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!.
Thong Song
Kyuss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't read grey lines
I signed it away, way long
I hate, slow songs
Oh yeah, I don't even care
Oh yeah, I go over there
No brains, all groin
No shoes, just thongs
I hate, slow songs
Oh yeah, you cry like I care
Oh yeah, buck naked and there
Hooray for, hooray for you (6x)
Kyuss's song "Thong Song" is a classic rock song characterized by its heavy riffs and strong bass lines. The lyrics seem to be about a person who doesn't believe in or need supernatural interventions, as they mention not needing a seance, nor reading grey lines. This can indicate that the singer or main character is grounded in reality and has a strong sense of self. The line "I signed it away, way long" can suggest that they may have given away some form of power or control.
The lyrics also indicate a disdain for slow songs, with the repetition of the phrase "I hate, slow songs." This may imply a preference for fast-paced, energetic music or an aversion to anything that may slow down their momentum or drive. Additionally, the lyrics describe someone with "no brains, all groin," implying that they are highly driven by physical urges rather than intellect or rational thinking. The final section of the song, "Hooray for, hooray for you," can be seen as either sarcastic, indicating a lack of enthusiasm for someone or something, or genuine, indicating appreciation or praise.
Overall, the lyrics in Kyuss's "Thong Song" suggest a rebellious attitude towards conventionality and the status quo, with an emphasis on energy, drive, and physicality.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need a seance
I don't require any spiritual medium to guide me or predict my future.
I don't read grey lines
I don't interpret ambiguous or vague signals or messages.
I signed it away, way long
I committed to an agreement a long time ago and can't change it now.
I hate, slow songs
I dislike music with a slow tempo.
Oh yeah, I don't even care
I am indifferent towards your words or actions.
Oh yeah, I go over there
I am moving away from you, to a different place or perspective.
My hair is, real long
My hair is significantly lengthy, possibly beyond the norm.
No brains, all groin
I lack intelligence but possess a high level of sexual desire or energy.
No shoes, just thongs
I am wearing sandals or flip-flops, rather than shoes or boots.
I hate, slow songs
I continue to detest music with a slow tempo.
Oh yeah, you cry like I care
I recognize that you are upset or emotional, but it doesn't affect me.
Oh yeah, buck naked and there
I am present in a place or situation, without any clothes or modesty.
Hooray for, hooray for you (6x)
I express sarcastic and insincere enthusiasm for your achievements or successes.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH HOMME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Giuliana Raffa
LYRICS:
I don't need a seance
I don't read grey lines
I signed it away, way long
I hate, slow songs.
Oh yeah, I don't even care.
Oh yeah, I go over there.
My hair is, real long,
No brains, all groin.
No shoes, just thongs,
I hate, slow songs.
Oh yeah, you cry like I care.
Oh yeah, buck naked and there!
Hooray for, hooray for you (6x).
Some people question the depth of utterances such as: "My hair is real long." My advice against that lack of depth is to go and listen to "Size Queen" by the same band to find some sought-after depth.
Georgios Seitopoulos
"Thong Song"
I don't need a seance
I don't read grey lines
I signed it away
way long
I hate, slow songs
whoa yeah,
I don't even care
whoa yeah,
I go over there
my hair is,
real long
no brains
or braun
no shoes
just thongs,
I hate, slow songs
whoa yeah,
you cry like I care
whoa yeah,
buck naked and there...
hooray, hooray for you
hooray, hooray for you
hooray, hooray for you
hooray, hooray for you
hooray, hooray for you
hooray, hooray for you
ismail
Kyuss is the greatest band of all time, such lyrics as "My hair is real long" show just how genius they were
JC Seven
this band is soo good!! their music will live forever and never grow old.
Zech Valentine
kyuss will always be one of my favorite bands
Monkeyliver19
No they won't
Sameer Sharma
@Monkeyliver19: What's your problem?
Richard Horrocks
What if a million bands who are all better than Kyuss suddenly appear in the world. Would Kyuss still be one of your favourite bands? Well?
Hell Interface
@Richard Horrocks What if your grandma had wheels too? She would be a bike.
СЕРГЕЙ МЕДВЕДЬ
Одна из моих любимых групп 90-х. Замечательное было время. 🤟
sarmen mirzakhani
KYUSS is one of the best stoner/desert rock bands ever
Adan Marin
sarmen mirzakhani They practically founded the whole stoner scene, so it's pretty safe to assume they're the best.
Although we can argue that Black Sabbath (the Ozzy sabbath of course) and Blue Cheer were the real pioneers of stoner, Kyuss is definitely the one to come up with the "typecast" stoner sound.