Kyuss

Kyuss, an American stoner rock group formed in Palm Desert, California in 1987, emerged from the earlier project Katzenjammer and later Sons of Kyuss. The original Sons of Kyuss lineup consisted of John Garcia (vocals), Josh Homme (guitar), Chris Cockrell (bass), and Brant Bjork (drums); by the time the band shortened its name to Kyuss, Nick Oliveri had replaced Cockrell on bass, forming the group’s best-known early lineup. The band released its debut EP Sons of Kyuss in 1990, which led directly to a recording contract with Dali/Chameleon Records. Their first full-length album, Wretch (1991), introduced the desert-influenced sound that would define the genre, and the subsequent Blues for the Red Sun (1992) earned critical acclaim and positioned Kyuss as a pioneering act. The 1994 release Welcome to Sky Valley saw the single “Demon Cleaner” reach number 78 on the UK Singles Chart, while the 1995 album ...And the Circus Leaves Town included the single “One Inch Man” and marked the band’s final studio release. After touring internationally, including dates with Metallica in Australia, Kyuss disbanded in 1995. A retrospective compilation, Muchas Gracias: The Best of Kyuss, was released in 2000, and members later formed or joined notable acts such as Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator, and Hermano.