Ex-Queens of the Stone Age Member Hit With Charges After SWAT Standoff

Bassist for the SoCal rock band is in serious legal trouble after getting into a spat with his galpal

By Josh Grossberg Aug 15, 2011 4:17 PMTags
Nick Oliveri Jo Hale/Getty Images

Mr. "Sixth Shooter" has some serious 'splaining to do.

Nick Oliveri, the onetime bassist for Queens of the Stone Age, is facing a slew of charges resulting from last month's five-hour standoff with a Los Angeles police SWAT team after he allegedly prevented his estranged girlfriend from leaving their Los Angeles residence.

Let's just say it's too bad he didn't go with the flow.

The tense faceoff with LAPD occurred on July 12, after the 39-year-old Oliveri got into an altercation with the unnamed woman and wouldn't let her move out of their house. He allegedly threatened her and barricaded the two of them inside.

The rocker eventually let her go and negotiated his peaceful surrender. He was booked on felony domestic violence.

A search of the home turned up a cache of firearms, one of which was a fully loaded high-powered Ruger .223 caliber rifle, and—wait for it—cocaine and methamphetamines, per police.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office charged Oliveri on Aug. 3 with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer.

The goateed musician remains behind bars and bail has been set at $100,000.

If convicted of the charges, Oliveri could face up to 15 years in the Big House. An arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.