Kyuss (pronounced /ˈkaɪ.əs/ KYE-əs) is the corner stone of what is known a… Read Full Bio ↴Kyuss (pronounced /ˈkaɪ.əs/ KYE-əs) is the corner stone of what is known as stoner rock or desert rock. Although deriving influence from 60s-70s hard rock, Kyuss churned out a unique sound. This was primarily because guitarist Josh Homme often tuned to a low C, a major third below standard pitch, but also singer John Garcia's paint stripping vocals.

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!.

Size Queen
Kyuss Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So clean, so blue and it's so deep
Shallow
Refreshing bowl and it's so clear
Shallow

Best thing I've seen in my whole life
Shallow
You must return me to your beach

Shallow

So I dive,inches to the ground
Now alright
Inches to the ground
So clean, so blue and it's so deep

Shallow
Refreshing bowl and it's so clear
Shallow
Best thing I've seen in my whole life

Shallow
You must return me to your beach
Shallow
So I dive, inches to the ground

Now alright
Inches to the ground

So I dive,inches to the ground
Yeah

Overall Meaning

"Size Queen" by Kyuss is an interesting song that seems to be about a deep and refreshing water body that the singer has discovered. The lyrics of the song emphasize the clarity and depth of the water as being so pristine, that it is the best thing the singer has ever seen in their life. They describe it as being "so clean, so blue, and so deep", but also refer to it as being "shallow". The singer seems to be in awe of this water body, stating that it must return them to its beach.

The lyrics of this song could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to be more about the natural beauty of the water body and the connection the singer has to it. The repetition of "shallow" could be seen as a juxtaposition between the depth of the water and the simplicity of the singer's relationship with it. The lines "inches to the ground" and "now alright" could signify a sense of unity with the environment, as if the singer has found peace with the world around them. Overall, "Size Queen" expresses a sense of wonder and admiration for the natural world.

Line by Line Meaning

So clean, so blue and it's so deep
The water appears to be pristine and the hue compliments its depth

Refreshing bowl and it's so clear
The water serves as a revitalizing experience due to its clarity

Best thing I've seen in my whole life
The water is the most impressive spectacle that has ever been witnessed by the singer

You must return me to your beach
The artist desires to return to the shore at the will of the person being addressed

So I dive, inches to the ground
The artist goes into the water without hesitation, from a relatively low point near the shore

Now alright
The singer expresses contentment with being submerged in the water

Inches to the ground
The singer emphasizes diving from a low point

Yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and satisfaction

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH HOMME, JOHN M GARCIA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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