Dinosaur Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dinosaur Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
Dinosaur Jr. in Stockholm, Sweden in June 2008 (Left to right: J Mascis, Murph, Lou Barlow)
|
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Dinosaur (1984–1987) |
| Origin | Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Years active |
|
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band that started in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. They were first called Dinosaur, but had to change their name because of a legal issue.
The band was formed by J Mascis (who played guitar, sang, and wrote most of the songs), Lou Barlow (bass guitar and vocals), and Murph (drums). After releasing three albums with independent record labels, they became known as a very important band in American alternative rock.
Over time, there were some disagreements within the band. Mascis eventually asked Barlow to leave, and Barlow then started other bands like Sebadoh. Mike Johnson joined as the new bass player for three albums. Later, Murph also left, and Mascis took over playing drums on the band's albums until they stopped playing together in 1997.
But good news! The original band members got back together in 2005. Since then, they have released five more albums, continuing their unique sound. Mascis's singing style and his special guitar sound, which uses a lot of feedback and distortion, were very important and influenced many other bands in the 1990s alternative rock scene.
Contents
History of Dinosaur Jr.
How the Band Started
Before Dinosaur Jr., J Mascis and Lou Barlow played together in a hardcore punk band called Deep Wound. They formed this band in 1982 when they were in high school in western Massachusetts. After high school, they started to explore different kinds of music. They liked slower but still powerful bands like Black Sabbath and Neil Young.
Mascis's friend, Gerard Cosloy, who ran an independent record label called Homestead Records, offered to release a record if Mascis made one. Mascis wrote many songs and asked Barlow to play bass. Barlow thought the songs were amazing and very advanced. Mascis then asked Murph to play drums. They wanted their new band to sound like "ear-bleeding country."
The band was first called Mogo and played their first show in September 1984. However, Mascis decided to form a new band with just Barlow and Murph a few days later. They named themselves Dinosaur, and both Mascis and Barlow sang.
First Album: Dinosaur
Mascis took up Cosloy's offer, and Dinosaur recorded their first album, Dinosaur, for only $500. It was released in 1985. Mascis wrote all the songs and sang most of the lead vocals in his distinctive style. The album didn't become very popular at first, selling only about 1,500 copies in its first year.
After the album came out, Dinosaur often played shows in New York City. The band Sonic Youth saw them play and became fans. Sonic Youth then invited Dinosaur to tour with them in 1986.
Second Album: You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur recorded their second album, You're Living All Over Me, with Sonic Youth's engineer, Wharton Tiers. During the recording, Mascis had very specific ideas for Murph's drum parts, which caused some tension.
You're Living All Over Me was released in 1987. This album got much more attention in the indie-rock world than their first one. Barlow also wrote two songs for this album, showing his own musical style.
Why the Name Changed
Right after You're Living All Over Me was released, another band called Dinosaurs (which had members from famous bands like Grateful Dead) sued Dinosaur for using the same name. This made the band add "Jr." to their name, becoming Dinosaur Jr.
Bug and Changes in the Band
Dinosaur Jr. became very popular in the United Kingdom with their song "Freak Scene" in 1988. Their third album, Bug, came out soon after and was also very successful. In 1989, their cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" also charted in the UK.
Bug sounded similar to their previous album, with loud, distorted instruments and melodic singing. Mascis had even more control over the band's sound, singing almost all the songs and telling Murph and Lou what to play. Mascis has said that Bug is his least favorite of their albums.
Despite the album's success, disagreements between Mascis and Barlow continued. In 1989, after touring for Bug, Barlow left the band. He then focused on his band Sebadoh.
Years with a Major Record Label
Even with changes in the band, Dinosaur Jr. signed with Sire Records in 1990. Their first album with this major label was Green Mind in 1991. This album was mostly J Mascis playing all the instruments himself, with Murph only playing drums on a few songs.
For live shows, Mascis brought in Mike Johnson to play bass. They toured to support Green Mind, even playing with bands like Nirvana. In 1992, the band was part of the Rollercoaster Tour, a big festival tour.
The band's live shows were very popular, so they decided to record new music with Murph and Johnson. This led to their biggest commercial success. The song Start Choppin' reached the top 20 in the UK, and the album Where You Been reached the top 10 in the UK and top 50 in the US. The music on this album was easier to listen to, but it still had the powerful sound of the original band.
Murph left the band after touring for Where You Been. Mascis was then the only original member left. However, Mascis continued to record most of the band's future albums by himself, with Mike Johnson playing bass. Their success continued with Without a Sound in 1994. After the album Hand It Over in 1997, Mascis decided to stop using the Dinosaur Jr. name for a while.
Reunion in 2005 and Beyond
Mascis and Barlow slowly started to get along again in the mid-1990s. In 2002, they even played together at two shows in London.
In 2004, Mascis got back the rights to the band's first three albums. These albums were re-released in 2005. Later that year, Mascis and Barlow played together as Deep Wound at a benefit show.
.jpg)
After the re-releases, Mascis, Barlow, and Murph finally reunited to play on a TV show in April 2005. In June, they started a tour in Europe.
In 2007, the original members of Dinosaur Jr. released Beyond, their first album with new songs as a trio since Bug in 1988. Critics loved it, and it was a commercial success. For the first time since You're Living All Over Me, Barlow also helped write songs for the album.
In 2009, the band signed with a new record label, Jagjaguwar. They released the album Farm on June 23, 2009. This album reached number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it their highest-charting album in the US.
Dinosaur Jr. released their next album, I Bet on Sky, in September 2012. In 2015, Murph confirmed they were working on a new album, Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not, which was released on August 5, 2016.
In 2019, a song from their 1994 album, "Over Your Shoulder," became popular in Japan. This was likely because it was used on a Japanese TV show.
In February 2021, the band announced their 12th album, Sweep It Into Space, which came out on April 23, 2021. It was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They released two singles, "I Ran Away" and "Garden," with music videos before the album. The band also planned a tour in North America to support the album.
Dinosaur Jr.'s Music Style
Dinosaur Jr. is known for its unique sound, which mixes alternative rock, indie rock, and noise rock. Their music often features a lot of feedback, distortion, and very loud volumes. J Mascis's singing style, which is often described as a "whiny low-key drawl," is also a key part of their sound.
The band was influenced by classic rock artists like the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys, as well as punk and hardcore bands like The Birthday Party. They combined these different styles to create something new.
Lou Barlow's bass playing is also special. He uses heavily distorted, fast chords and powerful low notes, drawing from his hardcore punk background and musicians like Lemmy from Motörhead.
Dinosaur Jr.'s Influence
Many people consider Dinosaur Jr. to be a very important and influential band. They were seen as being "frighteningly ahead of their time" by the BBC. The Seattle Times called them "one of post-punk’s most influential bands."
Dinosaur Jr. was one of the first and best bands of a new generation of indie musicians. They brought back the extended guitar solo in underground rock, which was something new at the time.
Their music has influenced many famous musicians and bands, including Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Black Francis of Pixies, Radiohead, Graham Coxon of Blur, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, Teenage Fanclub, and Snow Patrol.
Their album You're Living All Over Me has been called "the first perfect indie rock album" by some. Spin magazine named it one of the "300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years."
Band members
|
Current members
|
Former members
|
Discography
- Dinosaur (1985)
- You're Living All Over Me (1987)
- Bug (1988)
- Green Mind (1991)
- Where You Been (1993)
- Without a Sound (1994)
- Hand It Over (1997)
- Beyond (2007)
- Farm (2009)
- I Bet on Sky (2012)
- Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not (2016)
- Sweep It Into Space (2021)
Filmography
- 2020 Freakscene – The Story of Dinosaur Jr. Documentary. Dir.: Philipp Reichenheim
See also
In Spanish: Dinosaur Jr. para niños
