J Mascis

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J Mascis
J-mascis.jpg
J Mascis at Virgin Festival in 2009.
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Donald Mascis, Jr.
BornDecember 10, 1965 (age 48)
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, noise rock, folk rock, doom metal,stoner rock, hardcore punk, hard rock, grunge
OccupationsMusician, singer-songwriter, producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, drums, keyboards,banjo
Years active1982–present
Associated actsDinosaur Jr., J Mascis + The Fog, Witch, Deep Wound,Upsidedown Cross, Sweet Apple, Bless The Barn, Heavy Blanket
Websitewww.jmascis.com
Notable instruments
Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Telecaster
Fender Jaguar
J Mascis (/ˈmæskɪs/ mass-kiss; born Joseph Donald Mascis, Jr. on December 10, 1965) is an American musician, best known as the singer, guitarist and songwriter for Dinosaur Jr. He was ranked number 86 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", and in 2012, he was ranked 5th in Spin's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Biography[edit]

Mascis was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, son of a dentist. His family name is Italian, from the province of Foggia (region Puglia) in the south of Italy.[1] His mother was an avid golfer.[2]
Mascis formed the short-lived hardcore group Deep Wound with Lou Barlow, Scott Helland, and Charlie Nakajima in the early 1980s.[3]He started out on drums,[4] but moved to guitar when he went on to found Dinosaur Jr. with bassist Barlow and drummer Emmett Jefferson "Patrick" Murphy (aka "Murph") in 1984 and achieved national success. His vocals have been described as "Neil Young-like"[5]and his guitar riffs as "monolithic." Mascis dismissed Barlow from Dinosaur Jr. in 1989 and over the next eight years recorded several more Dinosaur Jr. albums, including the 1996 acoustic solo album Martin + Me.
The manager for Deep Wound was Gerard Cosloy, who then went on to found Homestead Records. Homestead released Dinosaur Jr.'s first record. Mascis says that the reason why Dinosaur Jr.'s sound is not fully formed on that record is that they were more or less automatically signed to Homestead.[6]
As a side project, he was the drummer in Boston doom metal group Upsidedown Cross (featuring Seth Putnam of Anal Cunt infamy), who released a self-titled album on Taang! Records in 1991.[7][8] He wrote songs for the film Gas, Food, Lodging, in which he made a cameo appearance.[7][8] In 1996, he had a small part in the movie Grace of my Heart and provided a ballad and a Beach Boys-like song for the soundtrack. In 2000 he began producing albums with his new band, J Mascis + The Fog.
In April 2005 Mascis, Barlow, and Murph rejoined for a tour celebrating the re-release of the group's first three albums. They have since released three new albums: Beyond (released in 2007), Farm (released in 2009), and I Bet on Sky (released on September 17, 2012).
In August 2005 Mascis released J and Friends Sing and Chant For Amma, a solo album under the J Mascis and Friends banner. The album consists of devotional songs dedicated to Hindu religious leader Mata Amritanandamayi, or Ammachi, about whom he had written "Ammaring" on the first J Mascis + The Fog album More Light. The proceeds from the album are being donated to tsunami relief efforts Ammachi's organization is spearheading.
In 2006 Mascis returned to drumming with his newly formed heavy metal band Witch for their self-titled debut album.
His wife Luisa is from Berlin, Germany. They reside in Amherst, Massachusetts, and in September 2007 they had a baby boy named Rory. His brother-in-law is German filmmakerPhilipp Virus, director of the 2006 Dinosaur Jr. DVD Live in the Middle East. Virus is also known for his work on the music videos of Atari Teenage Riot, who used a sample ofSludgefeast for their song "Riot 1995".
July 2007 saw the release of a signature guitar by Fender, the J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster. The instrument comes in a Purple Sparkle finish and, while otherwise visually similar to a standard Jazzmaster, features a few modifications J requested. The J Mascis Jazzmaster features a basswood body, C-shaped maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with 9.5" radius and 21 jumbo frets, two single-coil Jazzmaster pickups with three-position switching and dual tone circuits, gold anodized aluminum pickguard, aged white plastic parts (knobs, switch tip, pickup covers), Adjusto-Matic™ bridge with vintage-style floating tremolo tailpiece, vintage-style tuners, chrome hardware, Vintage White finish and J Mascis signature on the back of the large '60s-style headstock.
In 2010 Mascis joined with John Petkovic and Tim Parnin of Cobra Verde and Dave Sweetapple of Witch to form Sweet Apple. The self-titled debut album was released on Tee Pee Records.[9] Mascis plays drums, guitar, and sings on the album.
Mascis released a mostly acoustic album in March 2011 titled Several Shades of Why on Sub Pop Records.[10] He was joined in the studio by several guest musicians, including Kurt Vile and Sophie Trudeau. Mascis toured the US with Vile as support act to promote the album.[11] Mascis's electric guitar work is featured on the 2014 Strand of Oaks album 'Heal.'[12]

Discography[edit]

Solo albums[edit]

Dinosaur Jr.[edit]

Main article: Dinosaur Jr. discography

J Mascis + The Fog[edit]

Witch[edit]

Deep Wound[edit]

  • American Style (1982 – 7" – demo)
  • Deep Wound (1983 – 7" – Radiobeat)
  • Bands That Could Be God LP
  • Discography (2006 – Compilation – Damaged Goods)

Upsidedown Cross[edit]

Sweet Apple[edit]

  • Do You Remember 7" – Valley King Records (2010)
  • Love & Desperation – Tee Pee Records (2010)
  • I've Got a Feeling (That Won't Change) 7" – Damaged Goods (2010)[13]
  • Elected/No Government 7" – Outer Battery Records (2012)[14]
  • Wish You Could Stay (A Little Longer)/Traffic 7" – Outer Battery Records (2013)[15]
  • The Golden Age of Glitter – Tee Pee Records (2014) [16]

Heavy Blanket[edit]

  • Heavy Blanket – Outer Battery Records (2012)
  • Live at Tym Guitars – Brisbane, Australia – Tym Records (2013)
  • In a Dutch Haze – Collaboration with Earthless – Outer Battery Records (2014) [17]

Guest appearances[edit]

  • In 2014 Mascis contributed lead guitar on the track 'Goshen '97' on the Strand of Oaks album Heal.[18]
  • In 2014 Mascis played lead guitar on the track 'Finding My Way Back To You' on the Admiral Freebee album 'The Great Scam'
  • In 2013 Mascis appeared on SBS's RocKwiz and performed a duet with Adalita.[19]
  • In 2013 Mascis appeared on a Saturday Night Live season finale, alongside Kim Gordon.
  • In 2012 Mascis contributed lead guitar on the track Edge of the World on the album 'Space Dirt' by HydroElectric.
  • In 2011 Mascis contributed vocals to the track 'Feed' on the album Yolk by Japanese Voyeurs.
  • In 2011 Mascis featured on the album 'Espero' by Irish musician Mark O'Connor.
  • In 2010 Mascis was on Episode 7 of the Australian TV show Spicks and Specks[20]
  • In 2010, Mascis played guitar on Dead Confederate's album Sugar, on the track titled "Giving it All Away."
  • In 2009 Mascis is seen playing the banjo wearing a cowboy hat whilst riding a skateboard in Alien Workshop's video "Mind Field".
  • In 2008, Mascis contributed to The Hold Steady's album, Stay Positive, playing banjo on the song "Both Crosses".[21]
  • In 2008 Mascis contributed lead guitar, drums and vocals on the album Ocean by Devadas
  • Provided the voice of J.J., the pet store employee in the Assy McGee episode "Squirrels" on July 6, 2008
  • In 2007 Mascis made an appearance on Thurston Moore's second solo album, Trees Outside the Academy, which was recorded at Mascis' home studio.
  • Also in 2007, Mascis played guitar and sang back-up vocals for Kevin Drew on the song "Backed out on the ...", which appeared on Drew's solo album, Spirit If....
  • In 2006 Mascis added guitar tracks to select songs on The Lemonheads' comeback album, The Lemonheads.
  • In 2005 Mascis played guitar and drums on the album Shine Shine On by Devadas
  • In late summer 2005, Mascis helped Danish band Mew by adding vocals to the song "Why Are You Looking Grave?" and backing vocals on "An Envoy to the Open Fields". Both songs can be found on the album And the Glass Handed Kites.
  • In 2002, Mascis appeared on the song "Blinded," by Jeremiah Freed.
  • In 2002, Mascis went on tour with Cobra Verde when their lead guitarist Derek DePrator left the band.
  • In 1996 Mascis recorded the song "What We Do Is Secret" with Mike Watt for the A Small Circle of Friends" tribute album to The Germs
  • In 1995, J Mascis played guitar and drums on Mike Watt's debut solo album, including lead guitar on a cover of "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic.
  • In 1994, Mascis and Dinosaur Jr appeared on the KISS tribute album "Kiss My Ass: Classic KISS Regrooved" contributing the song "Goin' Blind."
  • In 1993, Mascis produced the Firehose album Mr. Machinery Operator sang backup and played guitar and bass on several tracks.
  • In 1993, Mascis produced the Tad album Inhaler and played piano on the 4th track, "Luminol".
  • In 1993, Mascis remixed and added vocals to the Breeders' song "Do You Love Me Now Jr?" released on the Divine Hammer E.P.
  • In 1992, Mascis wrote and performed 8 instrumental tracks, Untitled, for the film Gas, Food, Lodging.
  • In 1992, Mascis played bass on the Jad Fair album I Like It When You Smile.
  • In 1992, Mascis appeared on the Epic Soundtracks' album Rise Above, playing drums on three tracks.
  • In 1989, Mascis produced the single Less than I Spend for Australian band The Proton Energy Pills released on Waterfront Records
  • In 1988, J. Mascis played the lead guitar on 'Impossible', a track on Buffalo Tom's debut album
  • In 1988 and 1990 J. Mascis produced Buffalo Tom's debut album and its follow up 'Birdbrain'
  • In 1988, cameo guitar on Ciccone Youth's The Whitey Album.
  • In 1987 J Mascis played lead guitar on the GG Allin record Hated in the Nation.

References[edit]

  1. Jump up^ "Mascis Family - Mascis - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - Ancestry.com". Boards.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  2. Jump up^ J Mascis interviewed by Cam Lindsay, exclaim.ca, accessed September 28, 2010.
  3. Jump up^ "J Mascis Kicks Lou Barlow Out of Dinosaur Jr".
  4. Jump up^ "J FILES: Dinosaur Jr / J Mascis". Abc.net.au. February 15, 2001. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  5. Jump up^ Ankeny, Jason (December 10, 1965). "Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  6. Jump up^ Interview with J Mascis, Underyourskin.net, accessed September 27, 2010.
  7. ^ Jump up to:a b Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.
  8. ^ Jump up to:a b Selzer, Jonathan (1991) "Signs of Life", Lime Lizard, October 1991, p. 48-9
  9. Jump up^ "J Mascis Forms New Band, Sweet Apple". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  10. Jump up^ "Sub Pop Records". Subpop.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  11. Jump up^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (January 18, 2011). "J Mascis Tours With Kurt Vile | News". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  12. Jump up^ "First Listen: Strand of Oaks, 'Heal'". npr.org. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  13. Jump up^ Damaged Goods release: I've Got a Feeling. damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved on 2014-08-13.
  14. Jump up^ Outer Battery release: Elected/No Government. outerbatteryrecords.com. Retrieved on 2014-08-13.
  15. Jump up^ Outer Battery release: Wish You Could Stay (A Little Longer)/Traffic. outerbatteryrecords.com. Retrieved on 2014-08-13.
  16. Jump up^ Sweet Apple Discography. sweetapplesongs.com. Retrieved on 2014-08-13.
  17. Jump up^ Outer Battery release: In a Dutch Haze. outerbatteryrecords.com. Retrieved on 2014-08-13.
  18. Jump up^ "REVIEW: The Musical Reinvention of Strand of Oaks". TIME. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  19. Jump up^ "Rockwiz J Mascis and Adalita Duet Performance". SBS. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  20. Jump up^ Episode Guide Spicks and Specks
  21. Jump up^ "The Hold Steady Details 'Positive' 4th Album". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-09-23.

External links[edit]

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