Formed in Palm Desert, California in 1998, Eagles of Death Metal carved out a unique and enduring niche in American rock with a sound built on swaggering grooves, boogie-rock riffs, and a palpable sense of fun. The brainchild of lifelong friends Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes and Josh Homme, the band's deliberately misleading name served as an early indicator of their humorous, genre-defying approach. Despite the "Death Metal" moniker, their music leaned heavily into a stripped-down, riff-centric style that Josh Homme once famously described as "bluegrass slide guitar mixed with stripper drum beats and Canned Heat vocals."

The duo's partnership defined the band's core, with Hughes serving as the charismatic frontman and guitarist, and Homme, primarily known as the leader of Queens of the Stone Age, acting as co-writer and frequent drummer on their studio recordings. Their debut album, Peace, Love, Death Metal, arrived in 2004 and immediately established their signature blend of garage rock energy and tongue-in-cheek lyrical charm. This was followed by Death by Sexy in 2006, which expanded their audience and solidified their reputation for raucous, danceable rock anthems. Their music found placements in various films and commercials, further amplifying their profile.

A significant and tragic event marked a profound chapter in the band's history. On November 13, 2015, Eagles of Death Metal were performing at the Bataclan theatre in Paris as part of the coordinated terrorist attacks across the city. The band members survived, but 89 people lost their lives at the venue. In the aftermath, Hughes and Homme were vocal about the experience, and the global music community rallied around them, with artists like U2 and Dave Grohl offering immediate support. The band documented this period in the 2017 HBO documentary "Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends)".

Throughout their career, Eagles of Death Metal has operated with Hughes as the constant onstage presence, while Homme's involvement has been largely confined to the studio due to his commitments with Queens of the Stone Age. The touring lineup has featured a rotating cast of musicians, with recent members including drummer Leah Bluestein, guitarist Scott Shiflett, bassist Jennie Vee, and guitarist Rex Roulette. They have released three additional studio albums: Heart On (2008), Zipper Down (2015), and EODM Presents Boots Electric Performing the Best Songs We Never Wrote (2019), a covers album. The band remains a celebrated live act, known for Hughes's energetic and engaging performances that directly connect with audiences, upholding the spirit of rock and roll camaraderie that has always been at their heart.