Troy Van Leeuwen
Troy Van Leeuwen | |
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Troy Van Leeuwen (born January 5, 1970) is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist in the
Originally a member of Failure, Van Leeuwen joined the alternative rock supergroup A Perfect Circle in 1999, contributing to their first two studio albums, Mer de Noms (2000) and Thirteenth Step (2003), before joining Queens of the Stone Age to tour in support of their third studio album, Songs for the Deaf (2002). Van Leeuwen has remained in the band ever since, recording five albums with the band to date: Lullabies to Paralyze (2005), Era Vulgaris (2007), ...Like Clockwork (2013), Villains (2017) and In Times New Roman... (2023).
Van Leeuwen has contributed to several other Queens of the Stone Age-related side-projects, including The Desert Sessions, Mondo Generator, Eagles of Death Metal and The Gutter Twins. In addition to his primary projects, Van Leeuwen has also been a touring member of The Damned, Jane's Addiction and Iggy Pop's band.
Biography
Van Leeuwen has a Dutch surname (he has ancestors from the Netherlands and has described himself as a third-generation American).[1] He became interested in music at an early age and his dad would play early rock and roll records such as Chuck Berry. His first big influence in learning how to play rock came through listening to Led Zeppelin records. Playing drums initially, Van Leeuwen sought to imitate Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham,[2] but later switched to guitar and discovered that he had an aptitude for it. He cites Jimmy Page as a big influence:
I would have to say that Jimmy Page was the first influence I had as a guitar player. There were so many textures and different sounds that he got. The riffs that he made were undeniably great. Every one of them. Even the mistakes he made were great. So to me, that was a great first influence.[2]
Music career
In the late 1980s, Van Leeuwen played in Jester, a successful southern California band fronted by vocalist Eric Book. Jester released an EP, which is the earliest and most rare recording of a 16-year-old Van Leeuwen. He then played in a small band called Little Boots, with which he recorded a number of demos and played a few shows before the band's breakup. His next band was
A Perfect Circle
It was during his time as a session musician that Van Leeuwen met Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, who offered him a spot in his and Billy Howerdel's new band, A Perfect Circle. The band played their first show at LA's Viper Club Reception on August 15, 1999. After playing shows in Los Angeles, the band entered the studio to begin work on their debut album, Mer de Noms.[4][5] The album was released on May 23, 2000, making it the highest ever debut for a new rock band, selling over 188,000 copies in its first week, and appearing at number four on the Billboard 200.[6] Van Leeuwen toured extensively with the band, initially as the opening act for Nine Inch Nails, followed a number of headlining tours around the world.[7] Van Leeuwen recorded guitar parts on only three tracks of A Perfect Circle's second album, Thirteenth Step, before successfully auditioning for a spot in Josh Homme's Queens of the Stone Age.
Queens of the Stone Age
After outperforming
Van Leeuwen's first recording with QOTSA was
After touring to support the album, the band headed back into the studio in July 2006. A year later, Van Leeuwen reported that the band had written new material that was "still in its infancy",[10] which Homme later suggested might be released as an EP. This matured into their 2007 release Era Vulgaris, to which Van Leeuwen contributed a significant amount of material.
Several sites reported that the album would include many guest vocalists, including Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, Mark Lanegan, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top,[11] and wittingly, deceased humorist Erma Bombeck.[12] Josh Homme described the record as "dark, hard, and electrical, sort of like a construction worker".[13] Era Vulgaris was completed in early April 2007[14] and released in June 2007 in the US[15] The tracks "Sick, Sick, Sick" and "3's & 7's" were released as singles in early June.[16] Bassist Michael Shuman (Wires on Fire, Jubilee) and keyboardist Dean Fertita (The Waxwings, The Raconteurs) took over touring duties from Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider respectively.[17][18]
Following a subsequent interview with Homme,
In 2013, QOTSA released
Other musical work
In 2001, Van Leeuwen joined the supergroup Revenge of the Triads with Nine Inch Nails keyboardist Charlie Clouser and Snake River Conspiracy bassist/producer Jason Slater. Van Leeuwen, who acted the band's main vocalist,[21] described the band as a mixture of all three of the members influences, and stated that the band did not fit in any specific genre.[22] The band was signed to LMC Records, an independent label distributed by MCA Records, and worked on a debut album before breaking up almost exactly a year later due to problems with LMC not paying the band and the members' losing interest in the project. The album remains unfinished and unreleased.[23]
In 2005, Van Leeuwen released
In 2016, Van Leeuwen toured with
In 2022, Van Leeuwen took on touring guitarist duties for The Damned on the US dates of their tour, temporarily replacing Captain Sensible.[30] Later that year, he served as the touring guitarist for alternative rock band Jane's Addiction while longtime member Dave Navarro was ill with long COVID.[31]
Musical equipment
According to Van Leeuwen, Queens of the Stone Age (and Homme in particular) have a "veil of secrecy" regarding their exact setup, in order to maintain a unique guitar sound. However, over time Van Leeuwen eventually disclosed some information regarding his gear. When he first joined the band in 2002 for the Songs for the Deaf promotional tour, he leaned toward duplicating Josh Homme's setup, favoring Ampeg guitar combos and specific pedals. All of his guitars were fitted with a variety of Seymour Duncan pickups,[32] most often Customs or JB. During the Lullabies to Paralyze period, both Homme and Van Leeuwen favored semi-hollow guitars with P-90 pickups due to their natural resonance. To prohibit "bad feedback", he stuffed pieces of foam into the F-holes of some. On Era Vulgaris he switched to Fender Telecasters and Jaguars, recorded through small, cheap amps. His guitars are tuned in standard 440, mostly E, and C, though one-off tunings have appeared on a few songs.
He is a steady user of Mastery Bridges, utilizing their Offset and Tele models in addition to the Offset Vibrato. Troy has also said that his live rig is considerably different than what he uses during recording, due to the fact that he considers most of his vintage equipment too unreliable for touring.
Other instruments
In addition to guitar and lap steel, Troy has also played a
Selected discography
Van Leeuwen has appeared on a wide range of albums from various bands and performers from many genres.[38][39]
Year | Band or artist | Song or album | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Jester | Jester | Guitar |
1995 | 60 Cycle | Pretender | |
1996 | 60 Cycle | ||
1998 | Korn | Freak on a Leash | Engineer |
Orgy | Candyass | Guitar | |
1999 | Coal Chamber | Chamber Music | Keyboards, technical assistant |
Crazy Town | The Gift of Game | Additional guitar, programming assistant | |
Deadsy | Commencement | Guitar | |
2000 | Professional Murder Music | Professional Murder Music | |
A Perfect Circle | Mer de Noms | ||
Orgy | Vapor Transmission | ||
2003 | UNKLE
|
Never, Never, Land | |
A Perfect Circle | Thirteenth Step | ||
Slaves on Dope | Metafour
|
Production | |
Mondo Generator | A Drug Problem That Never Existed | Additional performer | |
The Desert Sessions | Vol 9: I See You Hearin' Me
|
Guitar, lap steel, bass | |
Vol 10: I Heart Disco
| |||
2004 | Failure | Golden | Guitar |
A Perfect Circle | aMotion
| ||
Orgy | Punk Statik Paranoia | ||
2005 | Queens of the Stone Age | Lullabies to Paralyze | Guitar, bass, lap steel, piano, keyboards, handclaps, vocals |
Over The Years And Through The Woods
|
Guitar, lap steel, bass, vocals | ||
Mark Lanegan Band
|
Bubblegum | Guitar, piano | |
Enemy | Hooray For Dark Matter
|
Vocals, guitar, mixing, production | |
2006 | Failure | Essentials | Guitar |
J-AX | Di Sana Pianta | Chitarrone | |
Eagles of Death Metal | Death by Sexy | Performer, piano, backing vocals | |
2007 | Queens of the Stone Age | Era Vulgaris | Guitar, bass, lap steel, piano, keyboard, vocals |
2008 | Eagles of Death Metal | Heart On | Vocals |
The Gutter Twins | Saturnalia | Guitar | |
2009 | Sweethead | The Great Disruptors | Guitar, bass, backing vocals, production, mixing |
Sweethead | |||
Hello=Fire | Hello=Fire | Bass | |
2012 | Robbie Williams | Take The Crown
|
Lead guitar |
2013 | Queens of the Stone Age | Like Clockwork | Guitar, backing vocals, percussion, keyboard, lap steel |
2015 | Failure | The Heart Is a Monster | Additional Guitar |
2016 | Gone Is Gone | Gone Is Gone | Guitar |
2016 | Sweethead | Descent to the Surface | Guitar, bass, backing vocals, production, mixing |
2016 | Iggy Pop | Post Pop Depression – Live at the Royal Albert Hall | Guitar |
2017 | Chelsea Wolfe | Hiss Spun | Guitar |
2017 | Gone Is Gone | Echolocation | Guitar |
2017 | Queens of the Stone Age | Villains | Guitar |
2020 | Gone Is Gone | If Everything Happens for a Reason... Then Nothing Really Matters at All
|
Guitar |
2023 | Queens of the Stone Age | In Times New Roman... | Performance |
References
- ^ Queens of the Stone Age interview with Troy van Leeuwen by Toazted part 1. Toazted. November 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c "Interview with Troy Van Leeuwen by Lisa Sharken; (see Duncan interview)". Mister Enemy. 2005.
- ^ "Biography". Margo.student.utwente.nl. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ McIver, Joel (2002). Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. p. 27.
- Boston Globe. p. Calendar; 8.
- ^ "A Perfect Circle Storms Onto Chart with Highest Debuting First Album Ever From a Rock Band". NY Rock. June 2, 2000. Archived from the original on July 8, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
- ^ Zahlaway, Jon (December 8, 2000). "A Perfect Circle lines up winter headlining tour". LiveDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age: A Stone Unturned". MTV. March 9, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age Interview". Vertigo. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age discuss Duluth tour". NME. Archived from the original (article) on March 7, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
- ^ "Casablancas, Reznor Rumored Guests on QOTSA Album". Spin.com. February 23, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- Ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "Ask the Band". qotsa.com. November 4, 2006. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ Scaggs, Austin (April 6, 2007). "Smoking Section: Playing poker with the Strokes, Foo Fighters album news, Marilyn Manson's "dirty" film, Roger Waters calls from the road". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 14, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age official website". 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone age unveil new album artwork". Uncut.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone age unveil new album artwork". Uncut.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Films 'Sick, Sick, Sick' Video". Blabbermouth.net. April 28, 2007. Archived from the original on May 6, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "Princes Charming – well, almost". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original (interview) on August 26, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
- ^ "Homme Itching To Record With New QOTSA Lineup". Billboard. October 18, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "CC news". www.theninhotline.com. May 6, 2002. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "What is Enemy? | Interview". enemyonline (Adobe Flash emulator required). Archived from the original on July 20, 2002. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Blabbermouth (December 16, 2002). "REVENGE OF THE TRIADS Cease To Exist". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "Enemy's Biography – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. November 26, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ a b [1] Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Iggy Pop and Josh Homme Team Up for Secret Album". The New York Times. January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ^ Reed, Ryan. (April 13, 2016) Mastodon, At the Drive-In, QOTSA Members Form New Band Gone Is Gone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on January 17, 2017.
- ^ Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, At the Drive-In Members Form Supergroup Gone is Gone, Tease New Song "Violescent": Listen. Pitchfork (April 13, 2016). Retrieved on January 17, 2017.
- ^ Interview: Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen Talks His Guest Appearance on The Armed’s ‘ULTRAPOP’. New Noise Magazine (June 21, 2021). Retrieved on March 9, 2024.
- ^ "Captain Sensible will not be on upcoming Damned US tour". PunkNews.org. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "Michael Wilton Artist Profile – Seymour Duncan/Basslines". Seymourduncan.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Troy Van Leeuwen | Seymour Duncan Blog". Seymourduncan.com. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "f-p-e.com". f-p-e.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "troyvanleeuwen on Instagram: "Just got these."". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- ^ "Troy van Leeuwen". Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
- ^ "QOTSA Digi Booklet". Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- ^ "Troy Van Leeuwen | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Discography". Margo.student.utwente.nl. Retrieved July 15, 2014.