Pitchfork: Nick Oliveri Speaks Out On Queens Split: "My Favorite Band Is Dead"

Nick Oliveri Speaks Out On Queens Split: "My Favorite Band Is Dead"
Odd timing, as his favorite band is Lynyrd Skynyrd

Just when you thought it was safe to say "Nick Oliveri quit Queens of the Stone Age," reports abound that he was in fact forced out. In a statement issued to a Mondo Generator fan site, Oliveri said, "Ya know I didn't get married to get divorced, and I didn't join this band to quit it. I'm not a quitter, I want to make another fuckin' record... I think Queens is a great fuckin' band."

In another official statement, the obviously disappointed, angry, and upset Oliveri wrote: "Queens of the Stone Age, as we all know it, is no more. The concept was simple: A ROCK BAND, selfless, mindless, ego-free, unprotected, about danger, sex, and no bull-shit rock 'n' roll. You know what happens when a pure and original rock band gets polluted, poisoned by hunger for power, and by control issues? Things get really out of control. I'm noticing that people start fighting for control, especially when they realize they have no control. And what ever happened to loyalty?" The loyalty aspect is huge, as Oliveri and Homme have been friends since they were in their early teens, and have played on more countless records together.

Despite Oliveri's desire to stay in the fold, Craig Kilborn's evil twin, Homme, is still throwing the cold shoulder Oliveri's way. The fact that Homme was in England with his band Eagles of Death Metal when all of this surfaced has made contact between the two difficult, but in an interview with New Musical Express, Homme maintained that Oliveri was out. So far, the only real explanation from Homme's camp is the ever-elusive "number of incidents occurring over the last 18 months" jive we reported before. But it seems that, in some twisted way, it's the very issue of loyalty that caused the decision to leave Oliveri behind. When asked for more specifics, Homme stated, "I will never talk shit about my bro or anything like that. Nick and I are still definitely that. I love making music and stuff but it's more important to me to be brothers with Nick." Well, that clears that up.

In the meantime, Homme still intends on moving forward with the recording of the fourth Queens of the Stone Age record, tentatively due out in late 2004. How will he record the album now that the entire band seems to have crumbled? Homme states, "The first Queens album was myself and a drummer." So there. With the loss of both Oliveri and co-vocalist Mark Lanegan, however, Queens of the Stone Age's vocal duties now fall squarely on Homme, robbing the band of the variety that made their last two records so great. Oliveri agrees, stating, "the thing I really loved about the Queens was that there were three front men, organic and original. I'd never heard of a rock band with three lead singers, with three different voices." Wait-- he's never heard of Fleetwood Mac? The Beatles? The Eagles (not of death metal)?

Oliveri will now focus on Mondo Generator full time, with a live album on the way. He's also enjoying some guest appearances, as he's contributed to Mark Lanegan's solo album Bubblegum and has recorded vocal tracks for an upcoming Dwarves release. To tell the truth, though, if his recent statements are any indication, he�s more than a little disappointed with the current situation. "My favorite band is dead," he states. I'm sure many fans are thinking the same thing."