Ex-Kyuss Frontman John Garcia Reveals He and Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher Have Started a Band
What happens when you mix the stoner/desert rock vocal sensibilities of ex-Kyuss vocalist John Garcia with the sludgy riffs of Mastodon‘s Bill Kelliher? I don’t know but the world could find out one day, as apparently that’s a real thing that’s happening.
During a recent interview with The Rockman Power Hour (as transcribed by Metal Injection), the host Jason Rockman brought up the up-until-now secret project with Garcia, citing the fact that they were both buddies with Kelliher.
“Bill and I have been… he’s one of my best friends. We’ve been friends for probably a good 12, 13 years now. I got a call from him maybe about a year and a half ago and he said to me, he goes ‘hey man, I’m gonna be working on this really rad project with a singer I think you like.’
“He told me that it was you and I was like ‘what the fuck? You’re working with John Garcia?’ So I was lucky enough to hear what was going on in this project over the last year. I was in Atlanta at his house he played me some of this stuff.”
It didn’t take much coaxing for Garcia to spill some of the details, confirming that the two men were indeed working on some new music. He also revealed that the project will involve ex-Karma To Burn bassist Rich Mullins and drummer Nathan Limbaugh, as well as the fact that this has been in the works for some time.
“I’m just super stoked to be involved with Bill, Rich, and Nathan from Karma To Burn. Rich and Nathan and I, we go way, way back. So when Rich said he was gonna be involved with the project with Bill from Mastodon, I was like, ‘where do I sign?’ I have to tell you, [Bill] is a badass. I have a mad amount of respect for Bill and his family, and his work ethic. He’s just a professional.
“I’m super stoked to be involved with him, and Rich, and Nathan. This was something that was completely and totally unexpected. The songs, I thought were really great and I said, you know ‘fuck it. I’ve got to be involved in this.’ Working with Bill and his team of engineers – I call them ‘the wizards’ – they’re great.”
There’s no indication that they’re any close to a release date, with Garcia only saying that “hopefully one of these days it’ll see the light of day.” As a fan of Kyuss and Mastodon, this sounds like it would be one hell of a band to check out.
