Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme opened up about a near-death experience from his childhood while discussing the band’s new song, “Where the Goth Girls At?” in an interview with Consequence.
Homme explained the inspiration behind the song’s lyrics, in which he sings “Never felt so alive as the day I almost died.” He described the incident, which occurred when he was 12 years old. He also explained how it shaped his outlook on life afterward.
“I think everyone in this life is either experiencing a near-life or near-death experience, or you certainly will if you haven’t,” Homme said. “There’s a bit of euphoria post those [experiences].”
“I almost drowned when I was 12, and it was really wonderful in the days and weeks post that [incident],” he continued. “Food tastes amazing and the sunset was f*ckin’ juicy.”
Homme went on to offer some perspective on the experience, cautioning against seeking out such moments deliberately.
“I’m not saying you should go out and get yourself a near-death experience, but certainly those occur, and that euphoria, it takes a while to dissipate, and it’s hard not to feel the joy in those moments after that,” he said.
That brush with mortality wasn’t the only formative memory shaping the record. The song’s title and playful energy trace back to a much lighter part of Homme’s youth.
“Where the Goth Girls At?” arrived on September 23, 2026, as the third single from Queens of the Stone Age’s upcoming ninth studio album, Perfecth. The album is due out October 30 via Matador Records. The single follows two earlier tracks from the record, “Insignificant Other” and “Easy Street,” continuing the rollout ahead of the album’s release.
The song’s origins are rooted in Homme’s teenage years in Palm Desert, where he became fascinated with the goth subculture in an unlikely setting.
“Growing up… watching the goth girls working the counter at JCPenney and giving goth makeovers to the old ladies, that’s when I knew the only place I want to be is where the goth girls at,” Homme said.
The track arrived alongside a music video directed by Christopher Gruse and Tony Wolski, further building anticipation for Perfecth. Together, the near-death reflection and the nostalgic ode to goth culture reveal two very different sides of the emotional territory Homme is mining on the band’s forthcoming record. One confronts mortality and euphoria. The other embraces youthful longing and identity.
