Masters of Reality

For the Black Sabbath album, seeMaster of Reality.

This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Masters of Reality" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontmanChris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington inSyracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album,Master of Reality.^[1] Goss has remained the only constant band member. Since the release of theirself-titled debut album in 1989, Masters of Reality has released six studio albums so far.

Masters of Reality
Lead singerChris Goss in 2010
Background information
Origin	Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock stoner rock blues rock desert rock
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Def American Brownhouse Chrysalis

Members	Chris Goss John Leamy Paul Powell

Website	mastersofreality.com

The band's music has touched on many styles, ranging fromhard rock toblues, fromprogressive rock toBeatlesque pop music. The band is sometimes associated with the "Palm Desert Scene", which includes bands likeKyuss,Queens of the Stone Age and many otherstoner rock and "desert rock" bands.

History

edit

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 atCBGB in 1978), he didn't play guitar for a few years, instead preferring electronic music likeKraftwerk and becoming a club DJ.^[2]

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.^[3] They played regularly atCBGB with a sound reminiscent ofSuicide^[4] or somewhat like how Nine Inch Nails or Marilyn Manson would sound in the 1990s.^[2]

Early original songs included "Building the Kingdom", "Voodoo Doll", "Metal Entity", "Cash", "Anchor", "Stones in Every Field" and "Doraldina's Prophecies".^{[citation needed]}

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 producerRick Rubin who went to see a live show in late 1986 and then signed the band toDef Jam.^[4] Rubin brought out the blues rock character of the band^[2] Rubin quit Def Jam but took the band with him to his newDef American label, before their self-titled debut album was eventually released in 1989.^[4]

The band appears briefly in the 1990 filmMarked for Death (starring Steven Seagal).^{[citation needed]}

Goss got frustrated with the band while touring the debut album. He quit the tour afterMatt Dike invited him to come to Los Angeles and to get signed to hisDelicious Vinyl label. They bought the rights from Rubin and released a newly sequenced version of the album withDoraldina's Prophecies as an extra track.^[4]

In 1992 Goss and Googe resurfaced, now withGinger Baker (formerly ofCream) on drums. The new albumSunrise 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.^{[citation needed]} Baker left the band after a few years and was replaced by Victor Indrizzo (ofCircus of Power andSamiam).

Masters of Reality recorded the song "Climb Inside My World" for a 1994Ren & Stimpy episode entitled "Jerry the Bellybutton Elf". The song was written bySteve Mellor who also wrote the episode in which it appeared.^{[citation needed]}

Masters of Reality recorded a full studio album entitledThe Ballad of Jody Frosty for Epic that was scheduled to be released in 1995, but it was shelved. One song appeared on the live albumHow High the Moon (1997) and some of the studio recordings were released onGive Us Barabbas (2004). The full album was eventually leaked online in 2004.^[5]

Masters of Reality were quiet for several years as Goss was occupied producing music for other bands.^[6] However, the band did appear atJohnny Depp'sViper Room night club in 1997 for a two-night stand, and a resultant live album,How High the Moon featuredStone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland on "Jindalee Jindalie".

In 1999 the band releasedWelcome to the Western Lodge. Goss' connection toQueens of the Stone Age resulted in the collaborative albumDeep in the Hole in 2001, and two years later, in the release of the subsequent live albumFlak 'n' Flight.

In 2003, the band covered the song "Devil's Radio" for the albumSongs from the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison.

The band released its fifth album,Give Us Barabbas, in 2004, a collection of lost tracks opening with the "Ballad of Jody Frosty".

On August 24, 2009, the band releasedPine/Cross Dover.

Masters of Reality's seventh album, and its first in 16 years,The Archer, is due for release on April 11, 2025.^[7]

Members

edit

"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^[8]

May 2024 European Tour: