J Mascis

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J Mascis

J Mascis at Virgin Festival in 2009.
Background information
Birth name Joseph Donald Mascis, Jr.
Born (1965-12-10) December 10, 1965
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Genres Alternative rock, indie rock, noise rock, folk rock, doom metal, stoner rock, hardcore punk
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards, banjo
Years active 1982–present
Associated acts Dinosaur Jr., J Mascis + The Fog, Witch, Deep Wound, Upsidedown Cross, Sweet Apple
Website www.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

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 filmmaker Philipp 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 of Sludgefeast 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 will tour the US with Vile as support act to promote the album.[11]

Discography

Solo albums

Dinosaur Jr.

Main article: Dinosaur Jr. discography

J Mascis + The Fog

Witch

Deep Wound

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

Upsidedown Cross

  • Upsidedown Cross (1991)
  • Evilution (1993)
  • Witchcraft (1997)
  • Sloth/Updsidedown Cross Split (2002)

Sweet Apple

  • Do You Remember 7" - Valley King Records (2010)
  • Love & Desperation - Tee Pee Records (2010)

Heavy Blanket

  • Heavy Blanket - Outer Battery Records (2012)

Guest appearances

  • 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[12]
  • 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".[13]
  • 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 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 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

  1. ↑ "Mascis Family - Mascis - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - Ancestry.com". Boards.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
  2. ↑ J Mascis interviewed by Cam Lindsay, exclaim.ca, accessed 28 September 2010.
  3. ↑ "J Mascis Kicks Lou Barlow Out of Dinosaur Jr". 
  4. ↑ "J FILES: Dinosaur Jr / J Mascis". Abc.net.au. 2001-02-15. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  5. ↑ Ankeny, Jason (1965-12-10). "Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  6. ↑ Interview with J Mascis, Underyourskin.net, accessed 27 September 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Selzer, Jonathan (1991) "Signs of Life", Lime Lizard, October 1991, p. 48-9
  9. ↑ "J Mascis Forms New Band, Sweet Apple". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  10. ↑ "Sub Pop Records". Subpop.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
  11. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-01-18). "J Mascis Tours With Kurt Vile | News". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
  12. ↑ Episode Guide Spicks and Specks (TV series)
  13. ↑ "The Hold Steady Details 'Positive' 4th Album". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 

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