicians, and figures from Beck (musician)'s circle. Key past and present contributors include drummer Joey Castillo (Danzig, Queens of the Stone Age), bassist Brian O'Connor, multi-instrumentalist Alain Johannes (Desert Sessions, Chris Cornell), and keyboardists with ties to The Raconteurs and The Black Keys. Guest vocalists and instrumentalists have included Josh Homme's compatriots from Palm Desert Scene, as well as artists from Nirvana-era networks and contemporary indie acts.

Discography

Studio albums include their debut released in the early 2000s, followed by several subsequent LPs issued on labels such as Reprise Records and Downtown Records. Notable releases charted on lists maintained by Billboard (magazine) and received attention from outlets like Rolling Stone, NME, and Pitchfork. Singles and EPs were promoted via appearances on programs hosted by personalities from BBC Radio 1, MTV, and Late Show with David Letterman. The band has also participated in soundtrack contributions for films distributed by companies including Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures, and tracks have been licensed for commercials and television series on networks like HBO and MTV Networks.

Notable performances and tours

Touring highlights encompass headlining dates and festival slots at Glastonbury Festival, Download Festival, and SXSW. Support tours and joint bills have paired the band with Foo Fighters, The Strokes, and Queens of the Stone Age. Their 2010s European and North American tours attracted coverage from The Guardian, Le Monde, and The New York Times. Benefit shows and solidarity concerts following the Bataclan attack featured collaborations with artists associated with U2, The Rolling Stones, and Arcade Fire, and drew statements from political figures such as the Mayor of Paris and members of the United States Congress.

Controversies and criticism

The band has faced criticism on multiple fronts, including lyrical content compared to works by Iggy Pop and Chuck Berry, public statements by Jesse Hughes that drew scrutiny from outlets like BBC News and The New York Times, and debates within the music press at Pitchfork and NME about the band's image versus artistic output. The aftermath of the Bataclan attack generated extensive media coverage, with disputes involving survivors, journalists from Le Figaro and The Guardian, and commentary from public figures in France and the United States. Legal and civil discussions included communications with organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in relation to victim advocacy and free speech debates. Music critics from Rolling Stone and Spin (magazine) have alternately praised the band's catchy arrangements and questioned their lyrical tone and public pronouncements.

Category:American rock music groups Category:Musical groups from California