Josh Homme, the frontman of Queens of the Stone Age, wasn’t particularly keen on following Ford Field’s house rules during the band’s Thursday night show in Detroit. While opening for Foo Fighters at the 65,000-capacity stadium on August 6th, Homme took issue with the venue’s smoking policy, telling the crowd that the band had been warned it could face a $10,000 penalty for smoking backstage. According to Metro Times, Homme also complained that the band had been forced to wander through the stadium looking for somewhere they were actually allowed to smoke.
Disregarding Smoking Policy
Ford Field is a smoke-free facility, with smoking and vaping prohibited throughout the stadium, including its seating areas, lounges, bars, suites, and other indoor spaces. The venue reiterated its policy specifically for Thursday’s Foo Fighters show.
By the end of Queens of the Stone Age’s set, Homme appeared to have decided the potential price was worth it. Before closing with “A Song for the Dead,” he launched into a speech encouraging the audience not to let corporations dictate their behavior. “Don’t let these fuckin’ corporate assholes tell you what to do, do whatever the fuck you want,” Homme said. “Fuck that shit. You paid for parking, and you’re paying for overpriced drinks, these fucking scalpers. Fuck having some corporation tell you what the fuck to do, you guys do what you want!” He then added, “And fuck Flock cameras too,” before lighting a cigarette onstage.
Current Tour
Queens of the Stone Age are currently supporting Foo Fighters on their 2026 “Take Cover Tour,” which kicked off last week in Toronto and continues through September. The Detroit concert marked the second show of the run and also featured Mannequin Pussy. Look for ticket information here (fans can save $20 off their first order of $200 or more by using promo code CONSEQUENCE20 at checkout).
The incident came during a career-spanning 11-song set that included “Little Sister,” “No One Knows,” “My God Is the Sun,” “Paper Machete,” and “I Appear Missing.” Before the latter, Homme couldn’t resist another swipe at stadium pricing, joking that the song was about “ponies that swim and beautiful things and candy and … $45 beers.”
Whether Homme or the band received the reported $10,000 fine remains unclear. The defiant act by Homme has sparked a conversation about the role of corporations in dictating behavior at public events. As Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters continue their tour, it will be interesting to see if similar incidents occur. For now, fans can look forward to upcoming shows and the possibility of more unexpected moments from the always-unpredictable Josh Homme.
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