Dinosaur Jr.

About

Formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984, Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band that became one of the formative influences on alternative rock. The band was founded by J Mascis on guitar and vocals, Lou Barlow on bass and vocals, and Murph on drums. After releasing three albums on independent labels, the group gained recognition within the alternative rock community. Creative differences led to Mascis firing Barlow, who went on to form Sebadoh and Folk Implosion. Mike Johnson replaced Barlow for three major-label albums before Murph departed the band. Mascis subsequently took over drum duties on subsequent releases. The band disbanded in 1997 but reunited with its original lineup in 2005, releasing five albums after their reformation. J Mascis's distinctive drawling vocals and guitar style, which drew from 1960s and 1970s classic rock and featured extensive use of feedback and distortion, proved highly influential in shaping the alternative rock movement of the 1990s.