Photo by Andreas Neumann
After weeks of teasing, Queens of the Stone Age on Thursday officially released their new single "The Way You Used to Do."
It's the first preview of the band's new album Villains, coming Aug. 25 via Matador and produced by Mark Ronson, who previously worked with Queens frontman Josh Homme on Lady Gaga's Joanne. Longtime collaborator Mark Rankin also served as co-producer.
Homme made clear in a statement the new album title "isn't a political statement," noting it "has nothing to do with Trump or any of that shit." Instead, he said, "Everyone needs someone or something to rail against—their villain—same as it ever was. You can’t control that. The only thing you can really control is when you let go."
For his part, Ronson called Queens of the Stone Age his "favorite rock 'n' roll band," adding: "There were moments during the making of the album in which I was aware I was watching my musical heroes craft something that was sure to become one of my favorite moments on any Queens album. And to have some part in that felt like being in a dream—a very heavy, dark, wonderful dream."
The band has also announced new tour dates, with tickets going on sale June 22.
Hear "The Way You Used to Do" below, followed by Queens of the Stone Age's upcoming North American schedule.
Queens of the Stone Age's tour dates:
June 22 — Rapids Theater — Niagara Falls, NY
June 24 — Amnesia Rockfest 2017 — Montebello, QC
Aug. 10 – Majestic Ventura Theater – Ventura, CA
Aug. 12 – Outside Lands – San Francisco, CA
Sept. 6 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
Sept. 7 – Festival Pier – Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 9 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
Sept. 10 – 20 Monroe Live – Grand Rapids, MI
Sept. 12 – Express Live! Outdoor Pavilion – Columbus, OH
Sept. 13 – Stage AE (Outdoors) – Pittsburgh, PA
Sept. 15 – Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH
Sept. 16 – Riot Fest – Chicago, IL
Oct. 9 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 10 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO
Oct. 12 – Peabody – St. Louis, MO
Oct. 13 – Crossroads KC – Kansas City, MO
Oct. 14 – Roy Wilkins Auditorium – Saint Paul, MN
Oct. 15 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 17 – Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI
Oct. 18 – Old National Centre – Murat Theatre – Indianapolis, IN
Oct. 20 – TBC – Washington, DC
Oct. 21 – Agganis Arena - Boston, MA
Oct. 22 – State Theatre – Portland, ME
Oct. 24 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY