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Masters of Reality is an American
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band formed in 1981 by frontman
Chris Goss Christopher Ryan Goss (born August 17, 1958) is an American record producer and musician. Best known for producing records for Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age, he is regarded as an important figure in the development of stoner rock and deser ...
and guitarist Tim Harrington in
Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album. Goss has remained the only constant band member. The band's music has touched on many styles, ranging from
hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
to
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...
, from
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...
to
Beatlesque "Beatlesque" () or "Beatles-esque" describes a musical resemblance to the English rock band the Beatles. The term is loosely defined and has been applied inconsistently to a wide variety of disparate artists. Definitions To better explain what t ...
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
. The band is sometimes associated with the "
Palm Desert Scene The Palm Desert Scene is a group of related bands and musicians from Palm Desert, California. Their hard rock sound – sometimes described as desert rock – contains elements of heavy metal, psychedelia, blues, punk, alternative, grunge, and ...
", which includes bands like
Kyuss Kyuss ( ) was an American rock band, formed in Palm Desert, California, in 1987. The band disbanded in 1995, and since then, members of Kyuss have gone on to form or play in several notable bands including Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu, D ...
,
Queens of the Stone Age Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated QOTSA) is an American rock band formed in 1996 in Palm Desert, California. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout multiple line- ...
and many other
stoner rock Stoner rock, also known as stoner metal or stoner doom, is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of doom metal with psychedelic rock and acid rock. The genre emerged during the early 1990s and was pioneered foremost by Kyuss and Sleep. ...
and "desert rock" bands.


History

Frontman Chris Goss started out with a band covering heavy 1970s rock acts (New York Dolls, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Blue Öyster Cult, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin) and writing his own songs since circa 1975. After getting into punk rock for a while (performing at
CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for '' Country'', '' BlueGrass'', and '' Blues'', Kri ...
in 1978), he didn't play guitar for a few years, instead preferring electronic music like
Kraftwerk Kraftwerk (, "power station") is a German band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk were among the first successful acts to popularize the ...
and becoming a club DJ. In 1981 Goss and Tim Harrington started to make experimental home recordings with lo-fi, cheap and/or borrowed equipment that included a Sanyo boombox Rhythm Ace drum machine, a Korg, synthesizers and a Fender Vibroverb amp. The rhythm tracks of synths and a beat recorded on cassette would be played back to "overdub" vocals, guitar, more synthesizers, et cetera. They considered Manson Family as a name for their act, but never actually used it for their performances. They played regularly at
CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for '' Country'', '' BlueGrass'', and '' Blues'', Kri ...
with a sound reminiscent of
Suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
or somewhat like how Nine Inch Nails or Marilyn Manson would sound in the 1990s. Early original songs included "Building the Kingdom", "Voodoo Doll", "Metal Entity", "Cash", "Anchor", "Stones in Every Field" and "Doraldina's Prophecies". Masters of Reality grew into a four-piece with the addition of Googe (bass) and Vinnie Ludovico (drums) and developed a sound with less electronics and more heavy blues rock with influences like Black Sabbath, Cream, Led Zeppelin and King Crimson. A demo tape reached producer
Rick Rubin Frederick Jay Rubin (; born March 10, 1963) is an American record producer. He is the co-founder (alongside Russell Simmons) of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records. Rubin helped popula ...
who went to see a live show in late 1986 and then signed the band to
Def Jam Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop. The ...
. Rubin brought out the blues rock character of the band Rubin quit Def Jam but took the band with him to his new
Def American American Recordings (formerly Def American Recordings) is an American record label headed by producer Rick Rubin. The label has featured artists such as Slayer, the Black Crowes, ZZ Top, Danzig, Trouble, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, The Mother Hips ...
label, before their self-titled debut album was eventually released in 1989. The band appears briefly in the 1990 film ''
Marked for Death ''Marked for Death'' is a 1990 American action film directed by Dwight H. Little. The film stars Steven Seagal as John Hatcher, a former DEA troubleshooter who returns to his Illinois hometown to find it taken over by a posse of vicious Jamaica ...
'' (starring Steven Seagal). Goss got frustrated with the band while touring the debut album. He quit the tour after
Matt Dike Matt Dike (December 2, 1961 – January 16, 2018) was an American music executive, record producer, and DJ. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Delicious Vinyl in 1987. In the 1980s, Dike was artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's studio assistant a ...
invited him to come to Los Angeles and to get signed to his
Delicious Vinyl Delicious Vinyl is an American independent record label founded by Matt Dike and Michael Ross in 1987 and based in Los Angeles, California. History Michael Ross was a student at the University of California, Los Angeles when he met Matt Dike, a ...
label. They bought the rights from Rubin and released a newly sequenced version of the album with ''Doraldina's Prophecies'' as an extra track. In 1992 Goss and Googe resurfaced, now with
Ginger Baker Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and Music of Africa, Africa ...
(formerly of
Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...
) on drums. The new album '' Sunrise on the Sufferbus'' spawned a Top 10 rock chart hit with the single "She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)". An album cut sometimes used by American radio shows when they have a British guest is "T.U.S.A.", a rap by Baker describing the inability of Americans to make a proper cup of tea. Baker left the band after a few years and was replaced by Victor Indrizzo (of
Circus of Power Circus of Power is an American hard rock band formed in New York City in 1987. They disbanded in 1995 and reformed in 2014. To date, they have released four studio albums and three EPs. Overview With a sound similar to Alice in Chains, AC/DC ...
and
Samiam Samiam (pronounced "sam-I-am") is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, active since 1988. History Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 wit ...
). Masters of Reality recorded the song "Climb Inside My World" for a 1994 ''
Ren & Stimpy ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' (also known as ''Ren & Stimpy'') is an American animated television series created by Canadian animator John Kricfalusi. Originally produced by Spümcø for Nickelodeon, the series aired from August 11, 1991, to Decemb ...
'' episode entitled "Jerry the Bellybutton Elf". The song was written by Steve Mellor who also wrote the episode in which it appeared. Masters of Reality recorded a full studio album entitled ''The Ballad of Jody Frosty'' for Epic that was scheduled to be released in 1995, but it was shelved. One song appeared on the live album ''
How High the Moon "How High the Moon" is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue '' Two for the Show'', where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. In ''Two for the S ...
'' (1997) and some of the studio recordings were released on ''
Give Us Barabbas ''Give Us Barabbas'' is the fifth studio album of the American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2004. Material for the album comes from sessions for a planned release on Epic Records in the mid 1990s entitled ''The Ballad of Jody Frosty ...
'' (2004). The full album was eventually leaked online in 2004. Masters of Reality were quiet for several years as Goss was occupied producing music for other bands. However, the band did appear at
Johnny Depp John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Award ...
's
Viper Room The Viper Room is a nightclub and live music venue located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States. It was established as The Viper Room in 1993 and was partly owned by actor Johnny Depp. The other part owner was Sal J ...
night club in 1997 for a two-night stand, and a resultant live album, ''
How High the Moon "How High the Moon" is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue '' Two for the Show'', where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. In ''Two for the S ...
'' featured
Stone Temple Pilots Stone Temple Pilots (also known by the initialism STP) is an American rock band from San Diego, California, that originally consisted of Scott Weiland (lead vocals), brothers Dean (guitar) and Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals), and Eric Kretz ...
vocalist Scott Weiland on "Jindalee Jindalie". In 1999 the band released '' Welcome to the Western Lodge''. Goss' connection to
Queens of the Stone Age Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated QOTSA) is an American rock band formed in 1996 in Palm Desert, California. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout multiple line- ...
resulted in the collaborative album '' Deep in the Hole'' in 2001, and two years later, in the release of the subsequent live album ''
Flak 'n' Flight ''Flak 'n' Flight'' is the second live album by American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2003. Reception In 2005, ''Flak 'n' Flight'' was ranked number 449 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of A ...
''. In 2003, the band covered the song "
Devil's Radio "Devil's Radio" is a song written by George Harrison that was first released on Harrison's 1987 album '' Cloud Nine''. It was not released commercially as a single, but a promotional single was released and the song reached #4 on the '' Billboar ...
" for the album ''Songs from the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison''. The band released its fifth album, ''
Give Us Barabbas ''Give Us Barabbas'' is the fifth studio album of the American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2004. Material for the album comes from sessions for a planned release on Epic Records in the mid 1990s entitled ''The Ballad of Jody Frosty ...
'', in 2004, a collection of lost tracks opening with the "Ballad of Jody Frosty". On August 24, 2009, the band released '' Pine/Cross Dover''.


Members

"Masters Of Reality will always be a project with alternating lineups. (...) I can't afford paying people to tell they're in the band." – Chris Goss in 2002 Spring 2015 European Tour: *
Chris Goss Christopher Ryan Goss (born August 17, 1958) is an American record producer and musician. Best known for producing records for Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age, he is regarded as an important figure in the development of stoner rock and deser ...
(
vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
,
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
) * John Leamy (
drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
) * Paul Powell (
bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
) * Josh Urist (guitar, keyboards) Summer 2013 European Tour: *
Chris Goss Christopher Ryan Goss (born August 17, 1958) is an American record producer and musician. Best known for producing records for Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age, he is regarded as an important figure in the development of stoner rock and deser ...
(
vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
,
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
,
keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
) * John Leamy (
drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
) * Mathias Schneeberger (
keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
) * Paul Powell(
bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
) *
Dave Catching David Catching (born June 7, 1961) is an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of the California stoner rock band earthlings?, a touring member of Eagles of Death Metal and the co-founder of the Rancho De La Luna re ...
(
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
) late 2010 US/UK Pine/Cross Dover tour: *
Chris Goss Christopher Ryan Goss (born August 17, 1958) is an American record producer and musician. Best known for producing records for Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age, he is regarded as an important figure in the development of stoner rock and deser ...
(
vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
,
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
,
keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
) * John Leamy (
drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
) * Mathias Schneeberger (
keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
) * Abby Travis (
bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
) *
Dave Catching David Catching (born June 7, 1961) is an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of the California stoner rock band earthlings?, a touring member of Eagles of Death Metal and the co-founder of the Rancho De La Luna re ...
(
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
) Previous line-ups included: * Tim Harrington (duo and first band lineup) * Googe (first band lineup) (appears on ''
Masters of Reality Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontman Chris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album. G ...
'', '' Sunrise on the Sufferbus'', ''
How High the Moon "How High the Moon" is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue '' Two for the Show'', where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. In ''Two for the S ...
'', ''
Give Us Barabbas ''Give Us Barabbas'' is the fifth studio album of the American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2004. Material for the album comes from sessions for a planned release on Epic Records in the mid 1990s entitled ''The Ballad of Jody Frosty ...
'' bass, keyboards and cannoli * Vinnie Ludovico (first band lineup) (appears on ''
Masters of Reality Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontman Chris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album. G ...
'' * Mr. Owl l Dunn(additional keyboards on ''
Masters of Reality Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontman Chris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album. G ...
'') *
Ginger Baker Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and Music of Africa, Africa ...
(appears on '' Sunrise on the Sufferbus'') * John Leamy (appears on '' Welcome to the Western Lodge'', '' Deep in the Hole'', ''
Flak 'n' Flight ''Flak 'n' Flight'' is the second live album by American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2003. Reception In 2005, ''Flak 'n' Flight'' was ranked number 449 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of A ...
'', '' Pine/Cross Dover'') *
Josh Homme Joshua Michael Homme ( ; born May 17, 1973) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the founder, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, which he form ...
(appears on '' Deep in the Hole'', ''
Flak 'n' Flight ''Flak 'n' Flight'' is the second live album by American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2003. Reception In 2005, ''Flak 'n' Flight'' was ranked number 449 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of A ...
'') *
Nick Oliveri Nick Steven Oliveri (born October 21, 1971) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He is perhaps best known as a former bassist of Kyuss and later Queens of the Stone Age from 1998 to 2004. Oliveri is also a solo artist and ...
(appears on '' Deep in the Hole'', ''
Flak 'n' Flight ''Flak 'n' Flight'' is the second live album by American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2003. Reception In 2005, ''Flak 'n' Flight'' was ranked number 449 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of A ...
'') *
Mark Lanegan Mark William Lanegan (November 25, 1964 – February 22, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet. First becoming prominent as the lead singer for the early grunge band Screaming Trees, he was also known as a member of Queens of the St ...
(appears on '' Deep in the Hole'', ''
Flak 'n' Flight ''Flak 'n' Flight'' is the second live album by American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2003. Reception In 2005, ''Flak 'n' Flight'' was ranked number 449 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of A ...
'') *
Brendon McNichol Brendon McNichol (born November 1969), is a lap-steel/guitar player, who has played with bands including Queens of the Stone Age, Masters of Reality. Biography In 1990 Brendon lived in Hollywood, California. The Drills released a 5-song EP in 199 ...
* Liam O'Malley (
bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
) * Paul Powell


Discography


Studio albums

* 1989 – ''
Masters of Reality Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontman Chris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album. G ...
'' * 1992 – '' Sunrise on the Sufferbus'' * 1999 – '' Welcome to the Western Lodge'' * 2001 – '' Deep in the Hole'' * 2004 – ''
Give Us Barabbas ''Give Us Barabbas'' is the fifth studio album of the American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2004. Material for the album comes from sessions for a planned release on Epic Records in the mid 1990s entitled ''The Ballad of Jody Frosty ...
'' * 2009 – '' Pine/Cross Dover''


Live albums

* 1997 – '' How High the Moon: Live at the Viper Room'' * 2003 – ''
Flak 'n' Flight ''Flak 'n' Flight'' is the second live album by American rock band Masters of Reality, released in 2003. Reception In 2005, ''Flak 'n' Flight'' was ranked number 449 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of A ...
''


Charted singles


References


External links


Official websiteGerman website with English translation
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1981 Rock music groups from New York (state) American stoner rock musical groups Musical groups from Syracuse, New York 1981 establishments in New York (state)