Kyuss consists of Alfredo Hernandez (drummer), John Garcia (vocalist), Josh Homme (guitarist), Scott Reeder (bassist).
This article is about the band Kyuss. For the Dungeons & Dragons deity of the same name, see Kyuss (Greyhawk).
Kyuss (pronounce: KIGH-us) were an influential stoner rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California.
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.
Chris Goss produced their next album, the landmark Blues for the Red Sun, a critically hailed album that earned the band many accolades. Kyuss were fortunate that friends Nirvana and especially fan and Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl were keen to see them achieve success, and managed to get them a spot on tour with Metallica in Australia in 1993.
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.