Thurston Moore is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter from Coral Gables, Florida. Born in 1958, he is best known for his work with Sonic Youth, where he plays guitar and shares lead vocal duties. He also runs the Ecstatic Peace! record label and appears in a wide range of solo and collaborative projects outside Sonic Youth.

Early life and Sonic Youth

Moore is raised in Bethel, Connecticut, and later moves to New York City after enrolling at Western Connecticut State University. In New York he learns guitar from Glenn Branca and then co-founds Sonic Youth. He remains identified with the band as its guitarist and lead vocalist, and his work with the group helps establish his reputation as a major figure in alternative and noise rock.

He is married to Sonic Youth bassist, guitarist and vocalist Kim Gordon in 1985, and they have a daughter, Coco Hayley Gordon Moore.

Solo work and collaborations

Alongside Sonic Youth, Moore releases solo albums under his own name and also one under the name David Adelmen. His solo records include Psychic Hearts, Root, Trees Outside the Academy and Demolished Thoughts. He works with a large number of other musicians, including My Cat is an Alien, DJ Spooky, Nels Cline, William Hooker, Christian Marclay, Loren Mazzacane Connors, R.E.M. and Cock E.S.P.

He also forms or joins a number of side and collaborative groups, including The Dim Stars with Richard Hell, To Live and Shave in L.A., Chelsea Light Moving, Ciccone Youth, Original Silence, Four Guitars, The Coachmen, Dim Stars, The Backbeat Band, Dream/Aktion Unit, Wylde Ratttz, Diskaholics Anonymous Trio, Record Club, Rodney & The Tube Tops, Male Slut, Caught on Tape, Society's Ills, The Peeper, Mirror/Dash, Thurston Moore Band, Puzzled Panthers, Two Virgins, Thurston Moore Group and Glenn Branca Ensemble.

Other work and recognition

Moore runs the independent label Ecstatic Peace! and also reviews new music for Arthur Magazine. He publishes the book Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture in 2005. He is known for using Fender Jazzmaster guitars as well as other Fender models such as the Mustang and Jaguar, and for playing with extended guitar techniques.

His wider recognition includes being ranked among Rolling Stone's greatest guitarists and appearing with Lee Ranaldo at number one in a Spin staff-selected guitarists list. He performs in and produces an album for the noise group To Live and Shave in L.A., and he launches Chelsea Light Moving in 2012 before the band releases its self-titled debut.

Labels and genres

Moore's work spans alternative rock, art rock, experimental rock, free improvisation, noise and noise rock. He is associated with labels including Geffen Records, Lo Recordings, Matador Records, Ecstatic Peace! and Ecstatic Peace Library Music, as well as Feminist and Religious.