Kyuss

Kyuss was an American stoner rock band formed in Palm Desert, California in 1987. They are widely regarded as one of the early contributors to the development of stoner rock. After disbanding in 1995, former members went on to participate in or form several other bands, including Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees, Fu Manchu, Dwarves, Eagles of Death Metal, Mondo Generator, Hermano, Unida, Slo Burn, and Them Crooked Vultures. In November 2010 Read more on Last.fm …read full bio

Kyuss was an American stoner rock band formed in Palm Desert, California in 1987. They are widely regarded as one of the early contributors to the development of stoner rock. After disbanding in 1995, former members went on to participate in or form several other bands, including Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees, Fu Manchu, Dwarves, Eagles of Death Metal, Mondo Generator, Hermano, Unida, Slo Burn, and Them Crooked Vultures. In November 2010, three former members of the band (excluding Josh Homme, who declined to participate) reunited under the name "Kyuss Lives!" for touring purposes and announced plans to record new material. A legal dispute followed, initiated by Homme, which led to Nick Oliveri leaving the project in March 2012. Later that year, a court ruled that John Garcia and Brant Bjork could not release recordings under the "Kyuss Lives!" name. The group subsequently changed their name to Vista Chino. The band originally formed in 1987 under the name Katzenjammer, a German slang term meaning "hangover." They later adopted the name Sons of Kyuss, derived from a monster in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, a name selected by Brant Bjork. In 1989, they recorded and released a self-titled EP, "Sons of Kyuss," which was the only recording to feature bassist Chris Cockrell. After the EP's independent release in 1990, Nick Oliveri replaced Cockrell on bass, and the band shortened its name to Kyuss. The early Kyuss lineup consisted of vocalist John Garcia, guitarist Josh Homme, bassist Nick Oliveri, and drummer Brant Bjork. The band built a following in Palm Desert, California, performing frequently at informal outdoor events known locally as generator parties, where music was powered by gasoline generators. These performances were often informal and free, and contributed to the band's early reputation as a live act. Josh Homme later stated that performing in the desert environment significantly shaped the band's development. Kyuss signed with the independent label Dali, distributed by Elektra Records through Chameleon Records, and released their debut album "Wretch" in 1991. The album included re-recorded material from the earlier EP. Although it did not achieve strong commercial sales, the band continued to grow in popularity through live performances. Homme developed a distinctive guitar style characterized by low tunings and the use of electric guitars through bass amplifiers to produce a heavy sound. In 1992, Kyuss worked with producer Chris Goss on their second album, "Blues for the Red Sun." The album was noted for capturing the band's live sound in a studio setting and received critical acclaim. It is frequently cited as an influential release in stoner rock. The band also toured internationally and opened several shows for Metallica in Australia in 1993. During this period, bassist Nick Oliveri left the band and was replaced by Scott Reeder, who joined shortly before the album's release. In 1993, Kyuss moved to Chameleon Records' main label and recorded "Welcome to Sky Valley," again produced by Chris Goss. The album was noted for a more psychedelic approach. Drummer Brant Bjork left the band after recording sessions, citing difficulties with touring and internal tensions. He was replaced by Alfredo Hernández. The album was delayed due to the collapse of Chameleon Records and was eventually released by Elektra Records in 1994. The single "Demon Cleaner" reached number 78 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1995, the band released their fourth album, "...And the Circus Leaves Town," which was recorded for a major label and featured a more streamlined sound. The single "One Inch Man" was released with an accompanying music video. The album received mixed critical reception and was less commercially successful than its predecessor. Kyuss disbanded later that year. Following the breakup, speculation about a possible reunion continued in subsequent years. Occasional collaborations occurred, including a 2005 performance in which John Garcia joined Queens of the Stone Age onstage to perform Kyuss songs. Members have generally expressed differing views regarding a full reunion, with some citing artistic and personal reasons for not pursuing it. After the split, Josh Homme worked with Screaming Trees and began the Desert Sessions project. In 1997, a split EP was released featuring Kyuss recordings and early Queens of the Stone Age material. Homme and Alfredo Hernández later formed Queens of the Stone Age, with Nick Oliveri joining after the debut album. Other members pursued various projects: Scott Reeder worked with multiple bands; Alfredo Hernández played with Yawning Man, Ché, and Orquesta del Desierto; Nick Oliveri formed Mondo Generator; Brant Bjork formed Brant Bjork and the Bros and worked with Fu Manchu; and John Garcia formed Slo Burn, later joined Unida and Hermano, and pursued solo work. In 2000, the compilation album "Muchas Gracias: The Best of Kyuss" was released, collecting singles, B-sides, and live recordings. Additional unreleased material has been reported, though most remaining recordings have not been officially issued. In 2010, John Garcia announced a tour performing Kyuss material, during which Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork occasionally joined him onstage. Later that year, Garcia, Oliveri, Bjork, and guitarist Bruno Fevery formed "Kyuss Lives!" and toured internationally. Plans for a new studio album were announced. In 2012, legal proceedings related to the use of the Kyuss name led to restrictions on the release of recordings under "Kyuss Lives!" and further lineup changes. The group subsequently rebranded as Vista Chino. In later years, members made occasional statements regarding the possibility of a reunion, though no full reformation has taken place. Kyuss are widely cited as pioneers of stoner rock. Their sound has been described as combining heavily down-tuned guitars, psychedelic elements, and hard rock and metal influences. Josh Homme's guitar approach often involved low tunings and amplification techniques that emphasized a heavy, bass-like tone. The band has been compared to The Velvet Underground in terms of cultural influence relative to their limited commercial success. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyuss Studio albums Wretch (1991) Blues for the Red Sun (1992) Welcome to Sky Valley (1994) ...And the Circus Leaves Town (1995) Read more on Last.fm. 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…shrink me down again