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!.
El Rodeo
Kyuss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Oh Johnny) It be the same I do to you
(Johnny) And if you wanna try my needs
(Johnny) It be the same I do to you
(Johnny) And if you're trying to ride for free
(Oh Johnny) It be the same I do to you
(Johnny) And if you wanna try my needs
(Johnny) It be the same I do to you
(Johnny) It be the same I do to you
Rodeo
Rodeo
And if you're trying to ride for free
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo
In "El Rodeo," Kyuss delivers a warning about the consequences of trying to take advantage of others. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, with the name "Johnny" being repeated throughout. The message is clear: if someone tries to ride for free or take advantage of Johnny's needs, they can expect the same treatment in return. The use of the word "rodeo" is interesting, as it conjures up images of the Wild West and the rough-and-tumble world of cowboys and horses. It's possible that the song is meant to be a metaphor for life, where everyone is trying to "ride" to get ahead, but those who take unfair shortcuts will ultimately pay the price.
Musically, "El Rodeo" is a hard-hitting, riff-heavy track that showcases Kyuss's signature desert rock sound. The guitar work is particularly impressive, with John Garcia's vocals floating over the top of the fuzzy, distorted riffs. The song has a driving, almost menacing quality to it that perfectly matches the lyrics' threatening tone. Overall, "El Rodeo" is a powerful statement from a band that helped shape the sound of stoner rock.
Line by Line Meaning
(Johnny) And if you're trying to ride for free
If you're attempting to get something without paying for it,
(Oh Johnny) It be the same I do to you
I'll treat you the same way that you treat me,
(Johnny) And if you wanna try my needs
If you want to satisfy my desires,
(Johnny) It be the same I do to you
I'll satisfy your desires if you satisfy mine,
Rodeo
This word is repeated throughout the song and likely represents a metaphor for life's ups and downs or the struggles and battles one faces.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PHILIP JUSTIN WYER, TIMOTHY JOHN DESPIC, THOMAS GARCIA, ROBERT JOSEPH HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind