GLU’s Michael Shuman on new ‘Pony Boy EP’, album plans and why Queens Of A Stone Age won’t headline stadiums

Shuman, who also plays bass in QOTSA and is known to many as ‘Mikey Shoes’, launched solo project GLU in 2022 with the single ‘Cold Sweat’, after releasing three albums with LA psych-pop trio Mini Mansions.

He returns this week (August 14) with GLU’s third EP, ‘Pony Boy EP’, a four-track collection featuring singles in the form of the title track and ‘LA’, plus a cover of Jennifer Paige’s ‘Crush’.

Most of the original tracks were written as part of the first batch of songs Shuman wrote for the project four years ago, with final track ‘Bombs Below’ an unreleased track written for Mini Mansions.

Across the EP, Shuman dissects elements of “being in your own personal hell and how to get out of that”, and how being in that “claustrophobic” space can also sometimes be “really freeing”.

On the title track, a mix of grinding guitars and Shuman’s fast-paced rap, he explores having your privacy invaded. “Luckily, I’m not the face of a band, and I think that’s huge – that I get to be in Queens and not deal with the shit that Josh [Homme, frontman] has to deal with, because I do not envy him,” he said.

Perguntado sobre o que faria se a GLU realmente os levasse àqueles níveis de fama, ele respondeu: I do want this to be as successful as possible. I think I’ve learned enough.

I’m not a 23-year-old kid that got instant fame – that’s where it becomes an issue. Tradução: Perguntado sobre o que faria se a GLU realmente os levasse àqueles níveis de fama, ele respondeu: Quero que isso seja o mais bem-sucedido possível.

Acho que aprendi o suficiente. Não sou um garoto de 23 anos que alcançou fama instantânea – é aí que isso se torna um problema.

Speaking about the dichotomy between ‘Pony Boy’ and ‘LA’, he added: “They’re two different perspectives at two different times. It’s almost like you’re dreaming and then all of a sudden a nightmare comes in, and that’s where ‘Pony Boy’ begins.

This carefree life you’re living in LA can get shifted real quickly and get a lot more neurotic and paranoid feeling.”.

Josh Homme and Mikey Shoes of Queens Of The Stone Age at Dolby Theater, November 2025 (Photo by Harmony Gerber/Getty Images).

A Jennifer Paige song might not be the first track you’d expect Shuman to cover, given his work over the years, but he explained that he prefers to rework songs that aren’t in his typical wheelhouse.

Shuman showcased the new EP on a short UK and European tour last month, following QOTSA’s stadium dates supporting System Of A Down. Ahead of his headline gig at London’s The Lower Third, he reflected on his solo project’s latest run, calling it “the best shows I’ve had so far” – something he attributed to “people now knowing the songs and singing along”.

A última turnê de Shuman com o GLU começou apenas dias após a turnê do QOTSA com o SOAD terminar, e ele descreveu a contraste no tamanho dos locais em que estava tocando como "uma viagem, mas divertido.

Há uma desconexão tão grande em um estádio - não gostamos de tocar em estádios", admitiu. "Não é o que gostaríamos de fazer se fôssemos tão grandes quanto o System.

Já conversamos sobre isso e não faríamos. Então é uma coisa estranha.

Despite his profile in QOTSA, Shuman also recognises that, as GLU, he’s “a new fucking artist”.

Josh Homme and Michael Shuman of Queens of the Stone Age perform onstage during a 51st season taping of Austin City Limits (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images).

As an artist who grew up in DIY and punk spaces prior to joining Queens Of The Stone Age, he added, he “always expected to just be touring in a van and sleeping on floors”.

Além do ‘Pony Boy EP’, Shuman compartilhou que tem trabalhado no álbum de estreia da GLU. Eu tenho 30 músicas no banco, e eu só preciso escolher e ir em frente, disse ele.

Essa é a minha meta, e eu quero garantir que esteja no próximo nível em relação a esses EPs.

GLU’s ‘Pony Boy EP’ is out on August 14 via FLG.

Phoebe Bridgers – ‘Lost Weekend’ review: indie’s poet laureate returns with a staggering, strange and stirring opus.

This Is Lorelei was only meant to be a side project. It’s made Nate Amos an indie darling.

Nate Sib is finding peace and purpose in his pop mission.

A história amaldiçoada de 'The Wicker Man' tem um novo capítulo trágico.

Meet KatzPascale, the chamber music duo putting audiences in a trance.

Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform with Deep Purple for first time in 33 years.

Check out Kathleen Hanna and Ad-Rock’s breezy cover of Justin Bieber’s ‘Let Me Love You’ for ICE OUT benefit album.

Mani’s family say tribute gigs without consent are “incredibly upsetting and disrespectful”.

Royal Blood anuncia novo álbum ‘Dead Company’ com o novo single contundente ‘Ten Over Ten’.

Astrophysicist Brian May shares advice for viewing the solar eclipse.

Brian May badly recreates iconic Queen album cover to prove dangers of AI: “So this is the kind of intelligence that will soon be.