Kyuss ( ) was an American stoner rock band formed in Palm Desert, California in 1987. They are considered one of the pioneers of the genre. a number of band members have gone on to form or play in several notable 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 (minus Homme, who declined to participate) reunited under the adapted moniker "Kyuss Lives!" for a world tour with plans to record a new album. A federal lawsuit subsequently filed by Homme resulted in Oliveri leaving the band in March 2012. Five months later, a court ruled that Garcia and Bjork were not allowed to release audio recordings under the Kyuss Lives! moniker. As a result, they changed their name to Vista Chino.
History
As Katzenjammer and Sons of Kyuss (1987–1991)
The band formed in 1987 jamming under the name Katzenjammer (German slangword for "Hangover" [archaic], literally "moaning of a cat") before eventually deciding upon Sons of Kyuss. Brant Bjork selected the name from the undead monster found in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. 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." Guitarist Josh Homme soon gained a reputation for his unique 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 new producer Chris Goss, began work on their next album, Blues for the Red Sun. Goss understood the band, and was able to accurately capture their live sound in the studio. Released in June that year, the album was critically hailed and is today widely regarded as a pioneering stoner rock record. By the end of 1993, they were invited to open nine dates for Metallica touring Australia. but Bjork asserted he and Oliveri were hugely influenced by the British group. Oliveri left the band following completion of the album and Scott Reeder, who had been approached about joining Kyuss five to six months earlier during a West Coast tour with The Obsessed, made his debut at the release party for Blues for the Red Sun.
In 1993, Kyuss were moved from Dali to the main Chameleon label, and recorded their third album, Welcome to Sky Valley. However, personal problems emerged and drummer Brant Bjork left the band following completion of the recording sessions. Bjork cited his extreme distaste for touring, particularly band relationship problems that develop during long periods on the road. He was replaced by Alfredo Hernández, who had previously played with Reeder in the band Across the River during the mid-80s. The album was initially scheduled to be released in January 1994, but Chameleon went under in November 1993.
In July 1995, Kyuss released their fourth and final album, ...And the Circus Leaves Town. The band's only album recorded for a major label, it featured a simpler sound, in contrast to the instrumentally based Welcome to Sky Valley. The band has reportedly received numerous offers to reform, all of which have been turned down:
Scott Reeder also commented on a possible Kyuss reunion in early 2008, saying "I think everyone but Josh would do it in a heartbeat". Reeder also noted that he would "do it for free beer again".
Post-breakup (1996–present)
Shortly after the breakup, Homme toured as the rhythm guitarist with Screaming Trees and began work on ongoing The Desert Sessions recording series. In December 1997, a transitional split EP was released, featuring three songs by Kyuss (the Black Sabbath cover "Into the Void," "Fatso Forgotso", and "Flip the Phase") and three songs by Queens of the Stone Age ("If Only Everything", "Born to Hula" and "Spiders & Vinegaroons"). Homme and Hernandez formed Queens of the Stone Age in 1998, and recruited Oliveri as bassist after completion of their debut album.
Hernandez later played with Yawning Man, Ché and Orquesta del Desierto, while Oliveri formed the band Mondo Generator, named after the only Kyuss song credited solely (words and music) to him. Drummer Brant Bjork went on to form the band Brant Bjork and the Bros, recorded and performed with Fu Manchu and Mondo Generator, 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. He was also briefly associated with the band Karma to Burn. In 1998, he began working with the band Unida, recording one EP, one LP and an unreleased album. At the same time he started working with the band Hermano, having released three LP's and one live album to date. Garcia had more recently been working on a solo album.
In 1997, Homme, Bjork, and Oliveri recorded three songs together ("13th Floor", "Simple Exploding Man", & "Cocaine Rodeo") for Mondo Generator's debut album Cocaine Rodeo, released in 2000. Also featuring Garcia and Chris Goss on one track, the songs are regarded by many fans as the true final Kyuss recordings.
In 2000, a compilation album, Muchas Gracias: The Best of Kyuss, was released. The album is a collection of the band's singles, as well as B-sides and live material.
Although Kyuss left behind some "rarities", many of them were released on Muchas Gracias, and further releases from the band appear unlikely. Singer John Garcia told Billboard in a 2005 interview:
In 2010, a European "John Garcia plays Kyuss" tour was announced. In June 2010, former Kyuss members Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork joined Garcia onstage to perform "Green Machine" and "Gardenia" during a headlining appearance by "Garcia Plays Kyuss" at Hellfest in Clisson, France, and they also appeared onstage with Garcia in other concerts on the tour.
thumb|300px|[[Kyuss Lives! in 2011]]
In November 2010, Garcia, Oliveri and Bjork announced plans to tour under the moniker "Kyuss Lives!" with guitarist Bruno Fevery. In reference to the new band name, Garcia stated that "there is never going to be a Kyuss without Josh Homme" and that "hopefully in the future him and I can get together and do some writing." The band went on to tour Europe, New Zealand, and North and South America. The band then announced plans to record a new studio album for a summer 2012 release in addition to a live album.
However, in March 2012, it was revealed that Josh Homme, after persuading bassist Scott Reeder to support him, had filed a federal lawsuit against John Garcia and Brant Bjork alleging "trademark infringement and consumer fraud" over the use of the Kyuss name despite the fact Brant Bjork had originally created the name. Nick Oliveri left the project later that month after it was revealed that Garcia and Bjork had tried to take control of the Kyuss trademark. On November 29, 2012, it was announced that Kyuss Lives! had changed their name to Vista Chino. In 2021, Bjork stated he had reached out to Homme in regards to his comments, however, the probability of a reunion has been put into question due to a lack of communication from Homme.
Style and legacy
Kyuss are considered pioneers of stoner rock in the 1990s. Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic described the band's sound as a "combination of sludgy, down-tuned guitars, spacey jams, galloping thrash metal rhythms, and organic drums." Guitarist Josh Homme used C tuning and played his guitar through a bass cabinet "for maximum, earth-shaking intensity."
Band members
- Josh Homme – guitars, backing vocals (1987–1995)
- John Garcia – lead vocals (1987–1995)
- Brant Bjork – drums, percussion (1987–1994)
- Chris Cockrell – bass (1987–1991)
- Nick Oliveri – rhythm guitar (1987–1988), bass, backing and lead vocals (1991–1992)
- Scott Reeder – bass, backing vocals (1992–1995)
- Alfredo Hernández – drums, percussion (1994–1995)
Lineups
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1987–1989<br>Katzenjammer
|
- John Garcia – lead vocals
- Josh Homme – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Nick Oliveri – rhythm guitar
- Chris Cockrell – bass
- Brant Bjork – drums, percussion
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1989–1991<br>Sons of Kyuss
|
- John Garcia – lead vocals
- Josh Homme – guitars, backing vocals
- Chris Cockrell – bass
- Brant Bjork – drums, percussion
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1991–1992
|
- John Garcia – lead vocals
- Josh Homme – guitars, backing vocals
- Nick Oliveri – bass, vocals
- Brant Bjork – drums, percussion
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1992–1994
|
- John Garcia – lead vocals
- Josh Homme – guitars, backing vocals
- Scott Reeder – bass, backing vocals
- Brant Bjork – drums, percussion
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1994–1995
|
- John Garcia – lead vocals
- Josh Homme – guitars, backing vocals
- Scott Reeder – bass, backing vocals
- Alfredo Hernández – drums, percussion
|}
Timeline
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Period = from:01/01/1987 till:09/09/1995
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ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1987
Colors =
id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar
id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_albums
id:EP value:gray(0.5) legend:EPs
LineData =
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at:04/19/1990 color:EP
at:09/23/1991 color:studio
at:06/30/1992
at:06/28/1994
at:07/11/1995
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bar:Josh text:"Josh Homme"
bar:Nick text:"Nick Oliveri"
bar:Chris text:"Chris Cockrell"
bar:Scott text:"Scott Reeder"
bar:Brant text:"Brant Bjork"
bar:Alfredo text:"Alfredo Hernández"
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bar:John from:start till:end color:lvocals
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Bar:Josh from:07/01/1988 till:end color:rguitar width:7
bar:Nick from:start till:06/30/1988 color:rguitar
bar:Nick from:06/30/1991 till:08/31/1992 color:bass
bar:Nick from:01/01/1992 till:08/31/1992 color:lvocals width:3
bar:Chris from:start till:06/30/1991 color:bass
bar:Scott from:08/31/1992 till:end color:bass
bar:Scott from:08/31/1992 till:end color:bvocals width:3
bar:Brant from:start till:09/01/1994 color:drums
bar:Alfredo from:09/01/1994 till:end color:drums
</timeline>
Discography
- Wretch (1991)
- Blues for the Red Sun (1992)
- Welcome to Sky Valley (1994)
- ...And the Circus Leaves Town (1995)