Eagles of Death Metal

A healthy sense of humor is a vital survival tool in the arid climes of Southern California’s Coachella Valley. That’s where Eagles of Death Metal have reclaimed rock’s raunchy roots with punchy, fuzzed-out guitar riffs and fast, feverish grooves that drip with sleaze, satire, and testosterone. Formed in 1998 by the Palm Desert scene’s formidable ringleader—Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age founder Josh Homme—and lifelong buddy Jesse Hughes, the band is an excuse for the duo and their friends (including big-name guests like Mark Lanegan, Dave Grohl, and Jack Black) to play loud and revel in the absurdity of rock’s swaggering reputation. Over fun, frisky albums like 2004 debut Peace Love Death Metal and 2015’s Zipper Down, frontman Hughes has perfected his sleazy “Boots Electric” persona, singing about sex, selling his soul, and a little heartache, too, through a heavy smirk and a sticky-sweet falsetto. While “Baby Duck” Homme rarely performs with EODM live, he goes hard on drums, bass, piano, and whatever else he can get his hands on in the studio to retain the band’s heavy and horny sound. ​​After surviving the mass shooting at their 2015 show at Paris' Bataclan, the band has continued forward in the name of rock, releasing cover collections like 2019’s EODM Presents: Boots Electric Performing the Best Songs We Never Wrote.