This uncompromising alternative rock band from the university town of Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, was originally called simply Dinosaur. Their musical onslaught eventually dragged them, alongside the Pixies, into the rock mainstream of the late 80s.
Both J. Mascis (b. 10 December 1965, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; vocals/guitar) and Lou Barlow (b. Louis Knox Barlow, 17 July 1966, Dayton, Ohio, USA; bass) were formerly in the hardcore band Deep Wound, along with a singer called Charlie. The latter recruited his best friend Murph (b. Emmett Patrick Murphy; ex-All White Jury) from Connecticut, and was rewarded by the first line-up of Dinosaur ejecting him and thus becoming a trio. Mascis had by this time switched from drums to guitar to accommodate the new arrival. Mascis, apparently a huge fan of Sham 69 and the UK Oi! movement, had actually known Murphy at high school but they had never been friends. He formed Deep Wound as a response to seeing 999 play live when he was 14 years old.
During Dinosaur Jr's career internal rifts never seemed far from the surface, while their leader's monosyllabic press interviews and general disinterest in rock 'n' roll machinations gave the impression of "genius anchored by lethargy'. SST Records saw them establish their name as a credible underground rock act - their second album, 1987"s You're Living All Over Me, featured backing vocals from Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo. However, their debut album for Homestead had brought them to the attention of ageing hippie group Dinosaur, who insisted the band change their name. Mascis elected to add the suffix Jr.
Real recognition came with the release of the huge underground anthem "Freak Scene', which more than one journalist called the perfect pop single. Its sound was constructed on swathes of guitar and Mascis' laconic vocals, which were reminiscent of Neil Young. However, the parent album (1988"s Bug) and tour saw Barlow depart (to Sebadoh) and Donna became a temporary replacement. This line-up recorded a version of the Cure's "Just Like Heaven", which so impressed Robert Smith that it led to joint touring engagements. Soon afterwards they signed to Warner Brothers Records subsidiary Blanco y Negro, remixing their Sub Pop Records track "The Wagon" as their debut major label release. Subsequent members included Don Fleming (Gumball, etc.), Jay Spiegel and Van Conner (Screaming Trees), while Mascis himself flirted with other bands such as Gobblehoof, Velvet Monkeys and satanic metal band Upside Down Cross, principally as a drummer.
By the advent of 1991's Green Mind, Dinosaur Jr had effectively become the J. Mascis show, with him playing almost all the instruments. Although critically acclaimed, the 1993 follow-up Where You Been did not manage to build on the commercial inroads originally made by Green Mind. Without A Sound included several strong compositions such as "Feel The Pain" and "On The Brink', with the bass now played by Mike Johnson (b. 27 August 1965, Grant's Pass, Oregon, USA). Mascis also produced other artists including the Breeders and Buffalo Tom, and wrote the soundtrack for and appeared in Allison Anders' movie Gas Food Lodging. A new album, Hand It Over, was released in March 1997, and proved a full-bodied Dinosaur Jr recording that sounded like Mascis was once more committed to his music. While the lyrics were often muddied, Mascis" melodic grunge was very much intact.
Mascis formally announced the end of Dinosaur Jr in December 1997. He subsequently collaborated with Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) and Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) on his next project, J Mascis And The Fog, releasing the excellent More Light in September 2000. A second collection followed in 2002. The reissue of the band's SST recordings in 2005 coincided with the reunion of the original line-up (Mascis, Barlow and Murph) for an extensive tour. The trio also began work on new material in the studio. The resulting Beyond was a credible return for this instantly recognizable band.
