Performing amidst the six million souls in the Paris Catacombs: Interview with Josh Homme
Buried deep beneath the cityscape, 20 meters below street level and spanning an expansive 1,500km network, the crammed confines of the Paris Catacombs shelter the remains of over six million citizens. Consecrated as the Paris Municipal Ossuary, it stands as the largest such memorial in the world - a haunting testament to mortality hidden beneath the crowded pulse of the French capital.
For Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, the underground labyrinth has been a source of fascination since he first attempted to venture there 18 years ago. The band has built their career on exploring the delicate dance between life and death, and this week, they are set to release Alive In The Catacombs: a filmed performance recorded last summer alongside director Thomas Rames and La Blogoteque, marking the first time any artist has been allowed to play within the hallowed halls of the iconic landmark.
Unlike their typically raucous live shows, the performance in the catacombs is somber and contemplative, reimagining five songs from across their discography into stripped-down, reflective acoustic versions, featuring strings, glockenspiels, and more. Homme explains that the focus was not on delivering a loud show, but rather crafting something romantic and intimate for the residents of the catacombs. "We never wanted to play loud," Homme chuckles, "It was more like, 'What shall we play for these people who are much older?'"
Cinematographer Théo Fauger, whose work Rames greatly admires, employed a unique tool called the STEMIRAX for the filming. This tool allows real-time superimposition effects, making it easy to create a spectral, layered visual experience without disrupting the band's on-stage energy. The project, which has been in the works for years, gained additional symbolism and urgency when Homme fell ill leading up to filming. He was hospitalized with health issues related to his previous cancer battle, only to be discharged himself and proceed with the shoot despite a fever of 102.8 degrees.
The film's most striking moments arise due to the unique set of challenges faced during production. One captivating scene features Homme lying motionless on an altar as he begins to perform the opening track, a shot that came about due to necessity rather than design. At another point, Homme can be heard muttering "When you're going through hell, keep going" - a self-pep talk caught on the wireless mic and left in the final edit. "Everywhere you look," Homme recalls of the catacombs, "it's you. You're next."
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The challenges faced in negotiating these circumstances lend an electric energy to the recording. Rames, the director, explains that the goal was to make technical aspects disappear in favor of spontaneity and the live experience, while still delivering a polished cinematic result. Inspired by German expressionism, he employed static shots and slow zooms to immerse viewers in the room, utilizing the 4:3 aspect ratio to both mimic the vanishing lines of the catacombs' endless corridors and isolate band members within the frame.
Homme and the band fully embraced the opportunities provided by the extraordinary location. "That space makes you do things," Homme says. "We would stand still and let the floor creak, let the water drip, and let the vents moan. We wanted to let the environment dictate our actions."
The project has inspired the band to reconsider their live show approach, potentially experimenting with new venues and styles. "We've been talking about reimagining reams of our songs," Homme muses, "and going on a tour this way. Infiltration in the best way possible: infiltration and corruption as if it were a good thing."
Alive In The Catacombs marks a stepping-stone for what's to come for the band, as Homme exits the film singing a seemingly new song with the lyrics "insignificant other." When asked about future plans, Homme teases, "You might be right..." With renewed vigor and creativity, Queens of the Stone Age continue to forge ahead, eager to see what adventures lie ahead.
Alive In The Catacombs is available at qotsa.com starting June 5th, 2025.
Footnotes
[1] Paris Catacombs: The World's Most Ridiculous Tourist Attraction
[2] Inside the 'Paris Catacombs — the subterranean tunnel that holds the bones of millions
[3] History of the Paris Catacombs
[4] The Secrets of France's Underground Sarcophagus
[5] Paris Catacombs: secrets, myths and the ultimate tour
- Josh Homme and Queens of the Stone Age sought to create something romantic and intimate for the residents of the Paris Catacombs, reimagining five songs from their discography into acoustic versions, featuring strings, glockenspiels, and more.
- The filming of Alive In The Catacombs was challenging due to unique set of circumstances, with cinematographer Théo Fauger using a tool called the STEMIRAX to create a spectral, layered visual experience without disrupting the band's on-stage energy.
- The band's performance in the Paris Catacombs, set to be released as a filmed performance, has inspired them to consider reimagining their songs and touring in new venues, potentially experimenting with a more vulnerable, reflective style of music.
