Dinosaur Jr - Seventeen years and junior again

In terms of sheer influence upon music in the 1990’s, one cannot look past the indelibility of Dinosaur Jr. Grunge before the word have even been invented by some overenthusiastic music journalist, Dinosaur Jr influenced a raft of Seattle bands before the original line up called it a day after recording three stellar albums, Dinosaur Jr (1985), You’re Living All Over Me (1987) and Bug (1988).

Reuniting after seventeen years sees Dinosaur Jr again as a force to be reckoned with. Having toured as a unit since last year, and playing festivals such as Download, Fuji Rock and Lollapalooza, March sees the original lineup heading to Australia for the first time. With shows in Melbourne and Sydney already sold out, Naked Dwarf caught up with drummer Murph to talk breakups, reunions and ADHD.

Seventeen years is a long time between drinks; I asked Murph what prompted the reformation and if there were any inherent difficulties in reconnecting after such a long break. “Really it was J, (he was) working with a younger management team, and they were really psyched about idea of getting (us) back together” Murph expounds. According to the press the split was acrimonious, I pressed Murph on the issue, to whit, he philosophically likened it to breaking up with a partner. “It’s a combination of taking time (and space), you can’t see them for a while and then you can and everything is OK. It just takes time to grieve”

During this time Murph has been far from idle. Having moved to Maine after the split to, “Break off from everything musically and rediscover drumming”. The interim seen a reinvigorated Murph working primarily as a session musician; recording with the Lemonhead’s in 1997 and accompanying them on the Big Day Out juggernaut of that same year.

Given the length of time between outings as a unit, I ask Murph what it has been like being on the road together again. Murph elucidates enthusiastically “Great, we have always been a strong band live. Our attitude is to play every gig like it’s your last. (We) just go for it and people pick up on the energy”. Owing to the new injected energy inherent in the reformation, Murph guarantees that the Australian shows will be unlike any of the bands previous outings.

According to Murph, the current tour is just the beginning. With plans to continue touring with the reformed lineup on and off for the next couple of years, I ask Murph what effect such a schedule has, he responds knowingly “You have to have ADHD. An ADHD guy gets crazy not doing anything. If you are a musician and you don’t have ADHD, eventually, you will”

Further touring is not all that Dinosaur Jr fans have to look forward to; as Murph explains the band are also looking to write new material together for the first time in 17 years. There is no doubt that when it hits CD shelves, MP3 players and impressionable young listeners, it will be just as influential.

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