Behind the Scenes of a Timeless Queens of the Stone Age Hit: Crafting a Unique Sound from the Noughties Era

Queens of the Stone Age's "No One Knows": A Journey Through Iconic Tones and Unique Recording Techniques

In 2002, Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) released their third album, "Songs for the Deaf," which included the hit single, "No One Knows." This song, with its haunting, seductive falsetto by band leader Josh Homme, became a festival-ready singalong riff and an alternative radio mainstay.

The distinctive sound of "No One Knows" was meticulously crafted. Michael Valentine, the band's engineer, bought vintage, undesirable gear from a second-hand music store called Black Market Music to create the signature tones on the album. Homme's preferred guitars around the time of "No One Knows" included the Ovation Ultra GP, Gibson Marauder, and Maton MS500. He also favoured the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive and a Fulltone FatBoost FB-3 pedals.

The Peavey Too 10w practice amp, modeled after an amplifier Homme considered his "secret weapon," provides a major boost in accuracy for recreating Homme's blown-out distorted sounds. The riff of "No One Knows" consists of the C minor octave powerchord shape, with the addition of pinky finger movements.

The production of "No One Knows" is warm and live-sounding, with a notable dead drum sound due to recording techniques. The drums for "No One Knows" were recorded with a dummy snare and toms that were padded to be as quiet as possible. For the cymbal recording, a dummy snare and toms were set up and Grohl replayed the same drum parts, with only the cymbals being captured by the microphones.

Dave Grohl, who played drums on "No One Knows" and the album, gave a standout drum performance. Michael Valentine spoke highly of Grohl's drumming consistency. Dave Grohl's drum parts in "No One Knows" were recorded using cymbal pads that were later replaced with real cymbals.

The memorable video for "No One Knows," directed by Dean Karr and Michel Gondry, depicts the band driving through the desert, hitting a deer, and committing grand theft auto.

"No One Knows" was released as a single in November 2002 and reached No.1 on both the UK Rock and Metal charts and US Alternative Airplay. Justin Hawkins, from The Darkness, commented on the unique sound of "No One Knows," praising its festival-ready quality.

In summary, "No One Knows" is a testament to Queens of the Stone Age's innovative approach to music production and their ability to create memorable, iconic songs. The song's unique sound, coupled with its catchy riff and haunting falsetto, solidified its place as a staple in the alternative rock genre.