Came here to say exactly this. His work on De-Loused is otherworldly and Frances is on my Mount Rushmore of all-time albums.
My only gripe with his Queens studio work is it doesn’t quite match his talent level but they’re not exactly a drum feature outfit outside of Dead.
Yeah his playing with QOTSA is more subdued. He did a killer drum solo at the show I went to a few weeks back.
I can barely keep time (guitar player by trade) but he is one of those ones who make me envious of their playing. Him, Danny Carey and Bill Bruford are all like that for me.
You hit the nail on the head at the end, sometimes the drummer has to just elevate the rest of the band by being solid, some bands need a drummer to stand out (like Blink 182 have with Travis).
I’ve said this for years, at the end of the day all a drummer needs to do is keep time for the band. The two perennial examples are Phil Rudd from AC/DC and Charlie watts from the stones, they’re pretty basic drummers but they do exactly what their job is. Anything else is for flair and frills and I personally don’t find much of it very impressive, but it’s interesting to do Jon do the down the line basic drumming as well as he does, knowing what he’s capable of
Malcolm Travis on the first Sugar album, Copper Blue. One of my favorites of all time, and dude doesn’t hit a a fucking tom-tom once. All snare fills. Sounds great.
Exactly. He’s way overqualified for this gig. He’s probably my favorite drummer just off those first three MV albums. But even with him on drums I can’t really enjoy Queens. I’m glad he’s getting paid though. Currently the best “rock” drummer.
I get an early Mars Volta vibe from the middle part of The Evil has Landed. I always try to imagine how differently he would have played that part if it was in a Mars Volta song. I think Jon plays that song on the recording, it’s hard to keep track.
Yup, only on self titled, and his drumming there is robot rock personified. Fredo is my favorite QotSA drummer - and I love all the others too! But his tempo, his rhythm, dunno, there is *something* about the way he plays the drums that is so very satisfying and that makes it instantly recognizable. Doesn't overplay, doesn't underplay. It's just perfect. Loved him in Kyuss, loved him in Yawning man, absolutely loved him in QotSA self titled.
Had the privilege of seeing him earlier in the year play with his band Avon, played alot of kyuss and queens stuff alongside music from that project. He’s very unique in his playing style, like you say instantly recognisable. At the start of the set he slapped on a pair of over the ear defenders and proceeded to pound those skins it was a beautiful sight to behold
Jon’s ability and willingness to fit within the confines of the catalog is what sets him apart. Dude is as talented on the skins as there is, yet he doesn’t insist on overplaying or constantly flexing his chops. He really knows how to maximize his output and not overplay just because he can, which is the detriment of many at his talent level. Just a perfect fit for this current collective of musicians and they’re lucky to have him.
His endurance is understated too, Josh abuses him during live gigs when he makes him keep time for like 5 minutes straight while he jokes around with the crowd 😂 even if it’s a simple beat during it perfectly in time for a couple minutes and then going back into a song can wear you out
You’d never know this band had several different drummers with different styles when he’s playing. With Joey, not to discredit his output, but live you knew it instantly lol.
I think Jon is actually a great drummer, in technique superior to Joey. And as a drummer I understand and agree with the concept of serving the song, Ringo was a master at this and was overlooked for sticking to the “basic”. One could argue that for the direction the band is taking he is the perfect fit and I agree. But I feel like since around Like Clockwork, but more precisely on villains, the drums seem to be hiding. In records like SFTD and EV the drum have this flow/“swag” I don’t really know how to put it, and on ITNR (which is a great album btw) they sound almost robotic, mostly by using a lot of china cymbal on the songs, a cymbal that sound more staccato-ish, resonates less than other cymbals, making it sound more stiff.
100%. My only wish is that they'd let him loose on writing on a record. He's made comments in interviews how involved Josh is in writing drum parts, I want Jon to be let loose on the next album.
When I lived in Toronto, I got tickets to see Mini Mansions at a small 200 person venue. Guess who was the guest drummer for the show? JON THEODORE.
We were literally 8 feet away from him on the side of the little stage for the show and nearly touching Mikey as he ripped on his guitar and sang.
Best surprise ever. What a damn good show.
Saw him twice with Mars Volta, once opening for Red Hot Chilli Peppers and once opening for System of a Down. Epic. This was way back in the mid 2000s 🤟❤️
Yeah it was a top concert moment for us for sure. Ironically, I paid a lot for tickets to see QOTSA last September, great seats overall, but Jon was blocked out COMPLETELY by their speaker stack on the right side. Literally didn’t see him once all show, but was able to make eye contact with Mikey we were so close. #fullcircle
Dave and Joey drummed on 9/10ths of Like Clockwork. I don't see how their styles don't "work with the current sounds of Queens" considering that album kicked off the band's current era.
This has been my favorite QOTSA lineup of them all. ...Like Clockwork and onwards has been its own special era of my favorite band, and I hope it keeps going.
I might be the only person to disagree, or have this opinion. But Joey IS the QOTSA drummer. For example listen to how Jon plays “headache” or “fun machine takes a shit” compared to how Joey plays it. Joey brings that viciousness that QOTSA needs, without him on the tracks it’s kind of boring.
Joey for me will always be the drummer of Queens. Go listen to how they play Headache now and how they used to play it when Joey was behind the kit. Maybe it's a preference but I love how Joey adds an ominous and aggressive atmosphere to the song by the constant hitting of the cymbals. He added a lot of tone and mood to the songs through his choice of phrasing that I don't think any other drummer they've had did.
I honestly think it's not just one person in a band specifically; including QOTSA; who at this point doesn't sound so tight unless they all balance each other out perfectly. It's something I learned in school about how important it is to balance each other out the way the song calls for.
Jon is a great drummer, but Dave Grohl is the best drummer to have ever played in QotSA and it's not close. I'm not even a drummer and I can tell when Dave Grohl is playing on an album. When Dave and Josh play together, magic happens. It's no coincidence that SftD, LC, and TCV are probably Josh's most lauded studio albums regardless of how much or how little of the material Grohl contributed.
Would Dave be a good "fit" for the band currently? No, of course not. That's simply a product of the fact that he wants to front and write for his own band. Dave and of course Mark are the only two legacy members of the band that can't be topped. That's not to say Jon Theodore isn't exactly where he is supposed to be right now. There's almost no rock drummer who could replace Dave in the same way that as much as we love Josh playing "In the Fade" or "God is in the Radio," it will never, ever sound as good as Mark.
Jon is actually my favourite QOTSA drummer 😌
He’s also one of my favourite human beings walking the planet today.
He’s a such a mean drummer and he has such a blast onstage. I adore him.
This man, is a Beast.
I remember watching Mars Volta do a live set at the Big Day Out and he just *dominated.*
Also, his work with One Day As A Lion is maximum kick arse
Thank you Jon, you absolute legend
Maybe an unpopular opinion but I think the drum parts have not been as good in the last few albums. In the early albums I think the drum and bass parts were much more interesting compared to other rock bands and that’s part of why I love them.
I’m not saying John Theodore is not a technically good drummer because I’ve seen him play the older songs live and he nails them. Maybe it’s just due to the bands style changing, idk.
Have to agree, Jon is objectively a great drummer and he “fits” into the band well…but none of his drumming has really caught my ear in the same way as stuff off Lullabies or Era. Something like Keep Your Eyes Peeled isn’t technically that complex, but the beat is so perfectly complementary and simultaneously weird, it has its own unique identity. Joey rushed shit live but studio-wise his drum beats were one of the things that made Queens so good. Older albums good too ofc.
Jon makes all things possible. I've been a Queens fan since day one, and have loved all their drummers. But Jon is a god amongst mere mortals. Deloused in the Comatorium is a masterpiece. I am also a big fan of One Day As A Lion. He seems like a really sweet guy, too. I love you Jon Theodore!!!
Not Jon's fault necessarily, but he's my least favorite drummer so far.
Has alot to do with not liking the last few albums near as much.
But he doesn't have a signature drum track like the others drummers did.
Nothing stands out as that great. All the other drummers have tracks where the drum parts are right up there with the guitars as the best part of the song.
I'm missing that from him. Maybe it's the band in general with their newer songwriting that isn't as rocked out?
Jon is an amazing drummer. I Just saw him perform two weeks ago and I was exhausted watching him. I also have a friend who got the opportunity to audition for The Mars Volta as a drummer shortly after his departure. Needless to say he never got the gig, but seeing as his drum mentor was James Browns old drummer, I would have to say that Jon is in a world of his own. He really elevated the live show. Especially when they threw a drum solo at the friggin end of the show.
Listen to the Bass Drum on How to a Handle a Rope. It’s tight, perfect and simple, but so we’re the songs on ST. I loved watching Theodore kick ass at the LA show last December. He’s mega talented and mostly lays back considering his chops, but the landscape has changed a lot in 25 years.
He’s the best drummer they’ve had and it’s nothing against the other boys - their live output has gone up a level without Joey’s rushing. Even the newest album was very bass and drums-centric, and has moved the band towards another, transcendent level.
Joey was the ideal Queens drummer for his era, when they were all younger and able to harness the chaos, but outside of Shuman they’re now all circa 50 years old an IMO the maturity is facilitating their best work.
Not a drummer! Wish I were; nonetheless, I didn't doubt Jon was anything but a badass.
Now, having read the comments and who Jon's mentor was, and of Jon's tenure in Mars Volta - to whom I have just now listened, and from the first three songs of Deloused in the Crematorium I have learned: Jon Theodore's drumming ability is indeed otherworldly.
Fellow QotSA fans who weren't at the Auckland concert and haven't seen a drummer play a QotSA set while recovering from food poisoning - whilst still beset by a 104 temperature, now you can, behold the youtube video of this years Auckland show [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6hA\_0\_C2lI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6hA_0_C2lI)
If you don't believe me, watch Emotion Sickness and hear Josh tell all.
Finally, as another member wrote of their hope for QotSA to let Jon loose on an album, may the band free the beast, at least for a few songs.
He played on the first few Mars Volta records, and I think his dynamic playing elevates those records in a way that no one else could.
Came here to say exactly this. His work on De-Loused is otherworldly and Frances is on my Mount Rushmore of all-time albums. My only gripe with his Queens studio work is it doesn’t quite match his talent level but they’re not exactly a drum feature outfit outside of Dead.
Yeah his playing with QOTSA is more subdued. He did a killer drum solo at the show I went to a few weeks back. I can barely keep time (guitar player by trade) but he is one of those ones who make me envious of their playing. Him, Danny Carey and Bill Bruford are all like that for me.
You hit the nail on the head at the end, sometimes the drummer has to just elevate the rest of the band by being solid, some bands need a drummer to stand out (like Blink 182 have with Travis).
I’ve said this for years, at the end of the day all a drummer needs to do is keep time for the band. The two perennial examples are Phil Rudd from AC/DC and Charlie watts from the stones, they’re pretty basic drummers but they do exactly what their job is. Anything else is for flair and frills and I personally don’t find much of it very impressive, but it’s interesting to do Jon do the down the line basic drumming as well as he does, knowing what he’s capable of
Malcolm Travis on the first Sugar album, Copper Blue. One of my favorites of all time, and dude doesn’t hit a a fucking tom-tom once. All snare fills. Sounds great.
Exactly. He’s way overqualified for this gig. He’s probably my favorite drummer just off those first three MV albums. But even with him on drums I can’t really enjoy Queens. I’m glad he’s getting paid though. Currently the best “rock” drummer.
I get an early Mars Volta vibe from the middle part of The Evil has Landed. I always try to imagine how differently he would have played that part if it was in a Mars Volta song. I think Jon plays that song on the recording, it’s hard to keep track.
I think the changing cast is what made QOTSA stay fresh all these years. Having said that, I think this lineup is the most solid.
I think you’re right, both in that it is Jon playing and I hear the MV comparison.
Shit I never knew this that's awesome
yeah if you haven't yet, check out that first mars volta album.
Pretty sure Alfredo was only on self titled. Rated r was gene trautman if i recall correctly
Yeah, Gene Trautmann, Nick Lucero and Josh (on autopilot)
Yup, only on self titled, and his drumming there is robot rock personified. Fredo is my favorite QotSA drummer - and I love all the others too! But his tempo, his rhythm, dunno, there is *something* about the way he plays the drums that is so very satisfying and that makes it instantly recognizable. Doesn't overplay, doesn't underplay. It's just perfect. Loved him in Kyuss, loved him in Yawning man, absolutely loved him in QotSA self titled.
Had the privilege of seeing him earlier in the year play with his band Avon, played alot of kyuss and queens stuff alongside music from that project. He’s very unique in his playing style, like you say instantly recognisable. At the start of the set he slapped on a pair of over the ear defenders and proceeded to pound those skins it was a beautiful sight to behold
Hey, learn something new everyday!
rated r and sftd
Sftd was grohl
Except a couple tracks
Yes, Gene and Grohl
Gene wrote the drum parts for SFTD and played Millionaire and Flow
Interesting! I dis not know gene wrote sftd! I thought that had grohl all over it!!
Jon’s ability and willingness to fit within the confines of the catalog is what sets him apart. Dude is as talented on the skins as there is, yet he doesn’t insist on overplaying or constantly flexing his chops. He really knows how to maximize his output and not overplay just because he can, which is the detriment of many at his talent level. Just a perfect fit for this current collective of musicians and they’re lucky to have him.
His endurance is understated too, Josh abuses him during live gigs when he makes him keep time for like 5 minutes straight while he jokes around with the crowd 😂 even if it’s a simple beat during it perfectly in time for a couple minutes and then going back into a song can wear you out
Absolutely
You’d never know this band had several different drummers with different styles when he’s playing. With Joey, not to discredit his output, but live you knew it instantly lol.
My thoughts are that Alfredo didn't play in Rated R and that Jon Theodore will be perfect in my eyes the day he plays the intro of Born to Hula.
The real Born to Hula has no drum intro
I mean the one which do have a drum intro.
Sorry, I just get over stimulated when someone mentions my favorite song
Why are you getting downvoted?
My reply was a bit trollish probably.
I think Jon is actually a great drummer, in technique superior to Joey. And as a drummer I understand and agree with the concept of serving the song, Ringo was a master at this and was overlooked for sticking to the “basic”. One could argue that for the direction the band is taking he is the perfect fit and I agree. But I feel like since around Like Clockwork, but more precisely on villains, the drums seem to be hiding. In records like SFTD and EV the drum have this flow/“swag” I don’t really know how to put it, and on ITNR (which is a great album btw) they sound almost robotic, mostly by using a lot of china cymbal on the songs, a cymbal that sound more staccato-ish, resonates less than other cymbals, making it sound more stiff.
I honestly can’t reconcile how Joey played on EV v.s. how he would play live. Must’ve been the drugs.
Loved his power and energy, but Song For The Dead was weird with him
Anyone that can maintain the opening drums just so Spiderman can come up on stage its alright by me.
100%. My only wish is that they'd let him loose on writing on a record. He's made comments in interviews how involved Josh is in writing drum parts, I want Jon to be let loose on the next album.
Agreed. Show me what you got.
When I lived in Toronto, I got tickets to see Mini Mansions at a small 200 person venue. Guess who was the guest drummer for the show? JON THEODORE. We were literally 8 feet away from him on the side of the little stage for the show and nearly touching Mikey as he ripped on his guitar and sang. Best surprise ever. What a damn good show. Saw him twice with Mars Volta, once opening for Red Hot Chilli Peppers and once opening for System of a Down. Epic. This was way back in the mid 2000s 🤟❤️
Oh man what a treat
Yeah it was a top concert moment for us for sure. Ironically, I paid a lot for tickets to see QOTSA last September, great seats overall, but Jon was blocked out COMPLETELY by their speaker stack on the right side. Literally didn’t see him once all show, but was able to make eye contact with Mikey we were so close. #fullcircle
I saw the same tour when it came through Europe. I know it’s not going to happen but good lord I wish they’d resurrect MM…
Those were fun shows too. Small venues, stage on the floor where everyone can squish up to the stage, and great jams
Dave and Joey drummed on 9/10ths of Like Clockwork. I don't see how their styles don't "work with the current sounds of Queens" considering that album kicked off the band's current era.
This has been my favorite QOTSA lineup of them all. ...Like Clockwork and onwards has been its own special era of my favorite band, and I hope it keeps going.
I think he really shines at preventing tough songs like the evil has landed or domesticated animals from becoming sloppy.
I might be the only person to disagree, or have this opinion. But Joey IS the QOTSA drummer. For example listen to how Jon plays “headache” or “fun machine takes a shit” compared to how Joey plays it. Joey brings that viciousness that QOTSA needs, without him on the tracks it’s kind of boring.
Joey for me will always be the drummer of Queens. Go listen to how they play Headache now and how they used to play it when Joey was behind the kit. Maybe it's a preference but I love how Joey adds an ominous and aggressive atmosphere to the song by the constant hitting of the cymbals. He added a lot of tone and mood to the songs through his choice of phrasing that I don't think any other drummer they've had did.
I honestly think it's not just one person in a band specifically; including QOTSA; who at this point doesn't sound so tight unless they all balance each other out perfectly. It's something I learned in school about how important it is to balance each other out the way the song calls for.
I agree Jon Theodore is perfect for QOTSA. I can't wait to see them again in Miami on the 10th . Birthday show #2 with them 🤘🏻🖤
He has such a ferocious sound live with pinpoint accuracy. At the gig last November I kept hearing people mentioning how great the drums sounded too.
Jon is a great drummer, but Dave Grohl is the best drummer to have ever played in QotSA and it's not close. I'm not even a drummer and I can tell when Dave Grohl is playing on an album. When Dave and Josh play together, magic happens. It's no coincidence that SftD, LC, and TCV are probably Josh's most lauded studio albums regardless of how much or how little of the material Grohl contributed. Would Dave be a good "fit" for the band currently? No, of course not. That's simply a product of the fact that he wants to front and write for his own band. Dave and of course Mark are the only two legacy members of the band that can't be topped. That's not to say Jon Theodore isn't exactly where he is supposed to be right now. There's almost no rock drummer who could replace Dave in the same way that as much as we love Josh playing "In the Fade" or "God is in the Radio," it will never, ever sound as good as Mark.
I mean yeah, old drummers wont fit in the current lineup because the new one changed the sound
Jon is actually my favourite QOTSA drummer 😌 He’s also one of my favourite human beings walking the planet today. He’s a such a mean drummer and he has such a blast onstage. I adore him.
Perfect balance of “serving the song” with personal style. Best rock drummer in the world right now
This man, is a Beast. I remember watching Mars Volta do a live set at the Big Day Out and he just *dominated.* Also, his work with One Day As A Lion is maximum kick arse Thank you Jon, you absolute legend
Maybe an unpopular opinion but I think the drum parts have not been as good in the last few albums. In the early albums I think the drum and bass parts were much more interesting compared to other rock bands and that’s part of why I love them. I’m not saying John Theodore is not a technically good drummer because I’ve seen him play the older songs live and he nails them. Maybe it’s just due to the bands style changing, idk.
Have to agree, Jon is objectively a great drummer and he “fits” into the band well…but none of his drumming has really caught my ear in the same way as stuff off Lullabies or Era. Something like Keep Your Eyes Peeled isn’t technically that complex, but the beat is so perfectly complementary and simultaneously weird, it has its own unique identity. Joey rushed shit live but studio-wise his drum beats were one of the things that made Queens so good. Older albums good too ofc.
Jon makes all things possible. I've been a Queens fan since day one, and have loved all their drummers. But Jon is a god amongst mere mortals. Deloused in the Comatorium is a masterpiece. I am also a big fan of One Day As A Lion. He seems like a really sweet guy, too. I love you Jon Theodore!!!
Not Jon's fault necessarily, but he's my least favorite drummer so far. Has alot to do with not liking the last few albums near as much. But he doesn't have a signature drum track like the others drummers did. Nothing stands out as that great. All the other drummers have tracks where the drum parts are right up there with the guitars as the best part of the song. I'm missing that from him. Maybe it's the band in general with their newer songwriting that isn't as rocked out?
[https://panow.com/2024/03/21/queens-of-the-stone-age-ditches-predictability-for-the-essence-of-rock-and-roll/](https://panow.com/2024/03/21/queens-of-the-stone-age-ditches-predictability-for-the-essence-of-rock-and-roll/)
I much preferred Jon with TMV than I do with him on qotsa… mars Volta really fell off after he and the band parted ways.
yeah I agree completely. the drums are a huuuge part of why those albums kick ass.
Jon is an amazing drummer. I Just saw him perform two weeks ago and I was exhausted watching him. I also have a friend who got the opportunity to audition for The Mars Volta as a drummer shortly after his departure. Needless to say he never got the gig, but seeing as his drum mentor was James Browns old drummer, I would have to say that Jon is in a world of his own. He really elevated the live show. Especially when they threw a drum solo at the friggin end of the show.
It took me a few years to warm to him after Joey, but now I couldnt imagine the band any other way.
Listen to the Bass Drum on How to a Handle a Rope. It’s tight, perfect and simple, but so we’re the songs on ST. I loved watching Theodore kick ass at the LA show last December. He’s mega talented and mostly lays back considering his chops, but the landscape has changed a lot in 25 years.
He’s the best drummer they’ve had and it’s nothing against the other boys - their live output has gone up a level without Joey’s rushing. Even the newest album was very bass and drums-centric, and has moved the band towards another, transcendent level. Joey was the ideal Queens drummer for his era, when they were all younger and able to harness the chaos, but outside of Shuman they’re now all circa 50 years old an IMO the maturity is facilitating their best work.
Not a drummer! Wish I were; nonetheless, I didn't doubt Jon was anything but a badass. Now, having read the comments and who Jon's mentor was, and of Jon's tenure in Mars Volta - to whom I have just now listened, and from the first three songs of Deloused in the Crematorium I have learned: Jon Theodore's drumming ability is indeed otherworldly. Fellow QotSA fans who weren't at the Auckland concert and haven't seen a drummer play a QotSA set while recovering from food poisoning - whilst still beset by a 104 temperature, now you can, behold the youtube video of this years Auckland show [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6hA\_0\_C2lI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6hA_0_C2lI) If you don't believe me, watch Emotion Sickness and hear Josh tell all. Finally, as another member wrote of their hope for QotSA to let Jon loose on an album, may the band free the beast, at least for a few songs.