OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the response rate, duration of response, and survival in patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with cetuximab and cisplatin after failure of an initial cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimen. II. Determine the efficacy, safety, and toxicity of this regimen in these patients. III. Assess the quality of life of patients treated with this regimen.