Austin City Limits is proud to announce the final taping of Season 51: rock superstars Queens of the Stone Age return for the first time in over a decade on November 18. The celebrated band takes the ACL stage to showcase their remarkable new work, Alive in the Catacombs—conceived and recorded in the ancient tombs beneath Paris—for what promises to be one of the most unique and unforgettable tapings in ACL’s 50-plus-year history.
Queens of the Stone Age—Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore—continue to defy boundaries and expectations. Three decades into a groundbreaking career, the band ventured underground for Alive in the Catacombs, an innovative album-and-film pairing that reimagines their famously heavy catalog in an otherworldly setting. Recorded beneath Paris in centuries-old crypts, the project serves as both séance and statement—summoning everything that has made QOTSA a singular force in modern rock.
In a musical landscape dominated by conformity and speed, QOTSA persist in carving out space for nuance, mystery, and soul. That creative balance has powered the band’s music since their beloved 1998 self-titled debut—a breath of fresh rock’n’roll air at a time when pop and boy bands ruled the airwaves. Their trailblazing discography includes the acclaimed Rated R (2000), the Grammy-nominated Songs for the Deaf (2003), the chart-topping …Like Clockwork (2013), the Mark Ronson-produced Villains (2017) and the international No. 1 In Times New Roman (2023). Known for their electrifying live performances, QOTSA have long held a reputation as one of the most powerhouse bands on earth.
Frontman Josh Homme—formerly the lead guitarist in Palm Springs stoner-rock pioneers Kyuss—has also fueled numerous acclaimed side projects, including The Desert Sessions, Eagles of Death Metal and Them Crooked Vultures (with Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones).
QOTSA are currently on a limited run of tour dates in support of Alive in the Catacombs, bringing that immersive Paris experience to audiences for the first time. “If you’re ever going to be haunted, surrounded by several million dead people is the place,” Homme reflects. “I’ve never felt so welcome in my life.”
ACL is thrilled to welcome Queens of the Stone Age back to the stage for this intimate and historic performance. Details on how to win free passes will be announced one week prior to the taping—follow ACLTV on IG and Facebook and X for updates. The hourlong broadcast episode will air and stream early next year on PBS as the finale of Austin City Limits’ current Season 51. Stream previous seasons online or on your connected TV with the free PBS App.