Dinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band from Amherst, Massachusetts, formed in 1983 by J Mascis on guitar and vocals and his high school classmate Lou Barlow on bass, after the break-up of their hardcore punk band Deep Wound. Murph, also known as Emmett Patrick Murphy, joins on drums soon afterwards. The group begins as Dinosaur and later adds “Jr.” after a legal threat from another band with the same name, although the shorter name still appears on some early releases.

Early years and breakthrough

The band signs to SST Records in 1987 on the recommendation of Sonic Youth and releases You're Living All Over Me, which is widely regarded as one of its defining albums. Bug follows the next year and is issued in the UK on Paul Smith’s Blast First Records, a label associated with Sonic Youth, Big Black and Butthole Surfers. During this period the band becomes known for extremely loud live performances and develops a cult following despite limited mainstream commercial success.

Style and influence

Dinosaur Jr.’s sound combines melodic songwriting with dense guitar noise and J Mascis’s long, understated solos. The band influences Nirvana and is associated with alternative rock, indie rock, indie, grunge and alternative rock scenes. Songs such as “Freak Scene” and “Just Like Heaven” help increase its profile and contribute to later label interest from Warner Brothers.

Line-up changes and 1990s albums

Tensions between Mascis and Barlow lead to Barlow’s departure in 1989. He continues with Sebadoh. After that, Dinosaur Jr. functions largely as a Mascis-led project. Bass duties are briefly filled live by Van Conner of Screaming Trees and Donna Dresch of Team Dresch, before Mike Johnson becomes the full-time bassist in 1991. Johnson plays on Whatever’s Cool With Me (1991), Where You Been (1993), Without a Sound (1994) and Hand It Over (1997).

Murph leaves in late 1993 after the Lollapalooza tour. George Berz takes over on drums from 1994 to 1997 and appears on Without a Sound and Hand It Over. In the 1990s, Mascis also records under the name J Mascis and the Fog.

Reunion and later activity

In 2004, Mascis regains the master rights to the first three Dinosaur Jr. albums from SST and arranges their reissue on Merge in early 2005. These reissues coincide with the original line-up of Mascis, Barlow and Murph reuniting for a summer tour. The reunion leads to Beyond in 2007 and the single “Been There All The Time”, Barlow’s first recording with the band since 1989. Dinosaur Jr. continues touring extensively, signs with Jagjaguwar in 2009 and releases Farm on the label.

Tours and live history

The band appears on the 1992 “Rollercoaster” package tour with The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and Blur. Its live reputation remains central to its identity, from the loud shows of the late 1980s to the later reunion-era touring.