In a press conference during this year’s Hellfest, Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme shared his opinions on today’s music and the difficulties of being in a new and young band nowadays.
When the frontman was asked about his thoughts on the music industry in the digital age, he replied:
“I think it’s very difficult to be a young band. It’s more difficult than ever to ride around in a van and play six nights a week. I mean it was hard before and it’s hard to play for nights a week. I really feel and empathize for anyone that dares to take this on as a life and dares to take this on as a journalist in this life.”
He also added that being in a new band isn’t something one can do for money:
“This is our crew of people, you and us that are daring not to do some other job, so I do feel the need to sort of stick together. I want to support other bands but it’s very difficult — you can’t do it for money and you can’t do it to be popular because those things don’t work, it won’t matter and it won’t last.”
‘Bands Need To Have Haters If They Want To Succeed’
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During the same press conference, Homme suggested that bands need to be willing to risk losing fans to evolve musically. He also noted that true fans expect their favorite musicians to change over time:
“The least oft-done thing is for someone to make their 15th record, their best record. And it seems natural that, sometimes, you copy yourself, or you try to be safe, or you cater too much to the fans instead of [to] what’s happening in your life. But I think it would be so wonderful to be part of a group [where] the last record I make before I die would be the best one of all.”
He added:
“I think it’s difficult to do that, and I think you have to be willing to lose your fans sometimes. I always say, 15% of the people don’t hate you, you suck, you know? I think you have to get addicted to the risk of trying to sound different, but trying to sound the same. We don’t always [do] that, but I think you try to [do] that.”
You can watch the press conference below.