Masters of Reality

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This article is about Masters of Reality. For the eponymous album, see Masters of Reality (album).

Masters of Reality is a hard rock group formed in 1981 by guitarist and singer Chris Goss and Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York. The band is now part of the "Palm Desert Scene", which includes Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and many other stoner rock or (as they prefer to call it) "desert rock" bands. They are named after the album Master of Reality by Black Sabbath.

Their music has touched on many styles, ranging from hard rock to Stoner metal, from progressive art rock to Beatlesque pop music.

Frontman Goss is also a notable producer (Kyuss, 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.

Contents

[edit] Band History

After its first incarnation - which consisted of Chris Goss, Tim Harrington, Vinnie Ludovico and Googe - ended following the release of their debut album in 1989 [1]. Afterwards, there has been a revolving door policy in which Goss remains the only constant.

In 1993, Goss and his Masters of Reality monicker resurfaced with Sunrise On The Sufferbus. Joined by legendary 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).

Masters of Reality also recorded the song "Jerry the Bellybutton Elf Song" 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, they did appearing at Johnny Depp's Viper Room night club in 1997 for a two-night stand, and a resultant live album, How High The Moon, which featured ex-Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland on "Jindelee Jindalie".

1999 saw the release of the Masters Of Reality 'return', Welcome To The Western Lodge. Notable tracks included "Great Spelunker", "Why The Fly?" and "Boymilk Waltz".

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.

2004 brought Give Us Barabus which was more of a collection of lost tracks - opening with the 'Ballad Of Jodie Frosty'.

[edit] 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 interview metal-inside.de (German))

Last live lineup [2] (also during the Azkena Rock festival on 2005-09-02):

Last studio lineup ([3]):

Previous lineups included:

  • 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)
  • John Magicaro (filled a spot on Halloween 1986) [4]
  • Vinnie Ludovico (first lineup)
  • Tim Harrington (first lineup)

[edit] Discography

Masters of Reality
(1988)

Sunrise on the Sufferbus
(1993)

How High the Moon: Live at the Viper Room
(1997)

Welcome to the western lodge
(1999)

Deep In The Hole
(2001)

Flak 'n' Flight (live)
(2003)

Give Us Barabbas
(2004)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

  • MastersofReality.com The official Masters of Reality site
  • MastersofReality.de Fanpage by Thomas Hornbruch (Mostly German but loose translation to English and French possible. Includes news, articles, band-history, forum with English section, multimedia and more.)
  • MastersofReality.co.uk Fanpage by Martin Sloan
  • Creepjoint.com Page for the original lead guitar wizard Tim Harrington
  • Masters of Reality Videos Here you can see some Masters videos e.g. "Blue Garden", "Domino", "She Got Me", "John Brown" or a documentary about the last "Deep In The Hole Tour 2001" (over 30 minutes long!)
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