Dinosaur Jr. - The Warner Years | J Mascis In Conversation With Keith Cameron

Order the Warner Years albums reissued on deluxe gatefold 2LP & deluxe expanded 2CD editions here cherryred.co/DinosaurJr
To celebrate the deluxe reissue campaign of Dinosaur Jr.'s classic Warner Years albums 'Green Mind', 'Where You Been', 'Without A Sound' & 'Hand It Over' via Cherry Red Records, singer & guitarist J Mascis spoke to Keith Cameron from MOJO Magazine about recording these much loved albums.
Order the Warner Years albums reissued on deluxe gatefold 2LP & deluxe expanded 2CD editions here cherryred.co/DinosaurJr
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[@connorbiddle4703]

“Were you psyched” “Yeah. Sure. Uh....... yeah”

[@trey8078]

haha exactly!

[@inphanta]

It's quite clear from watching J's interviews that he uses the guitar to express himself in a way he never could with words, and that's a beautiful thing.

[@Indonesiansurftravel]

But the strange thing is songs lyrics are also quite expressive.

[@masterpiecelacquers2766]

I think he expresses himself with people that are his friends. I think he has a disdain for interviews.

[@brandall101]

The wild thing is he's one of the most expressive guitarist out there, like a fuzzed out David Gilmour. And quite frankly his singing voice carries tons of emotion.

[@arinross523]

so well said

[@NickHarman]

He considers his answers to questions before he speaks. Sometimes he only has one word answers,

[@Labyrinth1010]

There’s a special place in the afterlife for J Mascis interviewers. Truly doing heaven’s work.

[@myyoutube1978]

😂😂😂

[@blackmachinima2711]

Is this Rod or Tod?

[@absolutelynonameslef]

@blackmachinima2711 Ned

[@paulayers1111]

This guy is a musical genius. And I love how how you can always count on his speech to be so deadpan🤣

[@Lumonious]

“It could be from a frog’s perspective” Hahahah this is why i love J

[@jonobrow]

So the frogs will hang, and they'll always be hanging...

[@charlietwotimes]

Weirdly I always thought it was... First time I listened to it! I have a friend who's terrified of frogs and toads. She'd totally believe there's a hive mind among frogs.. judgemental frogs.

[@smbeabout]

As someone who has a tendency to speak with a slowly-paced monotone voice and will never be a "social butterfly", J Mascis is damn near a spirit animal of mine. I actually appreciate the interviewer's patience in this interview, because it reminds me of the patience a lot of my friends and family have shown to me when I have to say too many words sometimes.

[@bentolleson8582]

This man is my favorite guitar player of all time 😁

[@garyhicks1473]

Mine also! Guy is a legend!

[@Mahdcat]

Same. His music is equally as awesome to play as it is to listen to.

[@dtotheatothevtothee]

Same

[@Therealbackslabbath]

Listening to J speak, always puts me in a trance-like state.

[@jimmaguire3079]

If anyone is interested in hearing a really great in depth interview with J, I can definitely recommend the Marc Macron interview for his WTF podcast.

[@AWSOMEPOSSUM16]

What?! I had no idea J was on Maron's podcast. Thank you so much I'm heading there rn.

[@AWSOMEPOSSUM16]

@@Freddy-Da-Freeloadah Great stuff! And in case anyone else sees this and is having a hard time finding it (it's unlisted), here's a link /watch?time_continue=1&v=kqbti_PUXj0

[@betterinsodapop]

Good call. It's an excellent interview. Also, if you want to hear another perspective, Marc also did a podcast interview with Lou Barlow.

[@Steaminlidz]

I listened to the interview with Marc Maron yesterday for the first time. In 30+ years of being a fan, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him speak that openly. (He’s not here, clearly).

[@jamesbarras3834]

that was the best interview with J ive ever seen

[@allegedartistlessons]

That was basically my entire teenage life in one video.

[@michaelwatson7479]

J's transformation into Santa Claus is nearly complete.

[@kevinsmoon3257]

He’s saruman

[@willhargreaveshf]

I'm so pleased Keith mentioned 'Nothing's Goin On''s single potential. It's a perfect pop song.

[@mcnell311]

I would love a full documentary on Where You Been. J really got things dialed in on that one.

[@TheLarryburns84]

I'm pretty sure he still holds it in high regard

[@absolutelynonameslef]

A masterpiece for sure.

[@bryanfrombuffalo7685]

That would b awesome

[@k2a1991]

I wondered: 47mins how? Then i remembered J's talking speed.

[@chuckabbate5924]

16 rpm.

[@MrSwampFox2U]

This went as well as can be expected. J is the GOAT, man.

[@jamescroy9464]

I like everything he's ever done

[@scottupton9245]

I liked some of them but I wasn’t looking to make any new friends... love him..

[@Dangershrimp]

This is awesome but I really would’ve liked to hear more about Without A Sound. I really like that album and think it’s very underrated. But then again, J is not very talkative so it’s pretty incredible he said as much as he did in this video.

[@jamescroy9464]

Without a Sound and Green Mind are my favorites

[@jessop-]

From what I've read, he wrote without a sound after his dad died. Which explains why it sounds so depressing.

[@bryannewcombe858]

Without a Sound is my favourite as well. I consider it one of the most underrated albums of all time.

[@liamgallagherrr]

I love with out a sound the most grab it on the brink etc. feel he was diggin on the next record a lot more more, seemed like a sore subject when he spoke about it here

[@thomasraven]

If J says you're awkward...wow.

[@richalderson6069]

He always talks like he just got out of bed, it's hard to believe he was young once with such lethargic energy but he comes totally alive on stage.

[@Stewartchampion]

J is wicked man he makes me more stoned than i all ready am..his vibe chills me right out...20 odd years back his music gave me so much ..certain bands mark periods in my life . And go a bit deeper than music .. and dinosaur did that for me ..blew my head off live

[@tylergibson7652]

If you speed this up 2x it's almost like a normal interview

[@MouthVisuals]

1,5 the time is perfect! He sounds normal, but it's weird, 'cause you never hear him talk like that. So like KZbin having a speed button, maybe he has one to slow himself down all the time.

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

“Almost” LOL

[@timhall3575]

Slow it down to 0.5 speed and it's ..... woah!:)

[@Freddy-Da-Freeloadah]

Actually a "Normal" J. Mascis interview has maybe two words, or something... If you sped up a "Normal" J. Mascis interview you would miss the... two... ....words... ... IMHO

[@chairmanJackie]

I feel like this is forever the J Mascis youtube meme.

[@andyeoliveira]

Where You Ben - It's the record of my life

[@MeriahJ]

This is the most I've ever heard J say in one setting!

[@MouthVisuals]

I believe J Mascis became his own grandma.

[@sstaners1234]

I thought it was “I’m my own grandpa”.

[@MouthVisuals]

True, but he reminds me of this old lady who lives a few blocks down the road.

[@MITCHY_B_2003]

Hahahahaha

[@noneofyourbusiness6764]

He was always like that

[@jeffhalleran]

best J interview, ever??!! 🤘🏻🙏🏻🎸

[@lupelicious822]

"I could do whatever I wanted". I have a feeling people learn really quickly that you can't negotiate with J Mascis.

[@Esquire-ul9xs]

Fantastic interview, thank you!!

[@neaippehtuuppin]

Dinosaur Jr would be the next Nirvana? that's funny, since they came years before them, and there is an interview with Kurt Cobain wearing a Dinosaur Jr T-shirt.

[@copheart]

Where? I think you may be thinking of Krist Novoselic.

[@void0094]

Love this guy. He inspired me a lot.

[@teetoys76]

This is kool ,& interesting . Green Mind was my introduction to Dino Jr as a youth .

[@y-callos3970]

I didn't realise that J is one of my favourite drummers too. Cool interview 🎂

[@DanHintz]

it's weird, i really don't like their music, but i always enjoy watching interviews with him.

[@TheLarryburns84]

we need high quality uploads of all the music videos from this era

[@noneofyourbusiness6764]

He's so damn shy and modest, and has achieved so much.

[@465marko]

YOU have.

[@brianmclendon1647]

Where you been is one of the best sounding Dino records…..I love it so much!!!!!

[@NickHarman]

I was most shocked when he mentioned Streatham twice, a little known part of London, but where I have always lived. To think J was also living here for a short while!

[@friedricengravy6646]

Ha!! I saw the Lollapalooza he described lol. My date was in St. Louis & yeah it was wild. From my perspective it was hilarious. He was up there in broad daylight, it was hot as hell, me & like 30 other people were allowed to fill the empty seats up front because most people were wandering around the booth area checking out piercings & tattoos, art, side stages etc. I was a huge fan so for me it was an awesome opportunity, but I can understand why J would not remember that experience in a positive light. He had to grab a different guitar after every song & he would just rip the chord out making this massive buzz out & another blast of noise when he plugged it back in lol. I performed live at that time so I knew this could b avoided & in the late 80’s/early 90’s a total wtf moment for most musicians. He would tune by ear & the sound engineer simply left the mix up in the house speakers, meaning TU~DUH!!! TU~DUH!!!! …….TU~DUH!!!! 🤣 was blasting through the amphitheater multiple times throughout the set. Again, as a guitar playing fan who grew up in the hair metal era now desperate for something new, I found all of this absolutely beautiful in a raw & ‘real’ way of hearing a band that was simply doing what we all did at home in the garage. It was the Kinks of our generation stabbing the speaker with a pencil lol, fantastic noise after a decade of compression. Thank u J! For enduring, some of us really enjoyed every minute.

[@dr.dionpeoples]

Maaaan, J... I like the old and new stuff... but those middle-era albums are my favorite... where you been, without a sound, hand it over.... - I miss the huge guitar/rock-vibe.

[@washingmachine122]

This has to be one of the best interviews with j i've seen

[@brokowska420]

Holy shit J Mascis doing an impression. I never thought I'd see the day

[@tappanlittle3550]

poor murph. must be tough to play with J

[@masterpiecelacquers2766]

Why?

[@grimgolf79]

@@masterpiecelacquers2766 because J is known to be difficult. he is a drummer in the first place so he comes up with already finished drum parts and he is a perfectionist.... so murph didn´t have any space. Lou Barlow also had problems with J because of that. J was also known for turning his guitar on maximum level so that you could hardly hear anything else... maybe it´s an ego thing. Fact is that Dinosaur is HIS band. he is the boss. he seems so relaxed but i think he´s not an easy bandmate ;) well, he seems to be a nice guy after all :)

[@masterpiecelacquers2766]

@@grimgolf79 his problem with Murph was on later albums he couldnt even learn the parts. How are you supposed to expect space if you cant even learn songs? Lou is awkward as hell. By his own admission he has zero actual friends and is neurotic as hell about all things. He also got heavily into meth for 3 years. Im sure his drug use didn't just start after leaving D Jr. Even if it was just booze etc for a straight edge person it could be trying to deal with on the road. J seems to make friends. He may somewhat hard to deal with but there were alot of moving parts other than just that.

[@mcnell311]

@@masterpiecelacquers2766 murph is just a guy to play drums because J cant play guitar and drums during concerts

[@sonofamustangford5160]

King Jay. Still making wonderful music.

[@aguanteflema]

i would fuckin kill for an autobiography recorded by J himself..

[@Ukedc259]

I could (try to) listen to this guy all day …

[@jaguarsharkman]

I think this has to be the longest J Mascis interview ever.

[@matthewheinecke2621]

WTF podcast is as long or longer

[@FilipPandrc]

great interview, thanks!

[@sloburnjo]

this can be an ideal ASMR! J is something else.

[@mesa50w]

Thank god for J 🙏🏼

[@kundalinicobain6897]

I just bumped into him at the airport and said: oh, I’m gonna come to your gig tomorrow and he stared at me blank. No word. So I just said: ok and walked away. Totally awkward. I am a total introvert so I wouldn’t have wanted to have a conversation with him and airports make me nervous but a smile would have been nice. But I also get it when someone isn’t in the mood…

[@craigbrown9987]

Found myself watching this again, just for a laugh, and it's even funnier on the second viewing. The sort of pauses that would drive even Pinter to distraction. Mascis also looks as if he's wearing clothes stolen from somebody else.

[@friedricengravy6646]

Had the pleasure of seeing them live supporting Where Have U Been….. I was really into playing guitar back then & lets face it, Dino Jr is a guitar players guitar band. Seeing J jam live was fantastic & opened my mind to a more raw approach. I also enjoyed the pop side of his writing. He might hate that lol i dont know? But the hooks & falsetto moments, the production, all of it……in my ear has a melodic thread that runs through pop. Even though my taste can run wide I always dig a little pop melody in the mix.

[@SuperEarther]

can't help but feel this is a really sad story with the music industry having no heart. I have seen many amazing small bands not make it. Steve albini says it best

[@okalright8980]

I love Dinosaur jr

[@Caribou1983]

Wow. First time I see the video of I’m Insane in great quality. I’d love to see it completely in such good quality 😕

[@brianmclendon1647]

I have loved Dinosaur Jr so much since I was a little kid, still love them just as much to this day!!!!! The records referenced in this video are quite literally the soundtrack of my teenage years and I get goosebumps everytime I listen to them. Thank you J for all of the great music, it helped me through a lot and has given me so much joy and inspiration its hard for me to express in words. When I heard the original line-up was getting back together it was one of the happiest days of my life other than the times I have been able to see them live. I never got to go to a Jr show when I was a kid, so it was amazing to see J, Lou, and Murph play the music I grew up listening to right in front of me. Thanks again guys I truly appreciate what you do and I will always be a fan!!!!!!!!!

[@GrahamBarth]

Seeing them in SF on the 30th. Cannot fucking wait. Idles before that. Gonna be a good October.

[@TheSickNeeds]

Feel the Pain was 94 not 97.

[@AWSOMEPOSSUM16]

I wish it was longer.

[@flinchey6962]

J’s a legend

[@HaterPro-yv5ip]

Waiting for notification of my pre-order

[@neaippehtuuppin]

I think it throws people off about J's laid back speaking, because in the music videos he appears to be more animated. But I think that might be when people ask him questions about stuff he doesn't really think about too much.

[@TheMilford]

I really liked J’s work on the Gas Food Lodging s/t. sorta a forgotten film and soundtrack.

[@edoetschedoetsch]

That's funny...... I had just moved to Boston and Hand It Over remains the only album I ever picked up the second it came out at the midnight release party thing they used to do (It was Tower Records)..... Haha

[@axelbergstrom4585]

the endless cold

[@chambersandson]

Never has such passivity felt like such a cliff hanger

[@Wabin22]

"If you could go back and change anything with the record, what would that be?" J: Yeah.............. I would tinker with stuff.

[@DufraneHikes]

This is Great! He’s almost falling asleep. Lol 😂

[@jessop-]

Green mind is my favourite album, I think if it had a better production it would be seen as a classic.

[@matthewgabbard6415]

I like that sound for them. Where You Been is too clean sounding for them, to me anyway

[@jessop-]

@@matthewgabbard6415 I like where you been, start choppin was the first song I heard by them. Hand it over is my favourite sounding of the 90's albums.

[@Bellocks1]

@@matthewgabbard6415 I agree. I love Bug, Green Mind and Without A Sound. But I've always struggled to enjoy Where You Been, Start Choppin aside.

[@geckomacabre]

So whoever was wearing the mic i can hear their heartbeat in my headphones

[@michaelgrigelevich356]

John Furner same here! Just noticed and then saw your comment

[@medium_dog7211]

I went to Lollapalooza 93 to see Dinosaur Jr and got sunburned, they didn't play very long

[@allenschmitz9644]

lollapalooza 92' was a bit better..not so 93 has been.

[@240Sil]

We need a superfan to interview J already. I'll volunteer. ..

[@flowerdoodle2438]

I always imagine J at his families Thanksgiving/Christmas get-togethers talkin to his aunts and uncles and them leaning in and saying “what’s that?”

[@josevillarreal9920]

I saw a Dino gig @UIC in Chicago '94 n he came out on stage and played his guitar straight for 45 min. and didn't sing a single word.

[@evang7954]

J is the fuckin man. i suck with words too brother. but i can hear everything you're saying because your guitar speaks so loud

[@sstaners1234]

One thing I always wanted to know is when did he play with GG Allin? I had the theory it was right after Bug. It would have made sense since Lou left.

[@noahgibson7952]

I believe he played a show with gg in 1989/1990. He's on two songs on hated in the nation: Blood for you and ten year old fuck

[@sstaners1234]

I actually looked it up and it said he was at the infamous New York show in 1986 where GG defecated onstage. Sounds like a real bad night. Lol

[@allenschmitz9644]

@@noahgibson7952 Seeing this old guy makes you know just how long ago the 90's were.....

[@gavinmaitland80]

Feel the Pain.

[@midnightstorm4290]

I discovered him when he was playing with Ron Asheton in the early 2000s. I watched their live shows and I must say he sounds better in live shows than in his music.

[@richdixon]

I understand his sentiment about Lollapalooza 3 being a drag, but I went to the show in Atlanta and Dj woke up a bored, apathetic crowd with their set. Whoever was unfortunate enough to go on even earlier than Dj hadn't gotten anything going, but halfway through the Dj set the crowd started getting wild. Thousands of people started wadding up their paper drink cups and throwing them in the air. It was super psychedelic and energizing, like a massive pan of popcorns exploding. It seemed like everyone was ready to jump off and Dj clutched it. All I know of it...

[@Gappasaurus]

@Rich Dixon I was at the Philly show, in particular for Dino, Fishbone and Primus 😎 J is definitely right, the venue was not right for them, but they still rocked it, and i was front & center 🤘🏼

[@craigbrown9987]

This does feel like a really drawn-out police questioning of a very shifty suspect. It's quite fun and interesting, but talk about circumspect!

[@Vampiracho]

This interviewer really has his work cut out for him.

[@chuckabbate5924]

Keith Cameron is one of Mojos better writers..J is a tough interview. Hes a bit obtuse.

[@masterpiecelacquers2766]

J has a disdain for interviews. He is obviously an introvert. Being one myself I can see why answering questions about yourself wouldn't be all that great of an experience.

[@chuckabbate5924]

He has an earnestness about the band's success and shortcomings, and Keith does a pretty good job given how obtuse J can be.... All in all a good interview.

[@realet7501]

It is funny as the the one taking the interview is actually talking more than the one is being interviewed.

[@jeffreyhall76]

Benzos take j mascis to relax

[@iwillnevergetone5]

@4:04 "he was very awkward" lol

[@winnersblues]

why there ins't any video of dinosaur jr live in lollapalooza??

[@blackmachinima2711]

Dino Jr. Is rad.

[@bretmaynardmusician3807]

Anyone know where to get that hat??? I've been looking but no success

[@twtvman]

Zappa vibes re: composition, recording and low key cadence

[@jawass9307]

Don Flemming YEAH 👍👍👍

[@willhargreaveshf]

The balls of this man to stare down the camera and wink while he's talking about a part of a song being 'from the perspective of a frog'

[@PokeySoggybottom]

If you play the interview at 1.5 speed J sounds completely normal. Sort of interesting, but I still like the full J experience.

[@FaxanaduJohn]

21:25- the interviewer begins to Mirror J’s vocab!

[@NoCoverCharge]

The interviewer says hey J can I ask you a question ? J says Hold on … then writes an album and hands it to the interviewer and says here is my answers

[@berrybestlifestyle9188]

Dos Equis picked the wrong guy, J is the most interesting man in the world.

[@d_hurl]

where in the video, take a run at the sun, is the dude that plays the theremin? I can't find/figure out who he is talking bout. DinoJR fans thanks

[@Stingraybarbielbc]

Fishbone was all about the theremin and still is.

[@d_hurl]

​@@Stingraybarbielbc Hell yeah, I second that. They're an LA band so I've seen them a lot- how cosmic. 1 of the members' mom was a substitute teacher that took over a class in my HS in SFV. She started the class stating that fact like she'd get a break or something. I remember saying Woo Fishbone! & literally nobody knew wtf she was talking about. This was the early 2000's so all my gang member classmates we're busy sharpenin their switch blades & gettin ready to mug her. Maybe that was a cool fact somewhere @ sometime, but not there then. Doubt my few claps meant much- Heck I might've made it worse- I need mo theremin!

[@chattingesque372]

The Warner years were best

[@pb12661]

I'm guessing he's never needed any Xanax.

[@ghostrecon755]

In need that fkn hat. Shit's nuice!