Desert Rock galore

(Repost from July 2nd 2009. Of all the mixes I've made on my blogs this is easily in the top 5. It's fucking amazing.)

One year ago today Natasha Shneider died, which was more traumatic for me than Michael Jackson snuffing it, that's for damn sure. Because unlike Wacko Jacko who burned out 20 years ago, Natasha still had much to offer.

For most of her active music career she played in the sadly overlooked band Eleven with her husband Alain Johannes and together they formed what was probably the my favorite musical couple of all time.

The two of them also collaborated on Chris Cornell's magnificent 1999 solo debut Euphoria Morning and played a big part in that album turning out as well as it did. Shneider & Johannes would also frequently work with musicians from the Palm Desert scene, which brings us to today's flawless mix.

I've put put together a zip file of some of my favorite songs by the most important bands of this scene. This is one of the more incestuous music scenes known to man, with everyone playing in a number of bands, to the point where it's sometimes difficult to determine where one band ends and another begins. It's also defined by a remarkably relaxed approach, where the music itself and the creation of it was more important and any rock star dreams. I guess that happens naturally when you live out in the desert and spend most of your days smoking weed and avoiding scorpions.

While a lot of the bands often incorporate elements of any music they happen to like, whether it's blues, pop, surf, psychedelia, Latin, etc., the Palm Desert bands have a common link in the riff heavy bands of the 70s and the punk bands of the 70s and early 80s. A lot of these bands, if not all them, are somehow connected to the mythical studio Rancho De La Luna, situated in the middle of nowhere in the deserts of south east California.

I'll do my best to explain how they all relate to one another.

Eagles Of Death Metal: First appeared on the Desert Sessions album Vol. 3 & 4 in 1998 and consisted of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Desert Sessions, Mondo Generator) and his childhood friend Jesse Hughes. The debut album Peace Love Death Metal was released in 2004.

Brant Bjork & The Bros: Brant Bjork's music career was kicked off when he played drums in Kyuss between 1989 and 1993, at which point he left and was replaced by Alfredo Hernández (Queens of the Stone Age, Orquesta del Desierto, Mondo Generator, Ché, Brant Bjork & The Bros). He then went solo and became a frontman, releases a number of records.

Orquesta del Desierto: Formed in 2002 and features Dandy Brown of Hermano, Mario Lalli of Yawning Man and Fatso Jetson, and at one point featured Alfredo Hernández. Also featured Pete Stahl (Desert Sessions, Queens of the Stone Age).

Yawning Man: The godfathers of the Palm Desert Scene, forming as early as 1986 and were the main influence for bands like Kyuss. Features Gary Arce (Ten East, Fatso Jetson), Mario Lalli (Orquesta del Desierto, Fatso Jetson) and Alfredo Hernández and once featured Billy Cordell from Unida. Cordell currently plays in Brant Bjork's back-up band The Bros.

Kyuss: The definitive stoner rock/desert rock band, the one who put the place, the scene and the genre on the map. Existed between 1989 and 1995 and featured such Palm Desert alumni as Josh Homme, John Garcia (Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano), Scott Reeder (Unida), Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Mondo Generator) and drummers Brant Bjork & Alfredo Hernández.

Fu Manchu: Stoner rock legends in which Brant Bjork played drums between 1997 and 2002. Fu Macnhu now features drummer Scott Reeder who should not be confused with the Kyuss/Unida bassist of the same name.

Hermano: After Kyuss split up, singer John Garcia formed the band Slo Burn. After that fell apart he first formed Unida, and then his current band Hermano which features Dandy Brown of Orquesta del Desierto.

Mark Lanegan: Came into prominence as the singer of Screaming Trees, which for a short while featured Josh Homme on rhythm guitar. Has worked with Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Mondo Generator, Masters of Reality etc.

Queen of the Stone Age: Formed by Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme after leaving Screaming Trees in 1997 and the first line up consisted of Screaming Trees bassist Van Connor and Alfredo Hernández. QOTSA has at one point or another featured most people mentioned in this post.

Masters Of Reality: Was formed by singer/guitarist Chris Goss (who produced several of Kyuss' albums) in 1986. Has featured among others Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan.

Mondo Generator: Was formed by Nick Oliveri in 1997 and has featured Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, earthlings?, Eagles of Death Metal), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, earthlings?), Mark Lanegan, Josh Homme and Alfredo Hernández.

Desert Sessions: A loosely formed project orchestrated by Josh Homme. Their first release, Vol 1 & 2, came out in 1997 and featured members of Monster Magnet and Soundgarden. On the ten volumes released so far Desert Sessions has, not unlike QOTSA, featured nearly everyone mentioned in this post at one point or any other.

Fatso Jetson: Formed in 1994 by Yawning Man members Mario and Larry Lalli. The band once featured Brant Bjork on rhytm guitar and has been produced by both Schneebie of earthlings? and Chris Goss.

earthlings?: Formed in 1994 and featured Fred Drake, the owner of the aforementioned Rancho De La Luna, until his untimely death in 2002. Also features Dave Catching (who currently runs and lives at Rancho De La Luna), Gene Trautmann (Queens of the Stone Age), Molly McGuire (Mondo Generator, Queens of the Stone Age, Mark Lanegan), and Pete Stahl.

Ché: A shortlived side project formed in 2000 by Dave Dinsmore (Unida), Alfredo Hernández and Brant Bjork. Released their only album Sounds of Liberation the same year.

Nebula: A band formed in 1997 by Eddie Glass and Ruben Romano after they left Fu Manchu. Once featured Scott Reeder (Kyuss) on bass, and now features Rob Oswald (Mondo Generator) on drums.

Ten East: A desert rock supergroup consisting of Gary Arce, Brant Bjork, Mario Lalli and others.

Unida: Formed after the split up of Kyuss and Slo Burn, and featured Billy Cordell and Kyuss members John Garcia and Scott Reeder.

Phew! Damn, that was as exhausting as it was confusing. Did you really read the whole thing? Did you make any sense of it? If so, you have my respect.

Ah well, enough of that, let's move on to the music, which to me is the ultimate summer music. Maybe it's the desert thing, but I always felt these bands worked better in the summertime when the sun is burning on your face so badly you can almost feel the desert breeze and the sand in your hair and all you want to do is have some tequila, jam some mellow tunes and watch the sunset.

(zip) Metal Bastard's Desert Rock Collection (81 mb)

1. Natasha Shneider - Intro (2002)
2. Eagles of Death Metal - Only want you (2004)
3. Brant Bjork & The Bros - Gonna make the pony trot (2005)
4. Orquestra Del Desierto - Make fun (2002)
5. Yawning Man - Split tooth thunder (2005)
6. Kyuss - Asteroid (1993)
7. Fu Manchu - Pigeon toe (1999)
8. Hermano - Landetta (motherload) (2002)
9. Mark Lanegan - On Jesus' program (2002)
10. Queens Of The Stone Age - The most exalted potentate of love (2003)
11. Masters Of Reality - Also ran song (live, 2002)
12. Mondo Generator - Four corners (2003)
13. Desert Sessions - Jr. High love (1998)
14. Fatso Jetson - Fucked up & famous (1999)
15. earthlings? - Family Ford (2002)
16. Ché - Blue demon (2000)
17. Nebula - Do it now (BBC Session, 2001)
18. Ten East - Spiritual hangover (2006)
19. Unida - You wish (1999)
20. Dave Catching - Outro (2002)

Buy 'em @ Amazon.com.