Brant Bjork
Encyclopedia
Brant Bjork is an American
musician from Palm Desert, California
, who is a drummer, producer, guitarist and one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock
and Palm Desert scene
s.
, (later Nick Oliveri
), and John Garcia
resulting in the formation of Kyuss
(previously known as Katzenjammer and Sons of Kyuss
). Kyuss was signed to Elektra Records
and became the first desert rock
band to achieve international success. Bjork helped issue 1992's Blues for the Red Sun
, which helped create the ensuing stoner rock movement. In 1993, Bjork left the band following the release of Welcome to Sky Valley
.
Named after “the sons of Kyuss,” monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game, Kyuss first came together around guitarist Josh Homme and vocalist John Garcia in the small Southern California town of Palm Desert in the late ’80s. The band members moved to Los Angeles
in 1990 and signed to Chameleon Records after 13 performances in the big city, but Bjork quit after two years.
He has also recorded several solo albums including the psychedelic and soulful, Jalamanta
(Originally released on Man’s Ruin, 1999), Brant Bjork & the Operators
(2002), Keep Your Cool
(2003) and Local Angel
(2004), the latter three being released on the music label Bjork founded, Duna Records
.
In October 2003, Brant Bjork toured Europe under the title "Brant Bjork and the Bros." He was backed by Dylan Roche on bass guitar, Michael Peffer on drums, and Mike Pygmie on guitar. Pygmie left the band after the tour and was replaced by Scott Cortez for further touring in the US and Europe in 2004. In 2005, the Bros went into the studio and recorded Bjork's fifth album Saved by Magic. It was released on August 1, 2005 and features 2 full discs. The music style is a mix of Jalamanta
, and The Sounds of Liberation
.
2006 saw the release of Sabbia, a stoned-out "visual soundtrack" by film maker Kate McCabe.
A new live DVD and 3 new records are on the shelf; one with the Bros and a couple of solo efforts. The first solo album, entitled Tres Dias
was released on February 27, 2007 followed by a Bros album Somera Sól
, May 2007. On September 25, 2007, "The Native Tongue", a song from "Tres Dias', was featured on a Poison Tree Records compilation called Road To Nowhere
. During 2007, the label Duna Records failed and has changed to Low Desert Punk Recordings. Brant cited that it was a beast requiring too much time and energy. The first release on the new Low Desert Punk Recordings was Punk Rock Guilt
, May 2008. This album had previously been known as the untitled "New Jersey Sessions" recorded back in 2005.
The next Low Desert Punk release followed in March 2010 called Gods & Goddesses
which featured a new lineup including Billy Cordell from Yawning Man on bass guitar.
(who is replacing founding member Josh Homme) on guitar, Nick Oliveri
on bass and John Garcia
on vocals. The band are midway through a European, Australian and New Zealand tour, which takes place March to May 2011. A new studio album is also in the works.
As of September of 2011, Scott Reeder, formerly of Kyuss, has replaced Oliveri on bass for all international tour dates.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician from Palm Desert, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, who is a drummer, producer, guitarist and one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
and Palm Desert scene
Palm Desert Scene
The Palm Desert Scene is a group of closely related bands and musicians from Palm Desert in Southern California. Their hard rock sound – which is often described as desert rock – contains elements of psychedelia, blues, Heavy metal and other genres, such as hardcore, as well as...
s.
Early career and Kyuss
While in high school, Bjork got together with locals Josh Homme, Chris CockrellChris Cockrell
Chris Cockrell is an American musician, who formed Sons of Kyuss with Josh Homme, John Garcia and Brant Bjork, later shortened to just Kyuss...
, (later Nick Oliveri
Nick Oliveri
Nick Steven Oliveri is an American musician from Palm Desert, California. He plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and is a vocalist...
), and John Garcia
John Garcia (singer)
John Garcia is a vocalist who has been a member of Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida and Hermano. His vocals have become synonymous with modern stoner rock and the desert rock sound.-Kyuss:...
resulting in the formation of Kyuss
Kyuss
Kyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with...
(previously known as Katzenjammer and Sons of Kyuss
Sons of Kyuss
Sons of Kyuss is a demo by Sons of Kyuss. They released this eponymous recording in 1990 before changing their name to Kyuss later that year. The band's first album, Wretch, was released in 1991 and featured several re-recorded songs and two taken directly from this demo, "Deadly Kiss" and "Black...
). Kyuss was signed to Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
and became the first desert rock
Palm Desert Scene
The Palm Desert Scene is a group of closely related bands and musicians from Palm Desert in Southern California. Their hard rock sound – which is often described as desert rock – contains elements of psychedelia, blues, Heavy metal and other genres, such as hardcore, as well as...
band to achieve international success. Bjork helped issue 1992's Blues for the Red Sun
Blues for the Red Sun
Blues for the Red Sun is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Kyuss, released in 1992. While the album received mainly favorable reviews, it sold only 39,000 units....
, which helped create the ensuing stoner rock movement. In 1993, Bjork left the band following the release of Welcome to Sky Valley
Welcome to Sky Valley
Welcome to Sky Valley is the third studio album by American stoner rock/metal band Kyuss, originally released on June 28, 1994.-Album information:...
.
Named after “the sons of Kyuss,” monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game, Kyuss first came together around guitarist Josh Homme and vocalist John Garcia in the small Southern California town of Palm Desert in the late ’80s. The band members moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1990 and signed to Chameleon Records after 13 performances in the big city, but Bjork quit after two years.
Post-Kyuss
Bjork joined Fu Manchu as the drummer for 1997’s Action Is Go - a role he continued to fill until his departure prior to the tour for their 2002 album California Crossing.He has also recorded several solo albums including the psychedelic and soulful, Jalamanta
Jalamanta
Jalamanta is Brant Bjork's debut solo effort after leaving Kyuss and joining Fu Manchu. Originally released in 1999 on now defunct Man's Ruin label, Jalamanta was re-released on Bjork's own label, Duna Records, in 2003, 2006 and 2009....
(Originally released on Man’s Ruin, 1999), Brant Bjork & the Operators
Brant Bjork & the Operators
Brant Bjork and the Operators is the self-titled album by desert rocker Brant Bjork. Though, it is credited as "Brant Bjork and the Operators" it is basically his second solo album with Brant singing, and playing most instruments. He is joined by friends to lend guitar and vocals, namely Mathias...
(2002), Keep Your Cool
Keep Your Cool
Keep Your Cool is the third solo album by desert rocker Brant Bjork. It is full of soul/funk influenced simply written songs with laid back beats and tongue-in-cheek lyrics throughout.-Track listing:# "Hey, Monkey Boy" - 2:07# "Johnny Called" - 4:03...
(2003) and Local Angel
Local Angel
Local Angel is the fourth solo album by desert rocker Brant Bjork. It is his most intimate and laid back record mixing acoustic guitars and simple melodies.-Track listing:# "Beautiful Powers" - 3:25# "Hippie" - 5:35# "Chico" - 3:51# "The Feelin'" - 4:38...
(2004), the latter three being released on the music label Bjork founded, Duna Records
Duna Records
Duna Records is a record label founded by desert rocker Brant Bjork.As of mid-September 2007 the dunarecords.com website no longer hosted tour dates or album information, being replaced with a simple text message "Brant Bjork is a modern guitar hero and rock legend, hailing from infamous stoner...
.
Brant Bjork
Jalamanta
Jalamanta is Brant Bjork's debut solo effort after leaving Kyuss and joining Fu Manchu. Originally released in 1999 on now defunct Man's Ruin label, Jalamanta was re-released on Bjork's own label, Duna Records, in 2003, 2006 and 2009....
, and The Sounds of Liberation
Che (band)
Ché was an American stoner rock band founded by former Kyuss drummer Brant Bjork. Ché released their only LP Sounds of Liberation in 2000....
.
2006 saw the release of Sabbia, a stoned-out "visual soundtrack" by film maker Kate McCabe.
A new live DVD and 3 new records are on the shelf; one with the Bros and a couple of solo efforts. The first solo album, entitled Tres Dias
Tres Dias (album)
Tres Dias is the sixth album released from desert rock artist Brant Bjork. The album was recorded in Joshua Tree, California, USA, before Christmas 2006...
was released on February 27, 2007 followed by a Bros album Somera Sól
Somera Sól (album)
Somera Sól is the 7th album released from desert rock artist Brant Bjork and the second to have been recorded with 'the Bros' -Track listing:...
, May 2007. On September 25, 2007, "The Native Tongue", a song from "Tres Dias', was featured on a Poison Tree Records compilation called Road To Nowhere
Road to Nowhere
"Road to Nowhere" is a song by Talking Heads, from the 1985 album Little Creatures. It also appeared on Best of Talking Heads, Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites, the Once in a Lifetime box set and the Brick box set...
. During 2007, the label Duna Records failed and has changed to Low Desert Punk Recordings. Brant cited that it was a beast requiring too much time and energy. The first release on the new Low Desert Punk Recordings was Punk Rock Guilt
Punk Rock Guilt
Punk Rock Guilt is the 8th album released from desert rock artist Brant Bjork. It is notably, the fabled "New Jersey Sessions" from 2005.-Track listing:# "Lion One" - 10:28# "Dr...
, May 2008. This album had previously been known as the untitled "New Jersey Sessions" recorded back in 2005.
The next Low Desert Punk release followed in March 2010 called Gods & Goddesses
Gods & Goddesses
Gods & Goddesses is the 9th album released from desert rock artist Brant Bjork. It features an all new band lineup, including Billy Cordell .-Track listing:# "Dirty Bird" - 2:48# "The Future Rock " - 3:56...
which featured a new lineup including Billy Cordell from Yawning Man on bass guitar.
Return to Kyuss
In November 2010, it was announced that Bjork will be part of a newly formed Kyuss (now known as Kyuss Lives!) with a new lineup, consisting of Bjork, Bruno FeveryBruno Fevery
Bruno Fevery is a Belgian guitarist currently playing in Kyuss Lives, a spin-off band featuring three former members of Kyuss. The band is planning to tour and release a new album in 2011. He previously played with Kyuss singer John Garcia in his project Garcia Plays Kyuss...
(who is replacing founding member Josh Homme) on guitar, Nick Oliveri
Nick Oliveri
Nick Steven Oliveri is an American musician from Palm Desert, California. He plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and is a vocalist...
on bass and John Garcia
John Garcia (singer)
John Garcia is a vocalist who has been a member of Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida and Hermano. His vocals have become synonymous with modern stoner rock and the desert rock sound.-Kyuss:...
on vocals. The band are midway through a European, Australian and New Zealand tour, which takes place March to May 2011. A new studio album is also in the works.
As of September of 2011, Scott Reeder, formerly of Kyuss, has replaced Oliveri on bass for all international tour dates.
External links
- [ Brant Bjork] at Allmusic
- Bjork interviewed on Israel's Jekyll and Hyde, 2009
- Official Homepage of Brant Bjork