Two rock legends from Failure. One triumphant reunion.
May 04, 2026
Meet Troy Van Leeuwen and Kellii Scott.
Guitarist Troy and drummer Kellii met back in the ‘90s playing with SoCal band 60s Cycle. After the release of debut album Pretender and a self-titled follow-up LP, these two began to master their collective power pop punk sound and crush audiences with their electrifying live performances.
Fail harder.
The bond Troy and Kellii created in 60s Cycle propelled them into a new direction with Failure. Graduating from frenetic power punk, the two honed a more atmospheric, post-grunge or
“space-grunge” sound. And just as immersive as their new sound was their connection. The duo collaborated from ‘96 to ‘97, with Troy on guitar and Kellii on drums for the Fantastic Planet tour, then came back together with Failure from 2014 to 2015.
An audience with the Queens.
Die hard rockers will recognize Kellii from Failure, for sure. But legions of fans will know Troy from another little band called Queens of the Stone Age. He joined in 2002 for the Songs for the Deaf album and has contributed to every album since, from Lullabies to Paralyze in 2005 all the way through to In Times New Roman.
Two renowned names. One undisclosed location.
In the latest Cardboard Sessions, witness the reunion of these two seminal rock gods in a super secret mountain studio. In this private setting, reunited for the first time in 11 years, it’s as if they’d just played a show last night. It’s Troy on our cardboard hollow body jazz acoustic crafted by master builder Gabriel Curry from Echopark Guitars in Detroit. And it’s Kelli on another masterful creation: the cardboard drum kit from Masters of Maple in LA. And it’s raw, loud and alive. And we invite you to experience how the heavy, fuzzy, desert rock of QOTSA meets the atmospheric sound of Failure. Enjoy.
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