The band was originally formed in 1989 in Palm Desert, California under the name "Sons of Kyuss". They took the name from a monster in Dungeons and Dragons. Shortly after the release of their self-titled EP, the name was shortened to just Kyuss.
The quartet gained popularity around the desert due to their famous generator parties. These were parties fueled by gas generators in the canyons and isolated desert surrounding the small valley towns.
The group disbanded in 1997. They felt that they were in a decline and felt it best to call it quits before it escalated into something that could not be fixed. The line up had shifted dramatically between 1989 and 1997. Josh Homme, John Garcia, Brant Bjork, and Chris Cockrell were the original members. Chris was replaced by Nick Oliveri during high school. That line up recorded Wretch (released in 1991) and Blues for the Red Sun (released in 1992), after which Nick soon left. The eighteen year older, but very able Scott Reeder from The Obsessed was brought in. This line up recorded the famous self-titled album Kyuss (released in 1994; due to the album front cover often referred to as "Welcome to Sky Valley", a small town outside of Palm Desert — wrongly labelled by many). Brank Bjork left after this due to personal reasons. Alfredo Hernandez was brought in. The final line-up recorded ...And the Circus Leaves Town (released in 1995). The band toured and soon disbanded. With the compilation Muchas Gracias: The best of Kyuss, one final greatest hits CD was released in 2000.
All band members still influence the genre they helped to create. The most notable is Queens of the Stone Age. Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri, and Alfredo Hernandez started this up after Josh had experimented with his famous Desert Sessions.
John Garcia took a path geared more towards traditional rock. He opened with Slo Burn. It was a harder Kyuss, and still played in drop C. That project did not last for over a year, although one EP was released. Following Slo Burn came Unida. This band was steered toward rock n' roll and away from the stoner rock genre. John has most recently been involved with the band Hermano. Many consider this the greatest post-Kyuss project. In 2010 a Garcia Plays Kyuss gig at Roadburn Festival (Netherlands), to be followed by a proper European tour, was announced. The line-up of this band includes (former) members of Agua de Annique, Celestial Season, Kong and Arsenal.
Nick Oliveri also has created waves in the music world. Apart from playing for years in Queens of the Stone Age he has played on and off in The Dwarves. He is most known for his side project, which has become his full-time band, Mondo Generator.
Scott Reeder pursued a career of producing mainly (most notably Orange Goblin's Coup de Grace). In 2006, he released a solo album called Tunnelvision Brilliance. He also played in Unida for a little bit.
Brant Bjork has the most stable musical career of them all. He turned down playing with Queens of the Stone Age to pursue a journey with his surfing buddies, Fu Manchu. He left after making numerous records with them to focus on his already blossoming solo career, playing the guitar instead of drums. He has worked with many people since, releasing records with Ché, touring as Brant Bjork and the Bros, and occasionally playing drums as well. Brant Bjork also played on some Desert Sessions.
Los Angeles based drummer Gene Trautmann played for a brief period between Brant Bjork and Alfredo Hernandez.
Alfredo Hernandez has guest starred on too many CDs and bands to count including Yawning Man, Orquestra Del Desierto, Fatso Jetson, and many others. He also played in a local band located in Palm Desert and is the drummer of Brant Bjork and the Bros.
A big influence on the sound of Kyuss was Chris Goss (frontman of Masters of Reality), who produced Blues for the Red Sun, and everything that followed.
Although Queens of the Stone Age has been, and continues to be, a great deal more popular than Kyuss or any of its offshoots for many Kyuss is considered far superior than anything the disbanded members created afterward.
A lot of bands have been inspired by Kyuss, including Electric Wizard, Monster Magnet, Orange Goblin, Beaver, Dozer, Los Natas, Truckfighters, Acid King, Fu Manchu, Clutch, Pelican, Torche.
For 2011 touring line-up, see Kyuss Lives!.
Asteroid
Kyuss Lyrics
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One spoke and your head spins around and around
Chrome mags, a million drags, a never lags,
And old transform queen momma you've never seen
Hear a purrin' motor
And she's a burnin' fuel
Push it over baby
Power booster, I'm talkin' to god and more
Crank it up and above my head
Smell my shit eatin' grin on the skids of my world
Six hundred sixty six miles per hour
Hear a purrin' motor
And she's a burnin' fuel
Push it over baby
Oh makin' love
Hear a purrin' motor
And she's a burnin' fuel
Oh baby burnin'
Push it over baby
Oh makin' love (un)to you
Makin' love (un)to you
Makin'
Get back, get back a rolling
Get back, get back a rolling
Get back, get back a rolling
Get back, get back the motherfucker
Get back, get back a rolling
Get back, get back the motherfucker
Get back, get back the motherfucker
The lyrics of Kyuss's "Supa Scoopa & Mighty Scoop" suggest a sense of reckless abandon that accompanies the thrill of driving a fast car. The first lines express the singer's determination to take down whoever he's racing against with just one blow, making their head spin around. The lyrical content of the song suggests that it is about a race or a chase, where the singer is eager to push the limits and take risks, as evidenced by the mention of "Chrome mags, a million drags," and "power booster."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the experience of driving a fast car, suggesting that it is something that is almost spiritual in nature. The purring motor and the burning fuel are described in sensual terms, almost as if they were a lover. The singer is urged to "push it over baby," suggesting that they are on the edge of control and that there is a risk involved in going faster.
The final lines of the song urge the listener to "get back, get back rolling" and "get back the motherfucker," potentially referencing a confrontation between the singer and other drivers on the road. Overall, the lyrics of "Supa Scoopa & Mighty Scoop" convey a sense of danger and thrill associated with high-speed driving.
Line by Line Meaning
One blow till I take ya down, I'll take ya down
I am confident that I can defeat you with just one strike.
One spoke and your head spins around and around
One hit is enough to confuse and disorient you.
Chrome mags, a million drags, a never lags, And old transform queen momma you've never seen
My vehicle (a motorcycle) is adorned with chrome and runs on a powerful engine that will never stall. It's a rare and special motorbike that you've never seen before.
Hear a purrin' motor, And she's a burnin' fuel, Push it over baby, Oh makin' love (un)to you
You can hear the powerful sound of my engine and feel the heat coming from it. When I rev it up, it's like I'm making love to you.
Power booster, I'm talkin' to god and more, Crank it up and above my head, Smell my shit eatin' grin on the skids of my world, Six hundred sixty-six miles per hour
My motorcycle has a powerful booster that makes me feel like I'm connecting with a higher power. I get a thrill every time I rev it up to a speed of 666 miles per hour, leaving a trail of smoke behind me.
Get back, get back a rolling, Get back, get back a rolling, Get back, get back a rolling, Get back, get back the motherfucker, Get back, get back a rolling, Get back, get back the motherfucker, Get back, get back the motherfucker
I am telling everyone to move out of the way because I am coming through at full speed on my motorcycle.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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