Kyuss
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Kyuss | ||
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Kyuss circa 1994, pictured are Scott Reeder, Alfredo Hernandez, John Garcia and Josh Homme from left to right.
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Background information | ||
Origin | California, USA | |
Genre(s) | Stoner rock Desert rock |
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Years active | 1989 – 1995 | |
Label(s) | Dali (1991-1993) Elektra (1993-1995) |
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Associated acts |
Queens of the Stone Age, Hermano, Fu Manchu, Unida | |
Members | ||
John Garcia Josh Homme Alfredo Hernandez Scott Reeder |
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Former members | ||
Brant Bjork Nick Oliveri Chris Cockrell |
- This article is about the band. For the fictional deity, see Kyuss (Greyhawk)
Kyuss (pronounced ['kaɪ.əs]) was an influential stoner rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. They originally started in 1989 under the name Sons of Kyuss. After releasing only one album, the band changed their name to simply "Kyuss" and released four full-length albums before splitting up in 1995. Since then, members of Kyuss went on to form or feature in several notable bands including Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu and Hermano.
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[edit] History
[edit] As Sons of Kyuss
The band was originally formed in 1989 under the name Sons of Kyuss until the release of their first album, when the band released the rare self-titled EP Sons of Kyuss, still with Chris Cockrell on bass locally in 1990. The name Sons of Kyuss was taken from a creature found in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, and shortened to "Kyuss" with a slightly different lineup later in that year.
[edit] Recording as Kyuss
Kyuss' first line-up consisted of John Garcia (vocals), Joshua Homme (guitar), Nick Oliveri (bass guitar) and Brant Bjork (drums). This lineup released their debut album, Wretch in 1991 on Dali Records, but sales were sluggish even as their live shows gained fame. They performed all around southern California, frequently at parties in the desert which were referred to as "generator parties" because of the use of gasoline-powered generators to provide electricity for the equipment. Then, Josh Homme gained a reputation for playing electric guitars through bass guitar amplifiers to create a bass-heavy sound. Many would not consider them as just another rock/metal act due to Joshua Homme’s guitar talent and the more psychedelic sound that he could lay down.
Chris Goss produced their next album, Blues for the Red Sun (named after episode five of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, entitled "Blues for a Red Planet"), a critically hailed album that earned the band many accolades. In the end of 1993 they managed to get a spot on tour with Metallica in Australia.
[edit] The Elektra years and break up
After recording Blues For The Red Sun Nick Oliveri left the band and was replaced by Scott Reeder. The band then signed with Elektra Records and released Welcome to Sky Valley in 1994. The album received critical acclaim but personal problems soon tore the group apart. Brant Bjork left following a brief tour of the album and was replaced by Alfredo Hernandez. In July 1995, they released their fourth and final album, ...And the Circus Leaves Town. The group disbanded in October of that year.
[edit] Post-break up
Homme and Hernandez joined up again to form Queens of the Stone Age (later recruiting Oliveri for bass duties), while Garcia has had several post-Kyuss projects, including Unida, Hermano and Slo Burn, and is now working on a solo album [1]. Hernandez later played with Fatso Jetson, Che and Yawning Man, whilst Chris Cockrell later fronted Vic du Monte's Idiot Prayer.
In 1997, a transitional split EP featuring three Kyuss songs (all written by Homme except a cover of Black Sabbath's "Into the Void") and three Queens Of The Stone Age songs were released. In 2000, a compilation album called "Muchas Gracias: The Best of Kyuss" was released. The album was a collection of the band's most important singles, B-sides and 4 songs recorded live in 1994 at the Marquee Club in St. Pauli, Germany.
[edit] Future of the band
The future of the Kyuss remains uncertain, as all members of the band are still concentrating on their own projects. Homme is still in Queens of the Stone Age, Garcia is currently wrapping up an album with his new project "Garcia Vs Garcia" and Oliveri is still in Mondo Generator.
In late 2004, on the message board of QOTSA.com, a Kyuss fan asked about the possibility of a reunion. Homme replied that this was unlikely to happen in the near future. However, on December 20, 2005, Garcia made a guest appearance onstage with Queens of the Stone Age during the encore of their set at the Wiltern LG in Los Angeles. They performed three Kyuss songs together: "Thumb", "Hurricane" and "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop". [2]
[edit] Members
Dates & releases | Members & prominent instruments | Notes |
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1989-1991 Sons of Kyuss and Wretch (sessions only) |
The band was known as "Sons of Kyuss" at this time. |
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1991-1993 Wretch and Blues for the Red Sun |
First line-up as "Kyuss". |
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1993-1994 Welcome to Sky Valley |
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1994-1995 ...And the Circus Leaves Town |
Last line-up before disbanding. |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
Album Cover | Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
1990 | Sons of Kyuss | Black Highway | Self-released album and recorded and released under the name Sons of Kyuss. | |
1991 | Wretch | Dali Records | Official debut album as Kyuss; debut release on Dali Records and with bassist Nick Oliveri, though also features original bassist Chris Cockrell. | |
June 30, 1992 | Blues for the Red Sun | Dali Records | Final release on Dali Records and with bassist Nick Oliveri. | |
June 28, 1994 | (Welcome to) Sky Valley | Elektra Records | Debut release on Elektra Records; first release with bassist Scott Reeder and final release with drummer Brant Bjork. | |
July 11, 1995 | ...And the Circus Leaves Town | Elektra Records | Final album; first release with Alfredo Hernandez. |
[edit] Compilations and Split Releases
Album Cover | Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
1996 | Shine! | Bong Load Records | Split 7" release with Wool, released post-breakup. | |
1997 | Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age | Man's Ruin Records | Split release with Queens of the Stone Age. | |
2000 | Muchas Gracias: The Best of Kyuss | Man's Ruin Records | Compilation of live tracks and B-sides. |
[edit] Singles
Year | Title | Album |
1992 | "Thong Song" | Blues for the Red Sun |
1992 | "Green Machine" | Blues for the Red Sun |
1994 | "Demon Cleaner" | (Welcome to) Sky Valley |
1994 | "Gardenia" | (Welcome to) Sky Valley |
1994 | "Part III: Odyssey/Conan Troutman/N.O./Whitewater" | (Welcome to) Sky Valley |
1995 | "One Inch Man" | ...And the Circus Leaves Town |
[edit] Music Videos
- "Thong Song" - 1992
- "Green Machine" - 1992
- "Demon Cleaner" - 1994
- "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop" - 1995
- "One Inch Man" - 1995
[edit] Samples
- "Thee Ol' Boozeroony" (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Sample of "Thee Ol' Boozeroony", from ...And_the_Circus_Leaves_Town.
- Problems playing the files? See media help.
[edit] References
Kyuss |
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John Garcia | Josh Homme |
Bass: Chris Cockrell | Nick Oliveri | Scott Reeder |
Drums: Alfredo Hernandez | Brant Bjork |
Discography |
Studio albums: Sons of Kyuss (1990) | Wretch (1991) | Blues for the Red Sun (1992) | Welcome to Sky Valley (1994) | ...And the Circus Leaves Town (1995) |
Split EPs: Shine! (1996) | Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age (1997) |
Compilations: Muchas Gracias: The Best of Kyuss (2000) |
Related articles |
Stoner rock | Desert rock | Queens of the Stone Age | Hermano | Fu Manchu | Unida | Slo Burn |