They’re living all over you:Dinosaur Jr re-animated, Feb 23′

[AGAP]

i94bar.com Dinosaur spiel before the interview

Rick Chesshire cartoon
J. MASCIS AT THE I-94 BAR

Q Thanks for joining us in the Bar, J. So, 15 years later, why have Dinosaur Jr reformed? And what was the catalyst? What came first, the idea of re-issues or the concept of doing it again live?

The reissues came first I had been trying to get them back since ’89, so it was a long process. Then, with the reissues finally coming out, the
thought of playing came up since we had all mellowed a little.

Q By all accounts you’re getting on OK. Have any of you changed and what was at the core of why that line-up of the band grew apart back in the day?

Yeah we grew up. The core of breaking apart was not communicating and being too young and unformed not knowing how to deal with ourselves
along with other human beings.

Q I hear a report that you’ve recorded new material in your home studio? What’s the story and can we expect a new album at some stage? If so, when?

We’re trying to record we got nothing yet

Q You’ve just announced a US tour in the northern spring, and a DVD. What’s the scale of the tour (in terms of venues) and what can we expect on the DVD?

It’s a three-week tour. Dvd is of a live show probably from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Should be good some cool camera angles and a lackluster
Boston crowd makes us work harder.

Q Reunions can be risky things in terms of reputation, can’t they? Have you been aware of the legacy and/or impact Dinosaur Jr had on music in the ‘90s and beyond?

I’m only aware of an impact if someone tells me they were into it.

Q We just had the Stooges through Australia, as you’re no doubt aware. How significant do you think the shows you did with Mike Watt and the Ashetons were in the context of that band re-uniting?

Well, Ron told me that Iggy heard about our shows and that they we’re good and that inspired him to pick up the phone and call Ron

Q Have you caught the Stooges? What did you think?

I saw ’em. I liked it.

Q I know you’re a bit of an Aussie-phile when it comes to music. How did that connection first come about and how were/are your favourites?

I just loved records, Birthday Party were my favorite band for a while when we were beginning Dinosaur as kids. I also liked The Eastern Dark,
Lime Spiders, Died Pretty and God.

Q Was Australian music hard to come by when you were growing up in the early ‘80s? If you had to nominate a band or figure from Australia that had the biggest impact, who would that be?

They weren’t that hard to find I was used to mail ordering records so I could send away for anything. Birthday Party had biggest impact on
me. They were the shit.

Q I figured Kim Salmon might have to feature there, if only for the debt that people like Mudhoney have publicly acknowledged.

Not too much. I like him but only heard his stuff later on

Q What would your five Aussie Desert Island Discs be?

AC/DC – "Highway to Hell"
Eastern Dark – "Long Live the New Flesh" EP
The Birthday Party – "Junkyard"
The Birthday party – "Bad Seed" EP
God – "My Pal" 7"

Q I have a theory that zines played a big part in driving the infiltration of so-called underground bands form other countries into the American college scene. Is that an over-simplification and was it the case for Aussie bands?

Sure, that was part of it. Word of mouth was big too

Q You might know that Rob Younger disavows that Radio Birdman had any lasting impact on the bands that followed in Australia in the 1980s. He says the same thing about the New Christs. Is that an issue you have a view on?

No it seems like he did influence a lot of Aussies. Why else would all the bands from there have those weird Epiphone guitars? And why would
all those bands let him produce them if they weren’t into him? He’s a fine singer.

Q I don’t know how many times you’ve been out here but it seems like quite a few. Are there any bands you’ve played with in Australia that really impressed you? As an extension of that, were there any you thought should have really made it in the US but failed?

I thought Nick Cave would be as big as Elvis. Crime and the City Solution was one of the best shows I ever saw.

Q It seemed you had a huge amount of support from the US college circuit when the original band was around and I don’t have to tell you every second person aged 22 or under in Australia had the albums back then. Bearing that in mind, do you think it’s tough for bands of your vintage to draw people out to live shows, here or anywhere else overseas? How do you handle that? (Mind you, your first Sydney show (in a small room) sold out in minutes!)

Deal with it as it comes. It’s been going pretty good so far

Q What can Australian fans expect, as far as a set list goes? Is there anything from the albums you won’t play?

All that shite is on the Internet. We have to learn a few more numbers from "Bug". It’s not that we won’t play song its we don’t know how to
play some songs.

Q Thanks for your time J. Seeing we’re in a bar, what are you drinking?

Ginger ale. – THE BARMAN

[andyfest]

Nice interview. Thanks for posting it. I can’t believe J was drinking Ginger Ale, is he not a "drinker?"

[alicemudgarden_jr]

That’s kick ass! Thanks for posting, I hope they do learn how to play those songs off Bug, They Always Come and Pond Song…. tht would be a dream.

(Anybody think they might tour the UK when they play the ATP festival, because I can’t make it? It sucks how they always play London, I live about 500 miles away!)

[tom_in_chicago]

"andyfest " wrote:

Nice interview. Thanks for posting it. I can’t believe J was drinking Ginger Ale, is he not a "drinker?"

I’m pretty sure that J is either a teetotaler or drinks very little/rarely. I saw him 4 or 5 times last year and I don’t recall ever seeing him w/ a drink.

[King Tubby]

Damn, I thought the dvd was going to be of one of the Irving Plaza shows. That would’ve been a nice memento. I have a hard time believing either of the Cambridge gigs could’ve topped the NYC ones, but who knows? Whatever the case, I wish they’d get that thing out already. Next you know, we’ll hear that it’s going be a recording of one of the shows on *this* tour, and that it’ll be out *next* Spring…..

[dazedcola]

Q You’ve just announced a US tour in the northern spring, and a DVD. What’s the scale of the tour (in terms of venues) and what can we expect on the DVD?

It’s a three-week tour. Dvd is of a live show probably from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Should be good some cool camera angles and a lackluster
Boston crowd makes us work harder.

[/quote]

fuck yea, i was at that gig, i might actually be on the dvd.

[Author]

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