KYUSS

:''This article is about the band. For the fictional deity, see Kyuss (Greyhawk)''
'Kyuss' (pronounced or "kai-uss") was an influential stoner rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band 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, Unida, Hermano and Slo Burn.

Contents

History

As Sons of Kyuss (pre-1990)

As Kyuss (1991-1995)

Post-break up (1996-present)

Members

Discography

Studio Albums

Compilations and Split Releases

Singles

Music Videos

Samples

References

History

As Sons of Kyuss (pre-1990)

The band formed in the late 1980s under the name Katzenjammer (German for "hangover") before settling on the name 'Sons of Kyuss' in 1989. The name Sons of Kyuss was taken from a creature found in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game. In 1990 the band recorded and released their eponymous debut EP, ''Sons of Kyuss'', which was their only release to feature Chris Cockrell on bass. Later that year, the band recruited a new bassist and shortened their name to Kyuss.

As Kyuss (1991-1995)

Kyuss' first line-up consisted of vocalist John Garcia, guitarist Joshua Homme, bassist Nick Oliveri and drummer Brant Bjork. The band gradually built a local following in Palm Desert, California and frequently performed at parties in and around the isolated towns of Southern California's desert areas. These impromptu shows, referred to as "generator parties", consisted of small crowds of people, beer drinking, and the use of gasoline-powered generators to provide electricity for the equipment. Homme commented that playing in the desert "was the shaping factor for the band" noting that "there's no clubs here, so you can only play for free. If people don't like you, they'll tell you. You can't suck."
The band then signed with independent record label Dali Records, who released their debut album, ''Wretch'', in September 1991. Many of the songs on the album were re-recorded versions of those that appeared on the ''Sons of Kyuss'' EP. Under-produced and poorly financed, album sales were sluggish even as their live shows gained fame.^[1] However, guitarist Josh Homme soon gained a reputation for his downtuned, psychedelic style of guitar playing, and his convention of playing electric guitars through bass guitar amplifiers to create a bass-heavy sound.
In 1992 the band, along with producer Chris Goss, began work on their next album, ''Blues for the Red Sun''. Released in June that year, the album was critically hailed and is often regarded as a pioneering stoner rock record. By the end of 1993 they were invited to open nine dates for Metallica touring Australia.^[2] After touring in support of ''Blues for the Red Sun'', bassist 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 and, musically, demonstrated a much heavier and more psychedelic sound. However, personal problems soon tore the group apart and drummer Brant Bjork left following a brief tour of the album, to be replaced by Alfredo Hernández. In July 1995, they released their fourth and final album, ''...And the Circus Leaves Town''. The group decided to disband in October of that year.

Post-break up (1996-present)

Shortly after the break up, Homme and Hernandez rejoined to form Queens of the Stone Age, and soon recruited Oliveri as permanent bassist. In December 1997, a transitional split EP was released, featuring three songs by Kyuss ("Into The Void" (a Black Sabbath cover), "Fatso Forgotso" and "Flip the Phase") and three by Queens of the Stone Age ("If Only Everything", "Born to Hula" and "Spiders & Vinegaroons"). The band has since gone on to achieve international mainstream success.
Hernandez later played with Fatso Jetson, Che and Yawning Man, while Olveri later formed the band Nick Oliveri and the Mondo Generator, named after a Kyuss song. Drummer Brant Bjork went on to form the band Brant Bjork and the Bros and has recorded several solo albums.
John Garcia went on to form Slo Burn, although the band was short-lived and released only one EP, ''Amusing the Amazing'', before disbanding in September 1997. In 1998 he began working with the bands Unida and Hermano, with each he has recorded two records. Garcia is now working on a solo album.^[3]
In 2000, a compilation album, '', was released. The album was a collection of the band's most important singles, but also contained B-sides and four songs recorded live in 1994.
Although the band left behind a lot of rarities, some of them were released on their best of album ''Muchas Gracias'', it seems unlikely any more will be released. Singer John Garcia told this Billboard.com in a 2005 interview:
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".^[4] The band has been made numerous offers to reform, all of which they have turned down:

Members

'Kyuss personnel'

Dates & releases	Members & prominent instruments	Notes
198?-1989 ''Katzenjammer''	★ John Garcia - vocals ★ Josh Homme - lead guitar ★ Nick Oliveri - rhythm guitar ★ Chris Cockrell - bass ★ Brant Bjork - drums
1989-1991 ''Sons of Kyuss''	★ John Garcia - vocals ★ Josh Homme - guitar ★ Chris Cockrell - bass ★ Brant Bjork - drums	The band was known as "Sons of Kyuss" at this time.
1991-1992 ''Wretch'' and ''Blues for the Red Sun''	★ John Garcia - vocals ★ Josh Homme - guitar ★ Nick Oliveri - bass ★ Brant Bjork - drums	First line-up as "Kyuss".
1992-1993 ''Welcome to Sky Valley''	★ John Garcia - vocals ★ Josh Homme - guitar ★ Scott Reeder - bass ★ Brant Bjork - drums
1994-1995 ''...And the Circus Leaves Town''	★ John Garcia - vocals ★ Josh Homme - guitar ★ Scott Reeder - bass ★ Alfredo Hernández - drums	Last line-up before disbanding.

Discography

Studio Albums

'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 Hernández.

Compilations and Split Releases

'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	''	Man's Ruin Records	Compilation of live tracks and B-sides.

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

Music Videos

★ "Thong Song" - 1992

★ "Green Machine" - 1992

★ "Demon Cleaner" - 1994

★ "One Inch Man" - 1995

Samples

References

1. Kyuss Biography
2.
3. Garcia Vs Garcia
4. QOTSA End Year On A High Note: Josh Homme Reunites With Kyuss Singer In L.A.