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.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.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. Finally, Kyuss went on indefinite hiatus in October of the same year. However, the group did not completely disband until 1997 when 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.Kyuss's last new release was around 1997, a split EP featuring 3 Kyuss songs and 3 Queens Of The Stone Age songs. Several years later, a "Best Of" recording called Muchas Gracias was also released.