Queens of the Stone Age pay tribute to Natasha Shneider

Natasha Shneider was in a band with a friend of mine and I wanted to pass along my condolences about this wonderfully talented woman.

~ TROY

Queens of the Stone Age pay tribute to Natasha Shneider

Natasha Shneider was a multi-talented Russia-born musician known as the keyboardist/vocalist/bassist in the groundbreaking rock group Eleven. She, along with partner and band mate Alain Johannes, played in and toured with Queens of the Stone Age for 2005 release Lullabies to Paralyze. Shneider also had a major part on Chris Cornell's (Soundgarden) 1999 solo album, Euphoria Morning.

On Wednesday, July 2, the 52-year-old lost her battle with cancer.

Shneider also acted in two feature films, playing the roles of Russian cosmonaut Irina Yakunina in "2010" (1984), and former Polish exchange student Wanda Yakubovska in the film "Spiker" (1986), as well as minor roles in the TV shows "Miami Vice" and "Hill Street Blues." She also wrote and performed her own song, "Who's in Control", for the 2004 action film, "Catwoman" and contributed harpsichord to the 2008 "Louis XIV" track "Guilt By Association".

Former band mate and friend Troy Van Leeuwen (A Perfect Circle, QOTSA, Failure) said "She was a brilliant, beautiful, and ballsy woman who will be missed deeply by all those who knew her. Send your loving thoughts her way in the universe. "

From the Queens of the Stone Age website, "On July 2nd, at 11:11 AM, Natasha Shneider passed away. She ended her time in this Life with the style and poetry that she lived all the days previous, crossing over while held in the arms of her closest and dearest. No words can encapsulate the unwaivering strength she provided, adversities she overcome, the talents she possessed & nurtured, the sharpness of her wit nor the beautiful complexity of her intellect. We are so thankful for her influence & the gift of her friendship.

A celebration of Natasha Shneider will be held in Hollywood at the Henry Fonda Theatre on Saturday, August 16th. Further details will be released shortly. All proceeds of the benefit and donations made will go to the relieve the burden of Natasha's fight against cancer. To donate, go to NatashaShneider.org

Now is all we have. May you all make the most of it."

The Queens Of The Stone Age will be taking to the stage at The Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, CA on August 16th to pay tribute to former bandmate Natasha Shneider, who recently lost her battle with cancer. The one-time show will see the band run through a variety of material with the following special guests taking part:

PJ Harvey

Jack Black and Kyle Gass

Matt Cameron

Brody Dalle

Jesse Hughes

Billy F. Gibbons

Chris Goss

Alain Johannes

Proceeds from the event will go towards the medical expenses Shneider accumulated during her fight. More on the event can be found here.

http://www.natashashneider.org/