Alive in the Catacombs

Alive in the Catacombs
Video / live EP by Queens of the Stone Age
Released	June 5, 2025 (2025-06-05)
Recorded	July 8, 2024
Venue	Catacombs of Paris
Length	28:51 (video) 27:02 (EP)
Label	Matador
Producer	Mark Rankin
Queens of the Stone Age chronology
In Times New Roman... (2023) Alive in the Catacombs (2025)

Alive in the Catacombs is an acoustic concert film and extended play (EP) by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It was released on June 5, 2025. The concert was recorded in the Catacombs of Paris on July 8, 2024, marking the first time a musical act has legally played in the Catacombs with the city's permission.

Recording and release

Frontman Josh Homme said that playing Album of the Week in Paris gave the band some connections who assisted in getting a recording in the city's Catacombs to happen. They asked a few times and were rejected, about which Homme said, "I never thought it would happen, but there's no reason to stop trying." With the help of an insider Paris official, they eventually received permission, marking the first time a musical act has legally played in the Catacombs with the city's permission. The show was filmed a few days after the band announced that some The End is Nero World Tour dates would be canceled due to Homme's health issues; the recording took place on July 4, 2024, and Homme flew back to the U.S. for emergency surgery the following day.

Speaking of the decision to make the concert an acoustic one, Homme discussed the influence of the Catacombs: "We're so stripped down because that place is so stripped down, which makes the music so stripped down, which makes the words so stripped down. It would be ridiculous to try to rock there. All those decisions were made by that space. That space dictates everything, it's in charge. You do what you're told when you're in there."

The film was released digitally on June 5, 2025, along with a documentary by Andreas Neumann called Alive in Paris and Before, featuring the band's process getting ready to record the film. An audio-only version was released in an EP format on June 13, 2025, along with a vinyl edition.

In October 2025, the band will begin The Catacombs Tour to support the release of the EP, featuring stripped down versions of songs performed at historic theaters.

Reception

The concert film received positive reviews. Andrew Trendell of NME said it was "starkly beautiful" and that the music "hits differently" when taking into consideration the mini documentary accompanying the film.

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Album of The Year	89/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
NME

Track listing

No.	Title	Original album	Length
1.	"Running Joke / Paper Machete"	Era Vulgaris (2007) / In Times New Roman... (2023)	5:32
2.	"Kalopsia"	...Like Clockwork (2013)	5:14
3.	"Villains of Circumstance"	Villains (2017)	5:57
4.	"Suture Up Your Future"	Era Vulgaris (2007)	4:36
5.	"I Never Came"	Lullabies to Paralyze (2005)	5:41
Total length:			27:02

Personnel

Queens of the Stone Age

• Josh Homme – lead vocals, sound director
• Troy Van Leeuwen – acoustic guitar, synth, backing vocals
• Dean Fertita – synth, glockenspiel
• Michael Shuman – acoustic bass guitar, backing vocals
• Jon Theodore – percussion

Strings

• Christelle Lassort Kiki
• Bella June Bozic
• Cécile Lacharme

Additional personnel

• Mark Rankin – sound director
• Gavin Lurssen – mastering
• Marie Delaby – sound director
• Henri d'Armancourt – sound director
• Théo Fauger – director of photography
• La Blogotheque – producer
• Anousonne Savanchomkeo – executive producer
• Esther – production manager
• Alice – production assistant
• Paul – production assistant
• Louise – production assistant
• Yasmina Chambenoit – assistant director
• Clara Griot – camera operator
• Titouan Deniaud – camera operator
• Katia Hamnane – steadicam
• Alban Lejeune – sound engineer
• Andreas Neumann – photography and introduction

Charts

Chart (2025)	Peak position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)	10
UK Independent Albums (OCC)	24