Queens of the Stone Age have just dropped one of the most hauntingly ambitious projects of their long career – and they’ve made it free for everyone to experience. The band’s breathtaking concert film Alive in the Catacombs is now streaming on YouTube, inviting fans deep underground into the Paris Catacombs for a performance that’s equal parts eerie, intimate and spellbinding.
Filmed and recorded in July 2024, Alive in the Catacombs captures QOTSA performing a carefully curated setlist beneath Paris, surrounded by millions of human remains – yep, really. Each song has been specifically reimagined to suit the cavernous, bone-lined tunnels, resulting in versions that feel raw, reverent and unlike anything the band has ever released. It was a long-held dream for frontman Joshua Homme, who first visited the Catacombs nearly two decades ago and famously dubbed it “the biggest audience we’ve ever played for”.
Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Alive in the Catacombs’
Alongside the concert film, QOTSA have also released a companion documentary, Alive in Paris and Before, directed by Andreas Neumann. The BTS doc digs into the emotional, physical and logistical challenges of pulling off a performance in one of the most sacred (and restricted) spaces in the world – a feat no artist had ever been officially allowed to attempt before. Previously, both films were available via paid platforms and even screened theatrically in over 20 countries (including here in Australia), making their surprise YouTube release a pretty massive early Chrissy gift to fans.
The Catacombs project also spilled over into the band’s live world, inspiring The Catacombs Tour, which wrapped late last year and saw QOTSA rework their catalogue for historic theatres across the US and Europe.
Reviews were predictably glowing, with NME calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime set” and The London Standard declaring their Royal Albert Hall show “their finest hour.” And if that wasn’t enough, the band recently delivered a three-act, orchestra-backed performance for Austin City Limits – their first appearance on the show in a decade – set to air on PBS later this month.
Whether you’re a die-hard QOTSA tragic or just someone who enjoys their rock served with a side of existential dread and skull walls, Alive in the Catacombs is essential viewing.
Lights off, volume up (maybe don’t watch it alone at 2am though).
Stream it right now, up above, or peep the BTS doco down below.
Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Alive in Paris and Before’ (Behind the Scenes)
Further Reading
Queens of the Stone Age Setlist for Catacombs Tour Adds A New Song
Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme Opens Up About Cancer Diagnosis
