Troy Van Leeuwen

Troy Van Leeuwen (Dutch pronunciation: [vɑn ˈleːu̯ə(n)]; born January 5, 1968) is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist in the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, with whom he has recorded five studio albums. Having joined the band in 2002, he is the second-longest-serving member of the band, after founding member Josh Homme. Van Leeuwen is also a member of the supergroup Gone Is Gone and has fronted his own projects, Enemy and Sweethead. Originally a member of Failure, Van Leeuwen joined the alternative rock supergroup A Perfect Circle in 1999, contributing to their first two studio albums, Mer de Noms (2000) and Thirteenth Step (2003), before joining Queens of the Stone Age to tour in support of their third studio album, Songs for the Deaf (2002). Van Leeuwen has remained in the band ever since, recording five albums with the band to date: Lullabies to Paralyze (2005), Era Vulgaris (2007), ...Like Clockwork (2013), Villains (2017) and In Times New Roman... (2023). Van Leeuwen has contributed to several other Queens of the Stone Age-related side-projects, including The Desert Sessions, Mondo Generator, Eagles of Death Metal and The Gutter Twins. In addition to his primary projects, Van Leeuwen has also been a touring member of The Damned, Jane's Addiction and Iggy Pop's band.[edit]

Troy Van Leeuwen does not command a singular, branded legion of followers with its own distinct moniker or official hashtag. His audience operates under the expansive umbrella of the Queens of the Stone Age fanbase, where individual members are celebrated for their specific sonic contributions rather than cultivated as solo pop icons. Unlike artists who spark organized birthday billboards or subway ad campaigns in their name alone, Van Leeuwen's connection to his fans is rooted in technical transparency and gear mentorship. He engages directly with musicians through detailed rig rundowns, openly discussing his preference for Jazzmasters over Strats and his complex pedal setups. This approachability has fostered a community of players who emulate his sound, creating a legend built on reliability and sonic innovation rather than chaotic performance art or viral disruption. Fans frequently retell the story of his transition from Failure to QOTSA, viewing his arrival as a pivotal moment that bridged the band's early desert rock era with modern arena success. A specific moment cementing this lore occurred in May 2026, when he reunited with former Failure bandmate Kellii Scott for Signal's "Cardboard Sessions," performing on a Cardboard Hollow Body Jazz acoustic guitar. Another notable instance involved his debut of a custom Squier 12-string Telecaster on *Jimmy Kimmel* in July 2025, showcasing his willingness to experiment with oddball instruments. While his reputation for playing simple barre chords that create complex illusions is widely discussed, there are no records of him causing crowds to faint or shutting down streets. The iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated Troy Van Leeuwen in August 2026 and determined that he currently holds no placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list).[edit]

Troy Van Leeuwen joined Queens of the Stone Age in 2002, becoming the second-longest-serving member after Josh Homme. He has recorded five studio albums with the band and also contributes to supergroups like Gone Is Gone while fronting his own projects, Enemy and Sweethead. Originally part of the alternative rock scene with Failure, he later joined A Perfect Circle in 1999, contributing to *Mer de Noms* (2000) and *Thirteenth Step*. Fans often cite his ability to blend rhythm and lead work as a defining element of the band's evolution since his arrival. A widely retold story in his lore focuses on his successful audition for Josh Homme, marking his transition from post-grunge to desert rock. In recent years, his collaboration with Kellii Scott during Signal's "Cardboard Sessions" in May 2026 became a celebrated reunion of the "Failure" legacy within the QOTSA context. Gear enthusiasts remember his July 2025 debut of a custom Squier 12-string Telecaster on *Jimmy Kimmel*, highlighting his experimental nature with instruments. Van Leeuwen also addressed the myth of his simplicity in a 2023 interview, noting that while people think the band plays easy chords, the true difficulty lies in execution.[edit]