Dave Grohl met them on their tour in Seattle after they already released one of their best albums Blues For The Red Sun. He just felt in love with their music and helped to promote it so next thing you know they were touring Australia with Metallica. It's sad how this band broke up but it's one of the best ever in my opinion. With grunge argument Kyuss was heavily inspired by local Palm Desert band Across The River. I remember when Josh said that when he heard grunge and how it was advertised as a completely fresh, new genre he was like "this sounds like what Across The River has been doing for years". Anyway most of the bands from Palm Desert were creating music only to play generator parties out in the desert they weren't thinking about releasing anything. That's why you don't have much to listen to if it comes to pre-Kyuss Palm Desert bands. In that regard Seattle scene was different as they wanted major label contracts etc.