Brant Bjork, Kyuss founder, discusses music career

Raised in Palm Desert two hours east of Los Angeles, Brant Bjork found his way into playing the local underground punk scene by the age of 13. During high school he collected the finest musicians in the desert and established what became Kyuss - one of the most influential Rock bands of the late 80's, early 90's era. In the 25 years since founding Kyuss, Brant tells stories of battling fame, depression, lawsuits and publication deals. He shares his potpourri of musical influences and how the surrounding Coachella Valley landscape contributed to his pioneering the still-imitated Desert Rock sound. The sound continues as Brant Bjork and his Low Desert Punk band will return to the desert for a local show in April...at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

[@CTCAC2000]

great interview. Brant is a true artist and more importantly, a thoughtful and good person. His positive outlook on life is refreshing and also very inspiring. The world needs many more Brants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cynthiasummers8238]

There is something special about the music of the desert. The desert is known for its known world class drummers. There is a drumbeat of the desert.. something one can hear in their soul.

[@ildeesonesto]

He's the best dude in the scene.

[@jammatati3844]

world* :)

[@MatijaTurk4]

Yes!! Best of the best! ;)

[@ChristianW1975]

I agree

[@joealexzander7270]

i guess Im randomly asking but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid lost the password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!

[@brandonwesson2329]

@Joe Alexzander Instablaster =)

[@Intaminator]

I had the honor of doing an interview with him as well. Easily one of the nicest and most chill guys I've ever come across. He's authentic as few others.

[@CuentosMayores]

Thank you for this interview. It was such a fantastic watch, and Brant is an incredible guy

[@Ratchetftw]

Wow, thanks so much for doing this interview! I'd never heard Brant speak in depth like this - he's incredibly inspiring.

[@jordicastella2741]

Great interview, new info I didn't know. Cheers from Chile!

[@Darrenroseradio]

Jordi Castellà Thanks! Cheers to Chile!

[@nicolasflores2957]

Wena wn ql

[@freeinformation9869]

I guess I learned that: "Boredom is often the precursor for great decisions and great things" :-)

[@TheHell666yeah]

Josh I guess is all about the money... while Brant is all about making really cool music. Respect for John & Brant. I Love the Kyuss, love the John's solo album and love the Brant's records. Those records are kind a part of me. True desert vibes. Keep up the good work guys. Cheers.

[@leafrowan357]

Couldnt agree more. Brant Bjork and John Garcia are awesome musicians with the integrity of true artists and it shows in the high quality of their music. Since they parted company with Josh Homme 95% of Homme's music has been unlistenable.

[@CountBrass]

Leaf Rowan You think the first three Queens of the Stone Age albums are "unlistenable"?

[@tijsdw6481]

+TheHell666yeah I feel Josh never comprimised musicwise. You can hate the music, but it is just intellectual wrong that Josh is all about the money. They maybe only have one album that is mainstream or really commercial: 'Lullabies to Paralyze' but apart from that, they have always been moving forward, doing it their way, and kept their integrity. Just because they are becoming popular and there is a business side related to their music, isn't a reason to say they are 'all about the money'. Josh has even always provided trust funds for band members, which is not so common. And Brant's argument of saying: 'why let the truth get in the way of a good story' is a weak argument. Like you didn't say anything wrong. I respect both of them, and the truth lies probably somewhere in the middle

[@cubehire3653]

+TheHell666yeah I like Hermano's Only a Suggestion very much. There are some great riffs and solid vocals.

[@bokehintheussr5033]

Qotsa's first two or three albums were groundbreaking and mindblowing to me. I do think Josh Homme is something of a genius, the quality of some of his material is questionable but he has been very prolific, and his guitar playing is absolutely unique and brilliant. I don't see why you feel the need to compliment Brant Bjork and John Garcia by dissing Josh Homme. They're all great: Nick Olivieri and Scott Reeder too, and all the yawning man and Fatso Jetson guys.. all part of an amazing scene.

[@robbyvanderford7823]

So glad my younger brother turned me on to this. Love this sound! could listen to it all day, and not get tired of it.

[@JPPanttila]

Thanks for this.

[@batman24842]

Brant is the man! I knew of him first on Fu Manchu then discovered Kyuss later... I grabbed Jalamanta when he first released it because I love his stuff and I've been following him ever since. What a pure artist... Man, it bums me out about Josh because I really like early Queen's and Dessert Sessions... This makes it hard to see Josh the same way. Great interview!

[@cubehire3653]

I agree with you 100%. Early Queens of the Stone Age waned in later albums. I often introduce people to Brant Bjork’s music. I tell them this is what I like to listen too.

[@jimmyharbin1674]

Man. I was flickn. ..on u tube looking up all kinds of bands that I've. Never heard off. And bjork popped up. I never heard of this dude . Man I started listing every. Track man. And I found me a new awesome. Music. And. Groovy. And. Got an old school sound. And the drums man. I love it man. You rock man. Bjork. Keep putting out records man

[@cubehire3653]

That was an excellent interview where I learned a lot thank you. The Low Desert Punk Band is in constant rotation in my vehicles. It would be great if The Low Desert Punk Band played a Boston gig.

[@Ridingnz46]

Best version of Sunshine of your love. Paradise on Earth is awesome man

[@imagiboomericrobison7908]

Great story.. such a well spoken and interesting dude.. thanks.. I’ve watch this interview many times over and over..

[@jamie-leighsmith558]

Wonderful interview. He's an absolute dude.

[@DominikLederhas]

Damn, what a good interview!

[@startervisions]

rock n roll

[@imagiboomericrobison7908]

“I am intuitive enough to understand that I’m not into it..”..great bro!!

[@aaronbickford8725]

IMO, Brant Bjork is a friggin’ national treasure, man. He doesn’t get near enough credit for how cool and truly talented he is. No, he may not be nearly the most technical drummer or guitar player out there, but the man just has style for days. The man is just cool, there’s no 2 ways about it.

[@marcbasil]

He was a freakishly technical drummer before he messed his shoulder up

[@beaumontlivingston5430]

Brant Bjork is one laid back dude. love that guy.

[@kyussworld3031]

Great interview!!

[@MrBobert75]

Man I love hearing all these old memories!

[@Legocollecter555]

Dig it man....thanX dude!!

[@jeffkennedy1959]

very good interview with a very nice human being. so many interviewers are more interested in reading their questions than listening to the conversation, darren does a real good job expanding the info that brant brings forward. kyuss was such a phenomenol and life changing band that truly was original. brant is a very humble and intelligent person who is so well versed in many different music cultures. growing up in the desert must have been very influential on the character of many of these artists. brant, john, scott and even josh are all very down to earth people who i would love to just know as individuals. Guinness is the only commercial beer i will drink, so AAAA+++ to brant for that as well. understand he also likes the P-funk too.; that is awesome for him

[@marcbasil]

Bjork is not humble lol

[@ilpezkato]

Great interview. Jees!... Brant is a really cool guy. Greetings from Argentina!

[@ilpezkato]

46:38 Superb!

[@zw331]

Kick ass interview!!! Too cool ...Son of Kyuss...old school D & D from the Monster Manual

[@noahromeo6451]

great interview

[@STORMCombatSystem]

Brant is a super cool and interesting individual, congrats also to the interviewer, he did a good job.

[@krisathe1stp0wer46]

Great interview.You brought the best stories out of the excellent Brant, to be heard. The roots will always involve Kyuss (applies to John Garcia as well) whatever the name.

[@matthewensign9683]

Brant Bjork is in my top 5 favorite Drummers/musicians. His music and that which he collaborates on is never really about the technical aspect. This man knows how to craft some memorable grooves and that's the best medicine! Definitely a personal hero. oh and 16:46 is truth.

[@cubehire3653]

Yes he plays the drums great put I like music on his Stratocaster very much.

[@brain21]

lol at the dog peeing @ 2:11 :D Oh! And good interview as well! :)

[@deanstevenson6527]

The truth is what makes a story... Gooooooood. Wurd.🥝✔️

[@TimeTraveller625]

Damn, I really believe he should be awarded with 'The Coolest Man on the Earth' medal or something like that

[@timbsm]

You're God Damned Right.

[@tamadrummer1nz]

In a ideal world it would be great if John, Josh, Brant, Nick or Scott could be friends again and some Kyuss jams, doesn't have to be serious, maybe just a tour. But hey this is what we have now, and they are all doing music away from it that they love, so it's great we have that

[@saftovooey4569]

There's A LOT more to the whole Josh Homme lawsuit story than that.

[@eihthype6578]

Please inform us

[@marcbasil]

Bjork is a clown

[@tiziocaio4561]

Sabotage! Yes! Best album ever, so underrated!

[@peterb7435]

Brant is a Cool dude. Great job darrin!

[@l.k.1011]

What a dude...

[@sagmcnuts]

Brant is a cool cat. Thanks for interview

[@toynazi]

Hes the real deal!

[@magnus5356]

Swede power to yah Brant! Met you a few timea some years ago tru some pretty convoluted family ties.

[@Matt-rk3de]

I try to comprehend what Josh talks about.. and it escapes me. This, I get. Well spoken.

[@thirdeyelandslide_]

Listening to Gods and Goddesses while watching this \m/

[@prawympasem2927]

Rise Up!

[@ChristianW1975]

He seems like the nicest guy

[@freeinformation9869]

Great talk. A bit too much about the sad lawsuit chapter imo. Its mostly part of the boring flip-side of things. Wondered what ever happened to Vista Chino? Would also really love to hear more about the background of the Sabbia movie, which I really digg. And what about his Duna records company? Where can we even get a copy of the new Low Desert Punk album? I have even been looking for CD-copies of his earlier albums for years now. I mean CDs not even vinyl! I cant find them anywhere. Its crazy.

[@leafrowan357]

thats weird, I got Brants most recent CD from amazon and almost all of his other stuff from amazon over the last couple of years, I think most of it is obtainable. I hear Brant wanted to record another album Vista Chino album but John decided to record and tour his solo album.

[@freeinformation9869]

Leaf Rowan Ok I will have a look. Should have checked Amazon properly of course. Im sure it must have been a recent addition. Anyway... Amazon are creepy employers and I will not buy anything from them ever. But if its on Amazon, I might get it elsewhere too. Thanks for posting.

[@oldhamowls]

+Free Information try these guys, they have a ton of great stuff www.allthatisheavy.com

[@cubehire3653]

you can find it on amazon www.amazon.com/Black-Power-Flower-Brant-Desert/dp/B00N1S96US/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1451008576&sr=1-1&keywords=low+desert+punk

[@artcarcrash71]

After seeing this video interview and Sabbia, I would say in an English accent "F**King Badass!"

[@butchmeister1342]

even in kyuss homme acted like an alien but he was part of it so we all must pay homme respect

[@marcbasil]

Homme WAS Kyuss

[@mosesgarner2404]

Was this recorded at Brant's house? I'm just wondering if those were his doggos.

[@DesertShoreExperience]

Ckeck out the songs from Desert Shore Experience! Noctural Migration on the vol. 1 album and Soul Stoned on the vol. 2 album

[@Shabboi]

Interview the dog next. He was so cute!

[@nessy9022]

Sweet guy, killer musician

[@saftovooey4569]

He's the most mellow dude...

[@citternboy]

How cool is that dog

[@p3l0n78]

Cove life🤟🏽

[@csabapetrovay4919]

Listening to sabbia while watching this HigH focused :D

[@jennalin9064]

Your half of a writing entity and one of four members of an iconic band. Brant said it himself that each member fairly got 25%. Fast forward years and three members decide to cut you out of your 25% and carry on playing the music you wrote and take all the royalties moving forward. Would you be OK with that?

[@nessy9022]

If this is a reference to Kyuss lives, in many countries, registered performers are required to send set lists to ASCAP equivalents so that Homme would still be entitled to royalties for any songs Kyuss Lives played live that he is listed as a songwriter of. Obviously Josh wouldnt be receiving payment for the actual performance, but collecting performance royalties, if he's lawyered up, as it seems he is, he should be receiving them for any global performance of any song he's had a hand in writing. If this system didn't exist, people would be releasing covers and stealing samples all over the show and writers wouldn't be receiving a cent. This legal system is why music gets taken down from KZbin, it's why media such as radio stations or spotify must pay royalties, or you must pay to use a song in a film etc. Although Kyuss Lives were trading under another name, he should have been getting paid for their labour performing his songs. Which was incidentally why he took over songwriting from Brant in the 90s. Hommes preoccupation with muscling the other songwriters out of the role in order to maximise his royalties is a key impetus for Bjork leaving Kyuss. I appreciate that these systems are not widely understood outside the industry. But a pretty simple rule of thumb is to assume that anyone with sufficient visibility covering a song they're not listed as songwriter of is printing free money for the actual songwriters. Homme himself is even on record that his key issue with Kyuss Lives was that it was tainting the legacy. Money otoh, should have been coming to him in the form of performance royalties and ongoing Kyuss album sales generated by Kyuss Lives playing to another generation of fans.

[@bobogliddabrun]

He likes the Guinness, awesome!

[@RC-gg1ib]

1986 ... 13yrs old, summer mowin grass bought a 78 xr75 and a explorer knock off. Oh lord i was shittin in high cotton

[@emanymton9244]

A few take-aways I got from this interview: 1.) Brant is one cool f'n dude. Wish I had the opportunity to drink a beer w/ him and Otis. Oh, and I guess Darren can be there too. :p 2.) This interview solidifies, in my mind, how much of a jerk Josh H is. I never really cared for Josh's arrogance, and the acclaim that QOTSA gets. Their music stinks IMHO. 3.) What a great compliment paid to Scott Hill.

[@Darrenroseradio]

Eman Ymton thanks for the beer drinking invite and for checking out the interview!

[@SunofShasta]

2:10 ...in the background

[@freeinformation9869]

2:11...:-D nice dog.

[@Darrenroseradio]

Ha - yep! That's my boy Otis!

[@fulmarmusic1413]

Brant Bjork is the powerhouse of spirit in Kyuss. Without him the band loses half of it's cool.

[@marcbasil]

Weird because many feel the band got better after he left

[@iommiclife794]

Spirit of Kyuss? Somehow yes but not without the other guys. Scott Reeder is a better bass-player than Nick und even Brant looked up to Alfredo Hernandez who is an amazing drummer (not overusing the ride-cymbal ;)) All of these desert-rats a cool dudes and the outcome was always great.

[@francishynes645]

Brandts a good speaker

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

Good interview up until the interviewer clearly decided to get on Brant's side of the story by saying Josh claims to be or was painted as the soul driving force of Kyuss in the Sonic Highways doc. Josh has never claimed such or was put in that light, they interviewed Scott, Chris Goss, and Mario Lalli for that as well. It's quite a bit of a double standard saying that the band was the sum of its' parts but because he took the name from a D&D book he's entitled to whatever that band's future, and therefore legacy is. The fact is, Josh was supportive of what Kyuss Lives was as a touring entity, a thank you to the fans and promotion for John, Brant, and Nick's solo projects. Where the album comes into play is where it gets greasy, Brant says it was talked about from the beginning, evidence shows at least in the press that they didn't even talk about it until a year later. Jesse Hughes claims Josh tried to talk it out numerous times with the two over the phone before bringing the lawsuit into play as a final ultimatum, but who knows? It's all over now, but people will continue to fan the flames, and that's unfortunate. They've gotten along better in the past than Brant says, though, Brant played with Josh on Desert Sessions, in Mondo Generator both on a record and live a few times, and even came close to joining Queens on the Song for the Deaf tour. As a matter of fact, he even loaned his drums to Dave Grohl on the American leg. Look it up for yourself.

[@guybrushthreepwood7878]

I don't want to hate Josh but when it comes to pick a side i am in the Bjork camp. I also like his music much more then Queens. Queens is too much pop music for me. Doesn't mean it is bad. It is only me who likes Brant's music more. Great interview. The whole interview.

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

I like Brant's music as well, I just don't think it's evolved much.

[@guybrushthreepwood7878]

Oh i think it has evolved but while at the core staying true to what it is, really nice relaxed stoner rock. Listen to Porto or Radio Mecca. Great tunes.

[@paul8079]

I think Brant and John felt a bit insulted by the media acting like it was Josh's band. I think that fueled resentment. And when Josh gave a thumbs down to the name, that was the breaking point. When a lawsuit gets involved, that's hard to reconcile. Brant will probably never get over it. But I could see John working with Josh in the future. I'd love for some reunion shows, maybe not a full time band. I really liked the guitarist from Kyuss Lives, but he's not Homme. He was emulating a sound. But Kyuss was never into emulation. It was fun, got a chance to see KL live and rocked the packed audience in Asheville, NC. Never had a chance to see Kyuss when I was young. They fulfilled a dream.

[@cleftturnip7774]

i dont want to write negetive coments

[@OthO67]

cleft turnip aka A Jonathan Lewis ....and you didn't, well done!

[@havardmoen6423]

Dunajam!

[@paul8079]

Josh was the Donald Trump of the group. He was driven more than any others in the band to make it big. That's what he wanted more than anything IMO. And he did it. It think the rest of the group were content producing good music that they liked. But Brant and the guys from Kyuss deserve more respect than even Josh Homme. They did their own thing for the love of the music and not a quest to be noticed or popularity. I'm not saying Homme doesn't care about the music. His records speak for themselves. They are great. But the "other guys" were great as well.

[@startervisions]

what happened?

[@bantom360]

The “Donald Trump”? Well Homme’s a good businessman for one... So what else don’t they have in common?

[@RC-gg1ib]

All my friends know tha low rida

[@davidboughton3129]

Too Many Chiefs....... 2010 Rockpalast is the best tune since Green Machine/Gardenia from all y'all ever since.

[@jargero8203]

Mic is distorting...

[@Bromoteknada]

Oh look,it's Dana White.

[@RocksNRuts4]

Discovered Kyuss on a comp cd many yrs ago n was hooked! for josh to do that is not cool.

[@marcbasil]

Lolwut??

[@RC-gg1ib]

Born in 73? Call me!!

[@NadaCero]

Brant looks like Trevor from GTA V

[@lookapi]

Misfits ! ! !

[@gonzalocerron5690]

Never trust in Josh Homme.

[@thesantiso]

+Gonzalo Cerrón Why is it that redheaded people are often, if not always, assholes? Never cease to amaze me hahaha. But seriously, fuck that piece of shit. Long live Kyuss, John Garcia and Brant Bjork

[@TheRootsixtysix]

Hey don't be a ginger hater bro. Anyone who gets ridiculed about their appearance from an early age has the potential to turn into a prick out of a subconscious need to compensate, not just Gingers. Kyuss are the best though, you're right.

[@saftovooey4569]

Listen to Josh's side of the story about the whole Kyuss lawsuit. He seems to be in the right.

[@jordicastella2741]

Hey Mark, have a link to that? Cheers

[@kevinmcnamara2082]

Dog 😆

[@st-cf6kj]

pot brent interview stoner rock REPEAT

[@dummychannel8058]

totally overrated guy - kyuss was ok - saw him live at the sftu in germany - boring....compared to the rest of the bands

[@MrKnisterable]

But why are you interested in this interview if you do not like the music?

[@marcbasil]

Kyuss was incredible, but yes, brants contribution to the band is highly overrated