‘John Wayne’: The song Josh Homme wrote for Lady Gaga
Following the disbandment of Kyuss in 1995, Josh Homme established Queens of the Stone Age, maintaining a desert rock aesthetic. While Kyuss had a devoted fanbase, QOTSA has emerged as one of America’s foremost contemporary rock bands. Since their debut in 1998 with a self-titled album, the group has released eight records, building a cult fanbase in the process.
Following their debut, the band released Rated R, which saw the addition of Kyuss’ Nick Oliveri to the lineup. Featuring tracks like ‘Feelgood Hit of the Summer’ and ‘The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret’, the album showcased the band’s knack for crafting popular rock hits that received extensive radio play.
However, their crowning achievement arrived in 2002 with Songs for the Deaf. Conceived as a concept album mimicking a drive through the desert, it houses many of the band’s standout tracks, including ‘No One Knows’, ‘Song for the Dead’, and ‘Go With the Flow’. Collaborations with musicians like Dave Grohl and Mark Lanegan further elevated the album.
Outside QOTSA, Homme has lent his musical and lyrical prowess to many other musicians, from Iggy Pop and Arctic Monkeys. He also once penned a tune for Lady Gaga, a rather unsuspecting partnership considering Homme’s predominantly rock roots. However, he helped to create Gaga’s song ‘John Wayne’ in 2016, along with Mark Ronson and BloodPop.
Homme co-wrote and played guitar on ‘John Wayne’, infusing his distinctive guitar style into the song. The track is an energetic and bold pop-rock anthem showcasing Gaga’s versatile vocal range and incorporating Homme’s signature guitar-driven sound, adding a rock edge to the singer’s pop sensibilities. The collaboration between the two brought a fusion of their respective musical styles, resulting in a dynamic and catchy track within the album.
In addition, while working with Pop, Homme was able to take his musicianship to new heights and envision that he “could get there too” in terms of artistic ability. He recalled how their tour rehearsals began in Miami a day after the death of David Bowie. They started rehearsals with ‘The Passenger’, from the Bowie-produced Lust For Life. “He is crying but he’s not stopping because it’s Iggy. He’s piercing through that,” Homme said. “And I’m crying. I look over and everyone that’s playing is in tears, but it sounds fucking insane, phenomenal. It’s factually the coolest thing I’ve ever been allowed to be part of ever.”
Homme continued: “Life is about moments hanging in the air, and who will seize them. Iggy will. What a learning moment. What a confirmation of your own belief. ‘We’re on the Titanic. It’s OK. Everyone’s gonna hit the water, but we do requests. What do you want to hear? Hit it, boys!'”
