Nick Oliveri, former bass player for Queens Of The Stone Age and Kyuss, if facing up to 15 years in jail after being arrested last month on firearms and drug possession offences. He’s been hit with four felony charges after police confirmed that in addition to finding a fully loaded rifle in his home, the substances they seized were tested and found to be cocaine and methamphetamines.
Oliveri, who Josh Homme revealed he had sacked from Queens of the Stone Age after confronting the bassist after hearing reports he had been engaged in domestic violence, had been involved in a tense standoff with police prior to the arrest, with his girlfriend alleging that he had hit her repetedly and was preventing her from leaving his house.
Oliveri has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer. If he is convicted on all four charges and the judge doesn’t happen to be a QOTSA fan, he’s looking at up to 15 years of picking up the soap in one of California’s overcrowded jails.
Oliveri is due to face court to answer the charges next month. Kyuss Lives! have had to replace Oliveri for some European festival shows with Scott Reeder, who was Oliveri’s replacement in Kyuss. If Oliveri is convicted Reeder’s position could well become permanent, although it is debatable as to whether Kyuss Lives! will continue playing live with Oliveri in jail.
