Kyuss were an epically loud, epically low band from the desert. They rose to local prominence by playing impromptu outdoor shows called “generator parties,” setting up for small crowds in the desert with gasoline generators to power their amps. Their sound was shaped by playing both guitars and bass through overdriven bass amps. They gradually shifted from an up-tempo prototypical stoner rock sound on Blues for the Red Sun to a more expansive and spacious sound on Welcome to Sky Valley and …And the Circus Leaves Town. Alumni have seeded such bands as Queens of the Stone Age (Homme, Oliveri), Fu Manchu (Bjork), and Unida (Garcia). And now, apparently, Kyuss Lives! Almost. [more inside]
posted by Existential Dread on Jun 6, 2011 - 33 comments

In the wake of The Scarlet Pimpernel, countless figures have flamboyantly stalked the night. Among them were the scofflaw Arsene Lupin and his more violent contemporary, Fantomas. So influential was the latter that imitators soon arose, plying their merciless wiles on others. Among them were Fu Manchu, the nefarious Dr. Mabuse, the hooded Diabolik, and Matt Wagoner's Grendel. Not even Donald Duck was immune from the seductive lure of crime. [more inside]
posted by Smart Dalek on Aug 8, 2008 - 9 comments