Them Crooked Vultures
at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 3rd September 2022
As temperamental as musicians are when they form groups, they are blessed if they can stay together for the duration. Much of the time the band serves its purpose and dissolves to form other groups. It’s the alchemy of music, and I think it may be an essential aspect to it. I can think of several supergroups I could have written about, including Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, Blind Faith, Cream, Traveling Wilburys, and collaborations that were never officially named as supergroups, such as at least one or two of George Harrison albums.
Them Crooked Vultures is the supergroup trio of Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age on lead guitar and singing; John Paul Jones, bassist for Led Zeppelin, on bass and keyboards; and Dave Grohl from Nirvana and Foo Fighters on drums. They formed in Los Angeles in 2009. They released only one, eponymous, album. They disbanded in 2010 but are still talking about making another album. “New Fang,” one of the two singles released from it, won a Grammy for New Hard Rock Performance.
Every song on this album vibrates with power and energy. I chose the first cut, “No One Loves Me and Neither Do I.” The song tells the tale of two high libido individuals intersecting in life and the sparks start to fly. It is not a morality tale, but there is so much wisdom to be found within it. The lyrics are a little what I will call spicy so be prepared! If this doesn’t rev your engine I don’t know what will.
I wonder if only rock stars and other celebrities have intersections like these two do?
No One Loves Me and Neither Do I
Think I saw her for the first time
Maybe in a news stand
She was nickin' a mag, and dressed oblique
She called me baby
And "Was it me baby, with the song on the radio?"
So I told her I was rich
Then she asked could I use a dirty bitch (of course)
Then she said, "No one loves me, neither do I"
You get what you give
And I give goodbye
And if I should vanish
Don't get caught off guard
Don't hold it against me
Unless it gets hard
Yeah
That's right
Well if sex is a weapon, then smash, boom, pow
How you like me now?
You can't always do right
You can always do what's left
So I told her I was trash
She winked and laughed and said, "I already know
I've got a beautiful place to put your face"
And she was right
And I said, "No one loves me, neither do I"
It makes perfect sense
So I never ask, "Why?"
All gone tomorrow
'Cause life doesn't wait
You can keep your soul
I don't wanna cell mate
Call me, I'm loose, I'm ready to go
People in a world about to lose control
Call me, I'm loose, I'm ready to go
People in a world about to lose control
Call me, I'm loose, I'm ready to go
People in a world about to lose control
Call me, I'm loose, I'm ready to go
People in a world about to lose...
I know how to burn with passion
Hold nothing back for future ration
Give all you are, do not make haste
Savour every single taste
You get... got
I know how to be controlled
Do opposite of what you're told
Be quick to react, to break the box
Turn on cue, as your cell door locks
Behind you
I know how to be lost in lust
Not because you should, but because you must
It burns white hot, and so clouds the mind
This lightening strike isn't always kind
So use me up
Use me up
Written by: Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, John Baldwin (aka John Paul Jones)
Album: Them Crooked Vultures
Released: 2009
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. Jim says this week the prompt is to find a:
Song from a Super Band
Tao Talk 
New group and song for me Lisa, but I liked it, and I got a profound sense of alienation and hopelessness from listening to it. Thanks for sharing your music again.
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Thanks for sharing how the song affected you. It’s interesting how songs can affect one person one way and affect another very differently. Thanks for giving it a chance, Jim. Good prompt that I’m sure will generate a lot of awesome song shares.
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Nice! Cool group I was unfamiliar with until now. I like it! Good pick, Lisa.
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Thanks, Nancy. I watched the concert again last night.
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Man, that guy on the slide guitar is sick. Very cool post.
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Totally agree, Aaron. I watched the live concert last night. Although he wasn’t on the studio album, he toured with them. His name is Alain Johannes, a Chilean-American. Here’s a wiki link on him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Johannes
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I like them…you can’t beat the members. I always liked Dave Grohl a lot…I know no one is supposed to say this but I like the Foo Fighters better than Nirvana. I liked band and I listened to them because of John Paul Jones…it’s cool that he is still doing it.
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Max, seriously, you need to watch the live concert that I posted at the bottom. One of the best concerts EVER! I’m not familiar with FF or Nirvana, but I do know Grohl is a BEAST on this album. He may have just become my favorite drummer. Sorry, Ginger! JPJ was having the time of his life. He was playing a weird kind of instrument on one of the first songs on the live.
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I sure will…I will have some down time a little on Mon and Tues when everything is being set up. I’ve booked marked the page. He is a great drummer…really great. Plus what I like about the guy is he recognizes the bands and artists that came before him.
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Yes, he does, Max. He’s a good guy in many ways.
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New one for me Lisa- I like them and great lyrics too – thanks for introducing me 🤩
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Ange, happy to make the introduction! They really are a super group.
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🙌
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This is a great track Lisa and I found your post so interesting because I have never heard of this group bor song… I know the members …wow great post 💜💜😊
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Willow, I love introducing good music to others which is why SLS works for me :) Hoping you give the whole album a chance.
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You’re doing a great job . Thank you and yes the album is being disected 💜💜💜
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<3
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A new one for me, but I liked it!
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Clive so glad to introduce you to them :)
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This was an introduction for me- and I cannot understand why- as I know all of the members. Love this. I skimmed every song on the concert video, and I am def gonna throw this on a playlist! Thank you
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V, I am glad you are giving them a chance. I just found them by chance through SteveForTheDeaf’s blog. He’s introduced me to a lot of really good music.
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I love the first, haven’t caught up with this – I will now. I have a view that some of the best music comes from the volatility and creativity of ego collision and I even question (yes i dare) that the Beatles would have done much more ground breaking music had they stayed together. I wonder that everything has a window?
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Paul, if you get a chance, check out the full concert I’ve linked to below. Watched it again last night and it gives the music real oomph to see them doing it live.
Excellent thoughts on the creative process and windows.
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Thank you Li – I will indeed.
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You’re welcome.
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Love this album. Had the good fortune to see them live once. Unforgettable.
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OMG, Steve, you saw them live <3 Do you think they will make another album? I know Homme has had some health issues, and JPJ ain't no spring chicken, so touring may be an issue, but still…
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Did you hear the JPJ led Playing For Change version of When The Levee Breaks? It’s one of my favourite things he’s ever done
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I see I liked it so I must have. But listening to it again right now, the energy of it has my whole body tingling. Whoever put it all together is talented.
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JPJ put it together. It was his project. He’s a frikkin’ legend that man
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Ah!
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Playing for Change has some amazing videos. I love this one too.
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Whoa! What a great sound! I have never heard of them. They are awesome. The song you picked is awesome in the second video: very powerful, the whole video! What kind of bass is John Paul John playing???
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Glad you like their sound. I don’t know but trying to find out about the bass.
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Great choice Lisa. The whole album is well worth a listen
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Glad you agree, Glyn :)
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Yes, new for me too Li. I think I should have just listened to the song and ignored the lyrics though. They were a little unsettling 😦. The band sounded really good though ☺️👍👍
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It’s off the chain for sure. Glad you liked the music part.
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I has a very Led Zeppelin aura. (K)
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They got it going on, that’s for sure.
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Great lyrics, Li! I’m not sure that I saw them on Steve’s blog so maybe I missed it. Thanks for sharing it! Such great energy and excitement in their voices!
💓
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They are a winning combo for sure.
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ABSOLUTELY! 👍🏽
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Cool song, Lisa. I only heard of Them Crooked Vultures once or twice before but never explored their album. Will add it to the growing list of music I want to hear once I get a chance! :-)
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Yes it is. Thanks for giving them a chance and putting them on your list :)
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Sorry for the back-to-back comments. I just did some chores in the house and decided to grab my headphones to start listening to the album. I think as a result, I did the stuff twice as fast, and now I’m sweaty and exhausted!🤣
Anyway, based on the first 9 tracks, this album is really intriguing. And, yes, as one of your previous commenters said, I can also hear some Zep vibe here. I will add there could be a bit of a bias, knowing John Paul Jones is part of the mix here!
Thanks again for flagging. It will be interesting to see whether they can pull off another album. Jones turned 79 in early January, so if they want them to be part of it, I think it’s fair to say they don’t have endless time.
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Awesome, Christians. I was up and dancing around last night and again today. Yes, I do think it is good chore music :) I hear you about JPJ.
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I’ve heard of some of the separate people, but not when they played in this one together. I like the sound a lot. :)
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Barbara, there’s a lot to like about it :)
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Those spicy lyrics remind me a little of the spicy ones from Prince’s Darling Nicky song. If we’re staying on a theme here, there’s I Wanna Tear You Apart too and Nine Inch Nails’ Closer, lol I like this song! Although I do not remember it at all. Your knowledge of music is very impressive, Li…..!
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Prince’s Tick.. Tick.. Bang is also kinda spicy. I need to make a playlist of them! I learned about this album from Steve for the Deaf. He is the music maven.
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Ah, interesting!
Yeah, you should make a “naughty” list sometime just for fun. Get all us revved down folk revving up a little for at least one afternoon! lol
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Haha! You just gave me a great title for the playlist: Afternoon Delight :)
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Ha! Yes!
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