Eagles of Death Metal Fly

Even though Queens of the Stone Age release their fourth album, Lullabies to Paralyze, today, frontman Josh Homme has also been in the studio as drummer for garage rockers Eagles of Death Metal. The band is currently wrapping up its second album, Death by Sexy, which the Eagles hope to have in stores this summer.

"In order for the first album [2004's Peace, Love, Death Metal] not to seem like a fluke, this one needed to step up and expand," says singer/guitarist Jesse Hughes (a.k.a. J. Devil). "It accomplished that goal. I think we've got, like, five singles on it."

Sexy features appearances by Mark Lanegan and QOTSA drummer Joey Castillo, while Distillers frontwoman Brody Dalle (Homme's girlfriend) and singer Wendy Ray added backing vocals on several tracks. "Brody and Wendy make up a little part of the Eagles called the Eagle-ettes," Hughes says. "They're like our answer to the Marvelettes."

Song titles this time out include "Queen Bee and Baby Duck," "Poor Doggie," "Cherry Cola" and "She's Just Nineteen." "That's about the importance of being abstinent in sexual relationship," Hughes says. "No, I'm just kidding!"

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Song Stories

“The A Team”

Ed Sheeran | 2011

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.

More Song Stories entries »

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