Masters of Reality
is a hard rock group formed in 1986 by guitarist and singer Chris Goss and Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York. The band is sometimes associated with the "Palm Desert Scene", which includes bands like Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and many other stoner rock or (as they prefer to call it) "desert rock" bands. The band is named after the album Master of Reality
by Black Sabbath.
The band's music has touched on many styles, ranging from hard rock to blues, from progressive rock to Beatlesque pop music.
Frontman Goss is also a notable producer (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Soulwax, Melissa Auf der Maur, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster) and has contributed to many other bands in the Palm Desert Scene and beyond.
A new album is scheduled for release on August 24, 2009 .
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MASTERS OF REALITY TICKETS
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Band History
After its first incarnation - which consisted of Chris Goss, Tim Harrington, Vinnie Ludovico and Googe - ended following the release of the self-titled debut album in 1988 there has been a revolving door policy in which Goss remains the only constant.
In 1992, Goss and Googe resurfaced as Masters of Reality with
Sunrise on the Sufferbus
. Joined by drummer
Ginger Baker (formerly of
Cream), the album spawned a Top 10 chart hit with the single "She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)." Baker left the band after about a year, and was replaced by Victor Indrizzo (of
Circus of Power and
Samiam).
Masters of Reality also recorded the song "Climb Inside My World" for a
Ren & Stimpy episode entitled "
Jerry the Bellybutton Elf." The song was written by
Steve Mellor who also wrote the episode it appeared in.
Masters of Reality were rarely active for several years afterwards due to Goss being occupied with production duties for other bands. However, the band did appear at
Johnny Depp's
Viper Room night club in 1997 for a two-night stand, and a resultant live album,
How High the Moon
featured
Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland on "Jindelee Jindalie."
In 1999 the band released
Welcome to the Western Lodge
. Goss' connection to
Queens of the Stone Age resulted in the collaborative
CD Deep in the Hole
in 2001, and two years later, in the release of the subsequent live album
Flak 'n' Flight
.
The band released its fifth album,
Give Us Barabbas
, in 2004, which was more of a collection of lost tracks - opening with the 'Ballad of Jody Frosty'.
Members
"Masters Of Reality will always be a project with alternating lineups. First of all, because I can't afford paying people to tell they're in the band." (Chris Goss in 2002 metal-inside.de (German))
Last live lineup (also during the Azkena Rock festival on
2005-09-02):
- Chris Goss (vocals, guitar, keyboard)
- John Leamy (Drum kit)
- David Catching (guitar)
- Liam O´Malley (Bass guitar)
Previous lineups included:
- GOOGE bass, keyboards and cannoli
- Josh Homme (appears on Deep in the Hole
, Flak 'n' Flight
)
- Nick Oliveri (appears on Deep in the Hole
, Flak 'n' Flight
)
- Mark Lanegan (appears on Deep in the Hole
, Flak 'n' Flight
)
- Ginger Baker (appears on Sunrise on the Sufferbus)
- John Mangicaro (filled a spot on Halloween 1986)
- Vinnie Ludovico (first lineup)
- Tim Harrington (first lineup)
Discography
Studio albums
- 1988 - Masters of Reality
- 1992 - Sunrise on the Sufferbus
- 1999 - Welcome to the Western Lodge
- 2001 - Deep in the Hole
- 2004 - Give Us Barabbas
- 2009 - Pine/Cross Dover
(due August 31 2009)
Live albums
- 1997 - How High the Moon: Live at the Viper Room
- 2003 - Flak 'n' Flight
Charted Single
| Song
| Rock
| Hot 100
| Album
|
| "She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)"
| #8
| —
| Sunrise on the Sufferbus
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References