E219: Thurston Moore on free jazz + Sonic Youth + Derek Bailey

E219: Thurston Moore on free jazz + Sonic Youth + Derek Bailey

From Rock's Backpages by Barney Hoskyns, Mark Pringle, Jasper Murison-Bowie

January 2, 2026 · 1h 27m · Episode 219

About this episode

Thurston Moore joins the hosts to discuss his new book on free jazz and his musical journey.

For this episode we're joined by Sonic Youth legend Thurston Moore to discuss his new book Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz and Improvisation Recordings, 1960-80. We start by recapping on the story our guest told in his acclaimed 2023 memoir Sonic Life. In the course of the conversation about his early musical life in Florida and Connecticut we hear a clip from Steve Roeser's 1994 audio interview with him. Discussion of early influences such as the Stooges takes us back to Thurston's stint in the late J.D. King's New York band the Coachmen – and then on to Sonic Youth itself. Our guest's friendship with neo-gonzoid scribe Byron Coley – a brilliant guest on our podcast last summer – takes us up to the present and the publication of Now Jazz Now. A general conversation on the subjects of "free jazz" and "improv" ensues, taking in clips from Thurston's pal David Toop's 1995 audio interview with the late Derek Bailey. After Mark has quoted from newly-added library pieces about Bill Evans (1972) and OMD (1984), Jasper talks us out with his thoughts on James Brown's 1994 loaded encounter with the Beastie Boys. Many thanks to special guest Thurston Moore. Now Jazz Now is published…

People in this episode

Hosts: Barney Hoskyns, Mark Pringle, Jasper Murison-Bowie

Guest: Thurston Moore

Topics covered

  • free jazz
  • Sonic Youth
  • improvisation
  • musical influences
  • Derek Bailey
  • Thurston Moore's memoir

Keywords

  • Thurston Moore
  • Sonic Youth
  • free jazz
  • Derek Bailey
  • Now Jazz Now
  • musical influences
  • improvisation
  • James Brown
  • Bill Evans

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sonic Youth, Ecstatic Peace Library, OMD

Books & works: Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz and Improvisation Recordings, 1960-80, Sonic Life, Gorilla Noises & Mains Hum, Living Time, Ladies and gentlemen, please adjust your re-entry goggles, Sonic Youth And the Blast First Axis

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