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Queens Of The Stone Age cancel European tour dates as Josh Homme needs “emergency surgery”

Josh Homme will return to the US for surgery.

By Nick Reilly

Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age headlining Download Festival 2024 (Picture: Stuart Garneys for Rolling Stone UK)

Queens Of The Stone Age have cancelled the majority of their upcoming European shows, due to frontman Josh Homme needing “emergency surgery”.

The band are currently traversing Europe for their ‘The End Is Nero’ tour, which took in a headline slot at the UK’s Download Festival last month.

However, the band have today confirmed that the bulk of dates have been cancelled, as singer Homme returns home for an “emergency” surgical procedure.

“QOTSA regret to announce that Josh Homme must return to the United States immediately for emergency surgery,” a statement read. “Every effort was made to push through and play for you, but it is no longer an option to continue.”

The eight shows affected include France’s Festival Jardin Sonore, Pohoda Festival and Romania’s Electric Castle.

At the time of writing, they are still set to appear at Gothenburg’s Way Out West Festival on August 8th, Oya Festival on August 9 and Copenhagen’s Syd for Solen on August 10.

“Queens are gutted we aren’t able to play for you,” a caption on the Instagram post read. “We apologise for any inconvenience and share in your frustration and disappointment.”

Reviewing QOTSA’s Download set, Rolling Stone UK wrote: “On the first night of Download’s new era, Queens of the Stone Age might have felt like they had something to prove. In reality, Homme just wanted to have the biggest party possible and continue his band’s excellent renaissance. A one-two punch of the timeless ‘No One Knows’ and brutal ‘Song for the Dead’ closed things out before another immortal line from the frontman: “You cunts are alright”. The sentiment was reflected right back to the band.”