Dinosaur Jr returns to NC-Appalachian Online April 5 ’06

[AGAP]

Another interview with Murph,

The Appalachian Online

Dinosaur Jr. returns to N.C.
Wednesday, 05 April 2006
by MIKE COOPER
Lifestyles Reporter

Dinosaur Jr., one of the most popular rock bands from the late 80’s got back together last year to an immense shock for most of their followers. The reunion has been going great so far and the group is making its way back to North Carolina for a few nearby shows. The Appalachian recently chatted with their drummer Murph about the tour, the weather, why they decided to end the hiatus, and his wild side.

TheApp: I tell you when I first heard that Dino Jr. was getting back together last year I had to find a change of pants. Was it something that you thought might happen down the road or was it completely unexpected for you?

Murph: No. It was totally unexpected. I did not think it would happen at all.

TheApp: When they reissued the first three albums, who initially approached you about putting the original lineup back together?

Murph: J’s manager Brian actually called me and tracked me down at my family’s house during Christmas.

TheApp: So it was a bit of a shock. Were you like “whoa this is out of nowhere?’

Murph: Yeah I was a bit surprised because I had thought we had gone our separate ways.

TheApp: Did time kind of heal some of the wounds? Or did growing up have a bit to do with it?

Murph: I think both. I think a combination of both of those.

TheApp: So you have been getting along pretty good these days?

Murph: Yeah, it’s been great.

TheApp: Besides the reissues what were some of the reasons the other guys had for bringing it back?

Murph: That was really it. J had really planned on doing the reissues for a while. It took a long time to get the masters back though. Then J and Lou got back together for a benefit for Autistic kids and Sonic Youth was there. And they did a Deep Wound song with the original guys at the benefit. And our family and friends were really adamant about doing this so things went from there.

TheApp: How is life different on the road these days compared to how it was back in the mid 80’s? I cannot imagine it being as wild as it was in your younger days.

Murph: It’s totally different. It is more like business and the focus is more on playing. We have family members that travel with us now. So yeah things are just totally different.

TheApp: I would think that life on the tour would have to be a bit easier now with you guys probably not having to do as much of the logistics and preparations?

Murph: Well yeah, but it is still a lot to play every day. Our schedule is really crazy these days. This tour that we are leaving on tomorrow has got us booked solid. We play like 19 gigs straight or something like that without a break. It is going to be pretty crazy.

TheApp: That is. It seemed to me that Dino jr. never went after the commercial appeal or the money. It was more about staying true to your roots and what you wanted to do musically. I heard the most impressive achievement you guys had was releasing something on SST records which also had Husker Du, Meat Puppets, Soundgarden, Black Flag, The Minutemen, and Bad Brains in their fold.

Murph: Yeah, I think that is pretty true. The world also has changed though. Commercially everything is so packaged now and overdone.

TheApp: Does it bother you that maybe you don’t get the recognition that you deserved that some of the other groups from the era got?

Murph: I don’t fell like were not getting the recognition. In a lot of ways we are. We keep booking more dates and people still want to see us.

TheApp: I guess its because on this upcoming tour I see a lot of the smaller venues, ones you might not expect a band of Dino’s stature to play in this day and age. From a fan’s perspective though it is great because we get to see you in that smaller and more intimate place.

Murph: Oh, it wasn’t because we couldn’t play the bigger stages. We did some of that when we first came back especially overseas at their larger festivals. But we wanted to play the smaller settings. That is what we set out to do this time. It can be more gratifying. We prefer it like that because you are right there with the fans.

TheApp: Yeah, well us fans appreciate that a whole lot. I am really looking forward to the shows here in NC. Over the years what were some of your favorite experiences or moments of playing in North Carolina?

Murph: Um, I don’t know. I used to have a good friend who lived in Chapel-Hill so that was kind of fun. He was a cook at a local restaurant down there. He was like the manager actually and ran this place. I used to go in there and hang out with him. He made this killer chili. Every time we played in North Carolina I would try and hook up with him.

TheApp: Where are you living at these days? What lucky location does Murph call home now?

Murph: I am back in Amherst where I am originally from. I am back here after the tour and everything.

TheApp: Nice. Are you about ready for this winter to end?

Murph: Oh yeah. Today is really nice. Spring has started up our way.

TheApp: Cool. We have just finished off a week full of snow here in Boone. I think all the students are ready to take the winter clothes off.

Murph: We were just in Japan and Australia. In Australia the seasons are reversed so it was like 80 degrees every day. It was awesome.

TheApp: That is. I wish it were like that here. So where are you pulling inspiration at from right now?

Murph: Just everything. There is not really one thing. It is a mix of hanging out with people, listening to music and all sorts of stuff.

TheApp: Is this scuttlebutt that I hear of a new Dinosaur jr. album true?

Murph: Yeah, we started some outlines of some new material but we have been awfully busy lately. We are going to come back and I think in July try to focus on getting some stuff nailed down.

TheApp: I can’t wait. Are there also plans for a DVD? I think you are one of the few major acts that still don’t have one.

Murph: Yeah the DVD is definitely coming out. I believe it is set for August at some point.

TheApp: What is going to be on it? Is it a live show, or a combination of material?

Murph: It is a combination. In November we did a special 10-day tour. That was two nights in Boston, two nights in New York, Pittsburgh, and Ann Arbor. So we brought in a film crew to get those and we also have footage from Europe and the festivals over there. I think it is going to be a mixture of everything but it is all going to be pretty live.

TheApp: I am looking forward to that then. These two opening bands that you have on your tour Dead Meadow and Priestess I am not that familiar with. Talk about them?

Murph: We saw them the first gig that we played at Spaceland in Silverlake. And they were cool. They are kind of like a Black Sabbath. J did a few gigs with them with his band Witch. And things worked out to bring them along.

TheApp: From what I hear you were the wild child of the early Dino days. You were the one that everybody had to keep in line. How true is that statement?

Murph: Yeah, I guess so. It stems from my high school days. J and Lou were really reclusive and straight edge. I was like the party guy.

TheApp: You were the guy listening to Frank Zappa and breaking all the rules ha-ha?

Murph: I was always kind of making it happen. That is still probably true though on a certain level (laughing).

TheApp: I am really into sport bikes so I check stuff like that out when I am on my down time and I go hiking.

TheApp: There are obviously tons of groups now who have been influenced by Dinosaur jr. in some way. Who are some of the acts that you see now that you think have picked up a few things?

Murph: I can’t really say specifically. There is a whole breed of new music. A lot of the new music, just all kinds of stuff, I can hear sounds or effects people use like, kinds of distortion pedals and stuff. But I can’t really say one band that does it that much. It is more suttle and over time. It wasn’t like overnight but you can see it out there.

TheApp: Those reissues you put out last year have they been selling good.

Murph: Yeah, as far I know. They did a really good job with the packaging and all that.

TheApp: In your spare time when your not making music what do you do to relieve stress.

Murph: Besides hiking and the sport bikes. I don’t really race but I ride for fun. I am really into movies. I am a total movie buff. So I go see the new ones when they come out.

TheApp: After this tour do you guys still plan on staying together and continuing things?

Murph: Yeah, I think we are going to try as long as we can keep going. We have Europe again after the states.

TheApp: Did coming back do you think you captured the sound pretty well? Were you happy with the way the group sounds after such a long break.

Murph: Oh yeah. I think it sounds better, like way more powerful.

TheApp: You have that same feel and then added some things you’ve done individually throughout the break?

Murph: Yeah definitely I would say that is really true.

TheApp: So what music are you listening to right now? Any up and coming material or what?

Murph: I am still pretty retro. I don’t listen to a lot of new stuff or go out and but it. It is more a lot of rediscovering old stuff. We have been on the road watching a lot of videos and DVDs from Black Sabbath and Zeppelin. Lou is probably the guy in the band who keeps up with the new music. He stays in touch with the younger crowd.

TheApp: What is in the CD player right now or the ITunes playlist or whatever it is that you use?

Murph: Right now our stuff. Some bootlegs and classic material.

TheApp: I think that is going to do it for us. Thanks for your time though good luck on the tour. I will be seeing ya’ll in Chapel-Hill and Asheville.

[rage:man]

im in asheville.

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