View source for Troy Van Leeuwen

{{short description|American rock musician and producer (born 1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Troy Van Leeuwen
| image             = Queen of the Stone Edge-Troy Van Leeuwen-IMG 6603.jpg
| caption           = Van Leeuwen performing in 2011
| birth_name        = 
| alias             = {{hlist|T.V. Leeuwen|Troy De Van Leeuwen|TVL|Tweezil Von Smoothy|Twizzy}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1970|1|5}}
| birth_place       = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[alternative rock]]|[[hard rock]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|producer}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Guitar|keyboards|synthesizers|percussion|bass|vocals}}
| years_active      = 1983–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[EMI]]|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|LMC|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]|[[The Control Group]]|[[Matador Records|Matador]]|[[Beggars Banquet Records|Beggars Banquet]]}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Queens of the Stone Age]]
* [[Gone Is Gone]]
* [[Sweethead]]
}}
| past_member_of    = {{flatlist|
* Jester
* Little Boots
* [[60 Cycle]]
* [[Failure (band)|Failure]]
* {{nowrap|[[A Perfect Circle]]}}
* [[The Wondergirls]]
* [[Enemy (American band)|Enemy]]
* [[Revenge of the Triads]]
* [[Eagles of Death Metal]]
* [[Mondo Generator]]
}}
| associated_acts   = 
| Death             = 
| website           = 
}}

'''Troy Van Leeuwen''' (born January 5, 1970) is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist in the [[rock (music)|rock]] band [[Queens of the Stone Age]], with whom he has recorded five studio albums. Joining 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 (music)|supergroup]] [[Gone Is Gone]] and has fronted his own projects, [[Enemy (American band)|Enemy]] and [[Sweethead]].

Originally a member of [[Failure (band)|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 (album)|Era Vulgaris]]'' (2007), ''[[...Like Clockwork]]'' (2013), ''[[Villains (Queens of the Stone Age album)|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 (band)|The Damned]], [[Jane's Addiction]] and [[Iggy Pop]]'s band.

==Biography==
[[Van (Dutch)|Van]] Leeuwen has a Dutch surname (he has ancestors from [[the Netherlands]] and has described himself as a third-generation American).<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxslwupoCdI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626201257/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxslwupoCdI |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |url-status=dead|title= Queens of the Stone Age interview with Troy van Leeuwen by Toazted part 1|date=November 7, 2011|via=YouTube |publisher=Toazted}}</ref> He became interested in music at an early age and his dad would play early rock and roll records such as [[Chuck Berry]]. His first big influence in learning how to play rock came through listening to [[Led Zeppelin]] records. Playing drums initially, Van Leeuwen sought to imitate Zeppelin drummer, [[John Bonham]],<ref name= M.E. >{{cite web |url=http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/interviews.html |title=Interview with Troy Van Leeuwen by Lisa Sharken; (see Duncan interview) |publisher=Mister Enemy |year=2005 |access-date=2008-09-24 |archive-date=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722200241/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/interviews.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> but later switched to guitar and discovered that he had an aptitude for it. He cites [[Jimmy Page]] as a big influence:
{{Blockquote|
I would have to say that Jimmy Page was the first influence I had as a guitar player. There were so many textures and different sounds that he got. The riffs that he made were undeniably great. Every one of them. Even the mistakes he made were great. So to me, that was a great first influence.<ref name= M.E. />
|}}

== Music career ==
In the late 1980s, Van Leeuwen played in Jester, a successful southern California band fronted by vocalist Eric Book. Jester released an EP, which is the earliest and most rare recording of a 16-year-old Van Leeuwen. He then played in another local band called Little Boots, with which he recorded a number of demos and played a dozen shows before the band's breakup. His next band was [[60 Cycle]], which released their debut "Pretender" in 1995, and their self-titled album the following year. It was during his time in 60 Cycle that Van Leeuwen met Kellii Scott, and the two started working on a project (later to be known as [[Enemy (American band)|Enemy]]). Van Leeuwen went on to tour with [[Failure (band)|Failure]] in support of their third album, ''[[Fantastic_Planet_(Failure_album)|Fantastic Planet]]''. The band released three records in the early to late 90s and didn't enjoy much commercial success, but they were praised by critics as a talented and almost revolutionary group (they later re-formed in 2014 without Troy).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/story.html |title=Biography |publisher=Margo.student.utwente.nl |access-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730124849/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was during a tour with Failure when Van Leeuwen met former [[Kyuss]] guitarist [[Josh Homme]], who was presently playing rhythm guitar with [[The Screaming Trees]]. After the late-90s hiatus of Failure, Van Leeuwen became a [[session musician]] and [[recording engineer]], working with groups such as [[Orgy (band)|Orgy]], [[Crazy Town]], [[Coal Chamber]] and [[KoRn]].

===A Perfect Circle===
It was during his time as a session musician that Van Leeuwen met [[Tool (band)|Tool]] frontman [[Maynard James Keenan]], who offered him a spot in his and [[Billy Howerdel]]'s new band, [[A Perfect Circle]]. The band played their first show at LA's Viper Club Reception on August 15, 1999. After playing shows in Los Angeles, the band entered the studio to begin work on their debut album, ''[[Mer de Noms]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last= McIver |first= Joel |title= Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk |publisher= Omnibus Press |year= 2002 |page=27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kielty |first=Tom |title=New on disc; A Perfect Circle Mer de Noms Virgin |date=June 22, 2000 |work=[[Boston Globe]] |page=Calendar; 8 }}</ref> The album was released on May 23, 2000, making it the highest ever debut for a new rock band, selling over 188,000 copies in its first week, and appearing at number four on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="perfect chart">{{cite web |title=A Perfect Circle Storms Onto Chart with Highest Debuting First Album Ever From a Rock Band |publisher=NY Rock |date=June 2, 2000 |url=http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/06_2000/060200.asp |access-date=September 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708222440/http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/06_2000/060200.asp |archive-date=July 8, 2008 }}</ref> Van Leeuwen toured extensively with the band, initially as the opening act for [[Nine Inch Nails]], followed a number of headlining tours around the world.<ref>{{cite web |last= Zahlaway |first= Jon |title= A Perfect Circle lines up winter headlining tour |publisher= LiveDaily |date=December 8, 2000 |url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/2305.html |access-date= March 29, 2008}}</ref> Van Leeuwen recorded guitar parts on only three tracks of [[A Perfect Circle]]'s second album, ''[[Thirteenth Step]]'', before successfully auditioning for a spot in Josh Homme's [[Queens of the Stone Age]].

===Queens of the Stone Age===
After outperforming [[Jeordie White]] and others in the audition, Van Leeuwen was welcomed as the band's second guitarist for their ''[[Songs for the Deaf]]'' tour. Besides playing guitar, Van Leeuwen also performed on [[lap steel guitar]], keyboards, backing vocals and occasionally bass guitar. Due to the band's schedule, Van Leeuwen had only one week to learn 30 songs before the tour began. For the European leg of the album's supporting tour, [[Dave Grohl]] left to return to his main band [[Foo Fighters (band)|Foo Fighters]]. He was replaced with former [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]] drummer [[Joey Castillo]]. ''Songs for the Deaf'' was a critical and commercial success,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/q/queens_of_the_stoneage/news_feature_032805 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050328170858/http://www.mtv.com/bands/q/queens_of_the_stoneage/news_feature_032805/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2005 |title=Queens of the Stone Age: A Stone Unturned |publisher=MTV |date=March 9, 2006 |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> and the singles "[[No One Knows]]" and "[[Go with the Flow]]" became hits on both radio and [[MTV]]. The tour culminated in a number of headline dates in Australia in January 2004.

Van Leeuwen's first recording with QOTSA was ''[[Lullabies to Paralyze]]''. The band entered the studio with [[Queens of the Stone Age contributors|long-time collaborator]] and multi-instrumentalist [[Alain Johannes]], who replaced Nick Oliveri on the album. Van Leeuwen aimed to fill in some of the gaps in the music where he felt the sound could be expanded through atmospheric and ambient textures made by guitar, lap steel and piano.<ref name= M.E./> The album (the title of which is taken from a lyric in ''Mosquito Song'' from Songs for the Deaf)<ref name="Vertigo">{{cite news | url=http://www.vertigo.fm/main.php?site=artist_texte&artist_id=1639 | publisher=Vertigo | title=Queens of the Stone Age Interview | access-date=May 9, 2007 | archive-date=July 21, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721121411/http://www.vertigo.fm/main.php?site=artist_texte&artist_id=1639 | url-status=dead }}</ref> featured several guest appearances, most notably [[ZZ Top]]'s [[Billy Gibbons]], who performed backing vocals and lead guitar on "[[Burn the Witch (Queens of the Stone Age song)|Burn the Witch]]" and the ZZ Top cover, "Precious and Grace". Despite reportedly turning down an invitation to remain with the band, [[Mark Lanegan]] recorded vocals on new tracks, and appeared with the band on the supporting tour when scheduling and his health permitted. The album was leaked onto the internet in February 2005, and was aired by Australian radio on March 3, 2005, as an unsubstantiated 'World Premiere'. The album was then officially released on March 22, 2005, in the US, and debuted as number 5 on the [[Billboard Music Chart]]: the greatest initial success of any QOTSA record to date. On November 22, 2005, the band released a live album/DVD set called ''[[Over the Years and Through the Woods]]'', which featured a live concert filmed in London, and bonus features (including rare videos dating from 1998 to 2005).

After touring to support the album, the band headed back into the studio in July 2006. A year later, Van Leeuwen reported that the band had written new material that was "still in its infancy",<ref name="nme.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/queens-of-the-stone-age/29795 |title=Queens of the Stone Age discuss Duluth tour |format=article |work=[[NME]] |access-date=July 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307051237/http://www.nme.com/news/queens-of-the-stone-age/29795 |archive-date=March 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which Homme later suggested might be released as an [[Extended play|EP]]. This matured into their 2007 release ''Era Vulgaris'', to which Van Leeuwen contributed a significant amount of material.

[[File:Troy+Van+Leeuwen.jpg|thumb|Van Leeuwen performing with [[Queens of the Stone Age]] in 2007]]

Several sites reported that the album would include many guest vocalists, including [[Trent Reznor]] from [[Nine Inch Nails]], [[Julian Casablancas]] from [[The Strokes]], [[Mark Lanegan]], [[Billy Gibbons]] of [[ZZ Top]],<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.spin.com/features/news/2007/02/070223_qotsa/ | magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin.com]] | title=Casablancas, Reznor Rumored Guests on QOTSA Album | date=February 23, 2007 | access-date=May 9, 2007}}</ref> and wittingly, deceased humorist [[Erma Bombeck]].<ref name="ultimate-guitar">{{cite web
| url =http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/video_news/queens_of_the_stone_age_will_not_settle_down_except_for_fans.html
| title =Queens of the Stone Age Will Not Settle Down, Except For Fans
| publisher =[[Ultimate Guitar Archive|Ultimate-guitar.com]]
| access-date =May 9, 2007
}}</ref> Josh Homme described the record as "dark, hard, and electrical, sort of like a construction worker".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rekordsrekords.com/asktheband/100406/newrecord.mov | publisher=qotsa.com | title=Ask the Band | date=November 4, 2006 | access-date=May 9, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070205175824/http://www.rekordsrekords.com/asktheband/100406/newrecord.mov <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = February 5, 2007}}</ref> ''Era Vulgaris'' was completed in early April 2007<ref name="smokingsection">{{cite magazine |url = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/06/strokes-qotsa-foofighters-marilynmanson-rogerwaters/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070614012331/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/06/strokes-qotsa-foofighters-marilynmanson-rogerwaters/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = June 14, 2007 |title = Smoking Section: Playing poker with the Strokes, Foo Fighters album news, Marilyn Manson's "dirty" film, Roger Waters calls from the road |author = Scaggs, Austin |date = April 6, 2007 |magazine = Rolling Stone |access-date = April 10, 2007}}</ref> and released in June 2007 in the US<ref name="official">{{cite web |url = http://www.qotsa.com/ |title = Queens of the Stone Age official website  |year = 2007 |access-date = April 10, 2007}}</ref> The tracks "[[Sick, Sick, Sick]]" and "[[3's & 7's]]" were released as singles in early June.<ref name="uncut artwork">{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/uncut/news/9737 
 |title=Queens of the Stone age unveil new album artwork 
 |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut.com]] 
 |access-date=July 14, 2007 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528083532/http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/uncut/news/9737 
 |archive-date=May 28, 2007 }}
</ref> Bassist [[Michael Shuman]] ([[Wires on Fire]], [[Jubilee (band)|Jubilee]]) and keyboardist [[Dean Fertita]] ([[The Waxwings]], [[The Raconteurs]]) took over touring duties from [[Alain Johannes]] and [[Natasha Shneider]] respectively.<ref name="Uncut">{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/uncut/news/9737 
 |title=Queens of the Stone age unveil new album artwork 
 |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut.com]] 
 |access-date=May 9, 2007 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528083532/http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/uncut/news/9737 
 |archive-date=May 28, 2007 }}
</ref><ref name="blabbermouth">{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=71399
 |title       = QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Films 'Sick, Sick, Sick' Video
 |date        = April 28, 2007
|work   = [[Blabbermouth.net]]
 |access-date  = May 9, 2007
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070506035321/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=71399
 |archive-date = May 6, 2007
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>

Following a subsequent interview with Homme, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' reported that the EP "could contain as many as 10 B-sides recorded during the ''Era Vulgaris'' sessions."<ref name="globemail">{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070822.wqueens22/BNStory/Entertainment |title=Princes Charming – well, almost |format=interview |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826192819/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070822.wqueens22/BNStory/Entertainment |archive-date=August 26, 2007 }}</ref> It was since reported however that the EP would not be released due to the record label's unwillingness to put out another QOTSA release at this time.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047979/homme-itching-to-record-with-new-qotsa-lineup |title=Homme Itching To Record With New QOTSA Lineup |magazine=Billboard |date=October 18, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> In a September issue of [[NME]] Magazine, Homme stated that he was going back to make the new QOTSA and [[Desert Sessions]] records, along with remastering the 1998 (QOTSA) [[Queens of the Stone Age (album)|self-titled album]] for an early 2009 release. Homme also stated Queens' new album is going to be a "desert orgy in the dark".

In 2013, QOTSA released [[...Like Clockwork]], Van Leeuwen's third full album with the band. On the album, Van Leeuwen plays guitar, percussion, [[twelve-string guitar]], twelve-string [[slide guitar]], [[lap steel]], synthesizers, acoustic guitar and provides vocals. The album was the first QOTSA album to reach number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. It also reached number two on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and was nominated for three [[Grammy Awards]], including [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]].

===Other musical work===
In 2001, Van Leeuwen joined the [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[Revenge of the Triads]] with [[Nine Inch Nails]] keyboardist [[Charlie Clouser]] and [[Snake River Conspiracy]] bassist/producer [[Jason Slater]]. Van Leeuwen, who acted the band's main vocalist,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2002-05-06 |title=CC news |url=https://www.theninhotline.com/news/permalink/1020699802 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207081649/https://www.theninhotline.com/news/permalink/1020699802 |archive-date=2021-12-07 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=www.theninhotline.com}}</ref> described the band as a mixture of all three of the members influences, and stated that the band did not fit in any specific genre.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=What is Enemy? {{!}} Interview |url=http://www.enemyonline.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020720052247/http://www.enemyonline.com/ |archive-date=2002-07-20 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=enemyonline |type=[[Adobe Flash]] emulator required}}</ref> The band was signed to LMC Records, an independent label distributed by [[MCA Records]], and worked on a debut album before breaking up almost exactly a year later due to problems with LMC not paying the band and the members' losing interest in the project. The album remains unfinished and unreleased.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2002-12-16 |title=REVENGE OF THE TRIADS Cease To Exist |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/revenge-of-the-triads-cease-to-exist/ |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref>

In 2005, Van Leeuwen released ''[[Hooray For Dark Matter]]'' with his side project [[Enemy (American band)|Enemy]]. The album features bassist Eddie Nappi from the [[Mark Lanegan Band]], and his former bandmate from [[Failure (band)|Failure]] Kelli Scott on drums (who had replaced [[Quicksand (band)|Quicksand]]'s Alan Cage). Van Leeuwen describes Enemy as his "big, dumb rock trio",<ref name="last.fm wiki">{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/Enemy/+wiki |title=Enemy's Biography – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at |publisher=Last.fm |date=November 26, 2013 |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> and "a vehicle driven by pure and utter disgust of mediocrity and general frustration with the human condition". During Van Leeuwen's time with A Perfect Circle, Enemy recorded a five track demo in what he called "Guerilla-style recording" at various studios.<ref name="vh1">[http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1374470/20001127/perfect_circle.jhtml] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228124909/http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1374470/20001127/perfect_circle.jhtml|date=February 28, 2008}}</ref> The band (unusually) offered to be signed by a record label by advertising for the princely sum of $250,000 on [[eBay]].<ref name="vh1" /> Enemy was ultimately signed by [[The Control Group|Control Group/TCG]], who released their debut album. After joining the Queens of the Stone Age, Van Leeuwen has also contributed music to band members' various side projects: such as [[The Desert Sessions]], [[Mondo Generator]], [[David Catching]] solo album SHARED HALLUCINATIONS]], [[Eagles of Death Metal]], [[The Gutter Twins]] and [[Mark Lanegan]]'s solo album ''[[Bubblegum (Mark Lanegan album)|Bubblegum]]''. After the ''Era Vulgaris'' tour's end, Van Leeuwen began touring with his current side project, [[Sweethead]].

In 2016, Van Leeuwen toured with [[Iggy Pop]], [[Josh Homme]], [[Matt Helders]] and [[Matt Sweeney]] in support of their album ''[[Post Pop Depression]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/arts/music/iggy-pop-josh-homme-post-pop-depression.html|title=Iggy Pop and Josh Homme Team Up for Secret Album|date=January 24, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> He also formed [[Gone Is Gone]], a [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] also consisting of [[Troy Sanders]], the singer and bass player from [[Mastodon (band)|Mastodon]], [[Tony Hajjar]], the drummer for [[At the Drive-In]], and Mike Zarin,<ref>Reed, Ryan. (April 13, 2016) [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mastodon-at-the-drive-in-qotsa-members-form-supergroup-gone-is-gone-20160413 Mastodon, At the Drive-In, QOTSA Members Form New Band Gone Is Gone]. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on January 17, 2017.</ref> a multi-instrumentalist who appeared with Van Leeuwen on Sweethead's ''[[Descent To The Surface]]''. An [[extended play|EP]] wwa released in the summer of 2016, and the band released a studio [[album]] early the next year.<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/news/64785-mastodon-queens-of-the-stone-age-at-the-drive-in-members-form-supergroup-gone-is-gone-tease-new-song-violescent-listen/ Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, At the Drive-In Members Form Supergroup Gone is Gone, Tease New Song "Violescent": Listen]. Pitchfork (April 13, 2016). Retrieved on January 17, 2017.</ref> In 2017, he contributed guitar parts to [[Chelsea Wolfe]]'s fifth studio album, [[Hiss Spun]]. In 2021, he was a guest musician on the album ''[[Ultrapop]]'' by the Detroit hardcore collective [[The Armed]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210621192954/https://newnoisemagazine.com/interview-guitarist-troy-van-leeuwen-talks-his-guest-appearance-on-the-armeds-ultrapop/ Interview: Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen Talks His Guest Appearance on The Armed’s ‘ULTRAPOP’]. New Noise Magazine (June 21, 2021). Retrieved on March 9, 2024.</ref> and appeared again on their 2023 album ''[[Perfect Saviors]]'' and also performing some shows like adult swim festival.

In 2022, Van Leeuwen took on touring guitarist duties for [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]] on the US dates of their tour, temporarily replacing [[Captain Sensible]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/77237/captain-sensible-will-not-be-on-upcoming-damned-us-tour|title=Captain Sensible will not be on upcoming Damned US tour|website=PunkNews.org|access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref> Later that year, he served as the touring guitarist for [[alternative rock]] band [[Jane's Addiction]] while longtime member [[Dave Navarro]] was ill with [[long COVID]].<ref name="StereogumNavarro">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2201272/dave-navarro-skipping-janes-addiction-smashing-pumpkins-tour-due-to-long-covid/news/|title=Dave Navarro Skipping Jane's Addiction/Smashing Pumpkins Tour Due To Long COVID |work=[[Stereogum]]|last=Brodsky |first=Rachel |date=September 29, 2022|access-date=September 30, 2022}}</ref>

==Musical equipment==
According to Van Leeuwen, [[Queens of the Stone Age]] (and Homme in particular) have a "veil of secrecy" regarding their exact setup, in order to maintain a unique guitar sound. However, over time Van Leeuwen eventually disclosed some information regarding his gear. When he first joined the band in 2002 for the ''Songs for the Deaf'' promotional tour, he leaned toward duplicating Josh Homme's setup, favoring [[Ampeg]] guitar combos and specific pedals. All of his guitars were fitted with a variety of [[Seymour Duncan]] pickups,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seymourduncan.com/artists/our_artists/94 |title=Michael Wilton Artist Profile – Seymour Duncan/Basslines |publisher=Seymourduncan.com |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> most often Customs or JB. During the ''Lullabies to Paralyze'' period, both Homme and Van Leeuwen favored semi-hollow guitars with [[P-90]] pickups due to their natural resonance. To prohibit "bad feedback", he stuffed pieces of foam into the F-holes of some. On ''Era Vulgaris'' he switched to Fender Telecasters and Jaguars, recorded through small, cheap amps. His guitars are tuned in standard 440, mostly [[Guitar tunings|E]], and [[C tuning (guitar)|C]], though one-off tunings have appeared on a few songs.
He is a steady user of Mastery Bridges, utilizing their Offset and Tele models in addition to the Offset Vibrato. Troy has also said that his live rig is considerably different than what he uses during recording, due to the fact that he considers most of his vintage equipment too unreliable for touring.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seymourduncan.com/artists/interviews/troy_van_leeuwe/ |title=Troy Van Leeuwen &#124; Seymour Duncan Blog |publisher=Seymourduncan.com |date=May 9, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719102442/http://www.seymourduncan.com/artists/interviews/troy_van_leeuwe/ |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref> He uses custom gauge [[Jim Dunlop|Dunlop]] 11's for standard tuning and 12's for lower tunings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.f-p-e.com/interviews/interview.php?id=3 |title=f-p-e.com |publisher=f-p-e.com |access-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301060324/http://www.f-p-e.com/interviews/interview.php?id=3 |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Van Leeuwen uses Silver Hercos .75mm picks, the same picks [[Jimmy Page]] uses, and got a signature version of them in early 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BQOxg86BqVR/  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BQOxg86BqVR |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=troyvanleeuwen on Instagram: "Just got these." |publisher=Instagram |access-date=February 10, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Other instruments===

In addition to guitar and lap steel, Troy has also played a [[Clavia]] [[Clavia Nord Electro 2|Nord Electro]] keyboard and later a [[Moog synthesizer|Moog Little Phattie]] synthesizer during live performances and recordings. After [[Nick Oliveri]]'s departure from the band, Troy also played an [[Epiphone|Epiphone Rivoli]] bass or a [[List of Yamaha Products|Custom Yamaha SA-bass]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yamaha.com/Artists/ArtistDetail/0,,CNTID%25253D33765%252526CTID%25253D501400%252526CNTYP%25253DARTIST,00.html |title=Troy van Leeuwen |access-date=December 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201171228/http://www.yamaha.com/Artists/ArtistDetail/0,,CNTID%25253D33765%252526CTID%25253D501400%252526CNTYP%25253DARTIST,00.html |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}</ref> during several Queens of the Stone Age recordings and the tour following ''[[Lullabies to Paralyze]]'', sharing bass playing duties with [[Alain Johannes]], as well as using a blue 1967 [[Mosrite]] [[The Ventures|Ventures]] bass in the "[[Little Sister (Queens of the Stone Age song)|Little Sister]]" video. Following ''Era Vulgaris'' in which bassist [[Michael Shuman]] and keyboardist/guitarist [[Dean Fertita]] were hired, Troy went back to being primarily the lead guitarist live—although he also occasionally contributes with synths, lap steel, and back up vocals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qotsa.com/digibooklet/ |title=QOTSA Digi Booklet |access-date=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504143941/http://www.qotsa.com:80/digibooklet/ |archive-date=May 4, 2010 }}</ref>

==Selected discography==
{{see also|A Perfect Circle discography|Queens of the Stone Age discography}}
Van Leeuwen has appeared on a wide range of albums from various bands and performers from many genres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/troy-van-leeuwen-mn0000021930/credits |title=Troy Van Leeuwen &#124; Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/discography.html |title=Discography |publisher=Margo.student.utwente.nl |access-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730124436/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/discography.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Band or artist
! Song or album
! Credits
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 1986
| Jester
| ''Jester''
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 1995
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|60 Cycle
| ''Pretender''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 1996
| ''60 Cycle''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 1998
| [[Korn]]
| ''[[Freak on a Leash]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Engineer
|-
| [[Orgy (band)|Orgy]]
| ''[[Candyass]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 1999
| [[Coal Chamber]]
| ''[[Chamber Music (Coal Chamber album)|Chamber Music]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Keyboards, technical assistant
|-
| [[Crazy Town]]
| ''[[The Gift of Game]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Additional guitar, programming assistant
|-
| [[Deadsy]]
| ''[[Commencement (album)|Commencement]]''
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="6"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 2000
| [[Professional Murder Music]]
| ''[[Professional Murder Music (album)|Professional Murder Music]]''
|-
| [[A Perfect Circle]]
| ''[[Mer de Noms]]''
|-
| Orgy
| ''[[Vapor Transmission]]''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"| 2003
| [[UNKLE]]
| ''[[Never, Never, Land]]''
|-
| A Perfect Circle
| ''[[Thirteenth Step]]''
|-
| [[Slaves on Dope]]
| ''[[Metafour]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Production
|-
| [[Mondo Generator]]
| ''[[A Drug Problem That Never Existed]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Additional performer
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| [[The Desert Sessions]]
| ''[[The Desert Sessions, volume 9: I See You Hearin' Me|Vol 9: I See You Hearin' Me]]''
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Guitar, lap steel, bass
|-
| ''[[The Desert Sessions, volume 10: I Heart Disco|Vol 10: I Heart Disco]]''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 2004
| [[Failure (band)|Failure]]
| ''Golden''
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Guitar
|-
| A Perfect Circle
| ''[[aMotion]]''
|-
| Orgy
| ''[[Punk Statik Paranoia]]''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| 2005
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| [[Queens of the Stone Age]]
| ''[[Lullabies to Paralyze]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar, bass, lap steel, piano, keyboards, handclaps, vocals
|-
| ''[[Over The Years And Through The Woods]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar, lap steel, bass, vocals
|-
| [[Mark Lanegan Band]]
| ''[[Bubblegum (Mark Lanegan album)|Bubblegum]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar, piano
|-
| [[Enemy (American band)|Enemy]]
| ''[[Hooray For Dark Matter]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Vocals, guitar, mixing, production
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 2006
| Failure
| ''Essentials''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| J-AX
| ''Di Sana Pianta''
| style="text-align:left;"| Chitarrone
|-
| [[Eagles of Death Metal]]
| ''[[Death by Sexy]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Performer, piano, backing vocals
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007
| Queens of the Stone Age
| ''[[Era Vulgaris (album)|Era Vulgaris]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar, bass, lap steel, piano, keyboard, vocals
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 2008
| Eagles of Death Metal
| ''[[Heart On]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Vocals
|-
| [[The Gutter Twins]]
| ''[[Saturnalia (The Gutter Twins album)|Saturnalia]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 2009
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|[[Sweethead]]
| ''[[The Great Disruptors]]''
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Guitar, bass, backing vocals, production, mixing
|-
| ''[[Sweethead (album)|Sweethead]]''
|-
| Hello=Fire
| ''[[Hello=Fire]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Bass
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2012
| [[Robbie Williams]]
| ''[[Take the Crown (album)|Take The Crown]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Lead guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| Queens of the Stone Age
| ''[[...Like Clockwork|Like Clockwork]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar, backing vocals, percussion, keyboard, lap steel
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2015
| Failure
| ''[[The Heart Is a Monster]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Additional Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| [[Gone Is Gone]]
| ''Gone Is Gone''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| Sweethead
| ''[[Descent to the Surface]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar, bass, backing vocals, production, mixing
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| [[Iggy Pop]]
| ''Post Pop Depression – Live at the Royal Albert Hall''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
| [[Chelsea Wolfe]]
| ''[[Hiss Spun]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
| Gone Is Gone
| ''Echolocation''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
| Queens of the Stone Age
| ''[[Villains (Queens of the Stone Age album)|Villains]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2020
| Gone Is Gone
| ''[[If Everything Happens for a Reason... Then Nothing Really Matters at All]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Guitar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2023
| Queens of the Stone Age
| ''[[In Times New Roman...]]''
| style="text-align:left;"| Performance
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* [http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/ Mister Enemy – Troy Van Leeuwen fansite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604175556/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/cees/misterenemy/ |date=June 4, 2007 }}
* [http://www.qotsa.com/ Official Queens of the Stone Age Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/enemymusic Official Enemy MySpace]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=[[Multi-instrumentalist|Multi-instrumentalist for Queens of the Stone Age]]|before=[[Brendon McNichol]]|after=Incumbent|years=2002–present}}
{{succession box| title=Rhythm guitarist for A Perfect Circle| before=''no one''| after=[[Danny Lohner]]| years=1999–2003}}
{{s-end}}
{{Queens of the Stone Age}}
{{Eagles of Death Metal}}
{{The Desert Sessions}}
{{A Perfect Circle}}
{{Sweethead}}
{{Failure (band)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Leeuwen, Troy}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:American multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American slide guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock keyboardists]]
[[Category:American percussionists]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:American alternative rock musicians]]
[[Category:American rock musicians]]
[[Category:Queens of the Stone Age members]]
[[Category:A Perfect Circle members]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Failure (band) members]]