Queens Of The Stone Age Release Psychedelic New Single ‘Easy Street’ – A Funny, Imperfect Masterpiece

Queens Of The Stone Age released a new psychedelic single titled Easy Street on July 14, 2026, via Matador. The track features singer Nikki Lane and marks the band’s first new material since the 2023 release of their eighth studio album, In Times New Roman…

The song was produced by frontman Josh Homme and bassist Michael Shuman. It blends acoustic guitar and psychedelic synths with a sparse instrumental arrangement, pairing Lane’s raw vocals against Homme’s smoother delivery, according to NME.

Recording Process and Creative Intent

Homme described the recording process as intentionaly unpolished, mirroring the quality of a demo. He noted that the band avoided using a click track and chose to leave mistakes in the final cut.

It’s kind of a funny song. It’s like hitting your funny bone, where it’s funny because it hurts and it hurts because it’s funny. You’re serious, but it’s funny. We made it the way you’d make a demo. No click track, mistakes left in. It speeds up, it slows down, the claps aren’t great, but they’re not bad, and a bad clap adds this human thing you can’t fake. It’s not just about silliness. It’s about understanding the imperfection of your life. The song, like your life, is in the mistakes. Its imperfections are unbeatable. — Josh Homme via NME

The release includes an official music video directed by Tony Wolski and Christopher Gruse. Based on an idea by Homme, the film features a bruised Homme fleeing a group of pursuers that includes a Juggalo, a mall Santa, a leather enthusiast, and a cowboy with a small horse. A press release stated the story contains a twist intended to honor outsiders.

Live Debut and Stylistic Shift

The band first performed Easy Street during their Catacombs tour in the autumn of 2025. The track became a staple of their setlist before the studio version was finalized.

Early reactions from the live performances highlighted a departure from the band’s typical sound. Some fans described the track as having a Flamenco vibe, while NME reported from a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall that the song moved in a laidback and luxurious direction with guitar work reminiscent of David Bowie’s Heroes.

Touring Schedule and Recent Activity

Queens Of The Stone Age are currently serving as the opening act for System Of A Down during their UK and European stadium tour. This includes a performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 13, 2026, with a second show at the same venue scheduled for July 15, 2026.

The band’s upcoming schedule includes:

• Opening for Foo Fighters on the North American leg of the Take Cover stadium tour later in the summer.
• A scheduled performance in Iceland in October 2026, their first appearance in the country since 2005.

During the current tour, the band has reintroduced material from their 2007 album Era Vulgaris, including Run, Pig, Run, which had not been played live since 2008.

Context of New Material

The release of Easy Street follows a period of sporadic output. There was a six-year gap between the 2017 album Villains and the 2023 release of In Times New Roman…

In late 2023, Homme and bandmate Dean Fertita told NME that the group intended to increase their productivity. Homme stated at the time that the band should make more music faster-er, better-er.

Other recent projects include the 2024 stripped-back concert film and live album Alive In The Catacombs, recorded in the Parisian Catacombs. This was followed by an intimate tour of North America, Europe, and the UK featuring a string section, concluding with a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2025 that featured guest artist Matt Berry.