Queens of the Stone Age have never been the type to play it safe, but their latest move is something else entirely.
Alive in the Catacombs, a full-blown concert film shot in the eerie, skull-lined tunnels beneath Paris.Yes, really.
The band just dropped Alive in the Catacombs alongside a companion doc titled Alive in Paris and Before, which captures the chaos and emotion leading up to the shoot—including the medical emergency that forced Josh Homme and co. to postpone last year’s The End Is Nero tour dates.
The concert itself is the stuff of rock’n’roll legend. Filmed in the Catacombs of Paris in July 2024, QOTSA played a full, blistering set deep underground, literally surrounded by millions of bones. According to Homme, it might be “the biggest audience we’ve ever played for,” which is a little grim, a little tongue-in-cheek, and totally on brand.
Musically, it’s Queens at their most raw and ritualistic. The acoustics bounce off damp limestone walls, the lighting is low and flickering, and Homme leads the charge like a desert preacher in the underworld. It’s not just a gig—it’s a séance.
The accompanying documentary Alive in Paris and Before adds even more weight to the project. It follows the band in the days leading up to the performance, capturing both the logistical madness and emotional heaviness that came with Homme’s health scare. It’s a rare window into the human side of a band that’s often cloaked in swagger and mystique.
The whole package is only available for 48 hours via the band’s site, so move quick if you want in.
With the North American tour kicking off in Boston on June 10, this film drop feels like a line in the sand. QOTSA aren’t just back—they’re carving their name into stone. Underground, unfiltered, and still untouchable.
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