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Thurston Moore may be one of the most innovative, influential electric guitarists living today. With Sonic Youth, Moore and his bandmates connected America’s thriving experimental underground with the realm of punk, grunge and alternative rock – forging an unmistakable sound with their detuned, often dissonant and always loud guitars.
Within the band, and outside of it, Moore has kept a relentless schedule of performance, collaboration, recording and writing. A staple of New York City’s experimental art and music scenes, he’s worked with the likes of Yoko Ono, Merce Cunningham, Cecil Taylor, Rhys Chatham, Lydia Lunch, John Zorn, Beck, Takehisa Kosugi, Gus Van Sant, Glenn Branca and Bernie Sanders (yes – you read that correctly). Heavily influenced by the Beat poets, he’s edited music and literary fanzines, and published his own work through various imprints. He’s the founder and senior editor of Ecstatic Peace Library – who publish art books and records – as well as of the poetry imprint Flowers & Cream Press. He’s on faculty at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.
Now based in London, Moore is returning to Melbourne for MIFF – performing new scores to four short films by pivotal mid-century Ukrainian-American filmmaker Maya Deren. He’ll also join us to discuss his career in music and writing, and his latest foray into the world of cinema.
Moderated by Jacinta Parsons
Thurston Moore moved to NYC at eighteen in 1976 to play punk. He started Sonic Youth in 1980. Since then Thurston Moore has been at the forefront of the alternative rock scene since that particular sobriquet was first used to signify any music that challenged and defied the mainstream standard. With Sonic Youth, Moore turned on an entire generation to the value of experimentation in rock n roll – from its inspiration on a nascent Nirvana, to Sonic Youth’s own Daydream Nation album being chosen by the US Library of Congress for historical preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2006.
Jacinta Parsons is the co-host of the Breakfast program on ABC Radio Melbourne. Jacinta has had extensive experience with music broadcasting beginning her radio life at community radio station 3RRR over a decade ago, where she coordinated live music broadcasts and hosted several shows, including Detour and Breakfasters. She made the move to the ABC in 2015, working with the Double J team and as Music Director for Local Radio. As well as presenting The New Music Show on ABC Radio, she has produced and presented several national broadcast events.
Presented in partnership with the Wheeler Centre
The Wheeler Centre is Melbourne’s home for smart, passionate and entertaining public talks on every topic. Across 180+ mostly free events each year, and a unique collection of videos, podcasts and original writing, you’ll find some of our finest local and international writers and thinkers sharing their expertise, their imaginations and their ideas.
