Dinosaur Jr.

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	Alternative rock indie rock noise rock grunge hardcore punk (early)
Discography	Dinosaur Jr. discography
Years active	1984–1997 2005–present
Labels	Joyful Noise Recordings Homestead SST Blanco y Negro/Sire Merge Fat Possum PIAS Recordings Jagjaguwar Blast First Au Go Go Cherry Red
Spinoffs	Sebadoh J Mascis and the Fog Witch Folk Implosion
Spinoff of	Deep Wound
Members	J Mascis Murph Lou Barlow
Past members	Donna Dresch Van Conner Mike Johnson George Berz
Website	dinosaurjr.com

Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, the band was forced to change their name due to legal issues.

The band was founded by J Mascis (guitar, vocals, primary songwriter), Lou Barlow (bass, vocals), and Murph (drums). After three albums on independent labels, the band earned a reputation as one of the formative influences on American alternative rock.^[1][2] Creative tension led to Mascis firing Barlow, who later formed Sebadoh and Folk Implosion. His replacement, Mike Johnson, came aboard for three major-label albums. Murph eventually quit, with Mascis taking over drums on the band's albums before the group disbanded in 1997. The original lineup reformed in 2005, releasing five albums thereafter.^[3]

Mascis's drawling vocals and distinct guitar sound, hearkening back to 1960s and 1970s classic rock and characterized by extensive use of feedback and distortion, were highly influential in the alternative rock movement of the 1990s.^[4]