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Newly shared archive footage offers a glimpse of Kyuss in their formative years, ahead of the tenth-anniversary re-release of “Desert Age: A Rock and Roll Scene History”. The preview combines early live footage with Josh Homme and Mario Lalli discussing the musical environment that gave rise to the influential Californian band.
Filmmaker Jason Georgiades originally released “Desert Age” in 2016. The documentary charts the rise of the Coachella Valley desert rock scene and the musicians who helped it develop, including people connected to Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu and Eagles of Death Metal.
The new 10th Anniversary Special Edition adds material about a 1981 Black Flag concert in Palm Springs. The filmmakers position that show as an important meeting point between the region’s underground music culture and Southern California punk.
A special screening is scheduled for November 7 in Palm Springs, followed by a discussion with musicians, the director and members of the production team. The expanded film is then due to be made available as a free stream on November 20 through the director’s website.
The original film was unavailable to many viewers after its distribution arrangement expired. The upcoming release will provide access to the documentary again, with added material.
The ensemble was established in 1987, initially performing under the moniker Katzenjammer, a term derived from German slang denoting “hangover” and literally translating to “moaning of a cat.” Ultimately, the group adopted the name Sons of Kyuss, a title chosen by Brant Bjork, inspired by the undead creature featured in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.
In 1989, the band produced their self-titled debut EP, “Sons of Kyuss”, which marked the sole release featuring Chris Cockrell on bass. Following the self-release of the EP in 1990, the band enlisted Nick Oliveri, who had previously served as the second guitarist in Katzenjammer, to succeed Cockrell and subsequently abbreviated their name to Kyuss.
The inaugural lineup of Kyuss comprised vocalist John Garcia, guitarist Josh Homme, bassist Nick Oliveri, and drummer Brant Bjork. The band gradually cultivated a local fanbase in Palm Desert, California, frequently performing at informal gatherings within the secluded towns of Southern California’s desert regions.
These spontaneous performances, colloquially termed “generator parties,” typically attracted small audiences and featured elements such as beer consumption and the utilization of gasoline-powered generators to supply electricity for the musical equipment. Homme remarked that playing in the desert served as a formative influence for the band, emphasizing that the absence of venues necessitated free performances and that audience feedback was immediate and candid.
