Kyuss

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Kyuss
Kyuss circa 1994, pictured are Scott Reeder, Alfredo Hernandez, John Garcia and Josh Homme from left to right.
Background information
Origin	California, USA
Genre(s)	Stoner Rock, Desert Rock
Years active	1989 – 1995
Label(s)	Warner/Elektra
Associated acts	Queens of the Stone Age
Members
John Garcia Josh Homme Alfredo Hernandez Scott Reeder
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.

[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 the roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons, and shortened to "Kyuss" with a slightly different lineup later in that year.

[edit] The Oliveri years

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. Because of Kyuss’s underground nature they have gained legendary status especially for a stoner rock group; they are held in similar light to bands such as Mr. Bungle in terms of credit. 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, the landmark 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

Oliveri left (and was replaced by Scott Reeder) just as the group signed to Elektra Records and released Welcome to Sky Valley (1994), another acclaimed album. Personal problems soon tore the group apart and Bjork left following a tour, replaced by Alfredo Hernandez. In 1995 they released ...And the Circus Leaves Town. After the release of the album, the band split up in October.

[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. Hernandez later played with Fatso Jetson and Yawning Man. 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 was released. In 2000, a "Best Of" recording called Muchas Gracias was also released; it was, in essence, a collection of the band's import singles and B-sides.

[edit] Future of the band

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". [1]

[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

[edit] Members

• Josh Homme (guitar)
• John Garcia (vocals)
• Brant Bjork (drums)
• Nick Oliveri (bass)
• Scott Reeder (bass)
• Alfredo Hernandez (drums)
• Chris Cockrell (bass in Sons of Kyuss)

[edit] Samples