Thurston Moore is an American musician best known as a singer and guitarist for Sonic Youth.

Moore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and was raised in Bethel, Connecticut. Although he enrolled at Western Connecticut State University, he opted to move to New York City instead. There he learned to play guitar from Glenn Branca and soon co-founded Sonic Youth, serving as the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist.

In 1985, he married Sonic Youth bassist, guitarist and vocalist Kim Gordon, with whom he has a daughter, Coco Hayley Gordon Moore. Thurston is known for playing Fender Jazzmas... (+) expand

Thurston Moore is an American musician best known as a singer and guitarist for Sonic Youth.

Moore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and was raised in Bethel, Connecticut. Although he enrolled at Western Connecticut State University, he opted to move to New York City instead. There he learned to play guitar from Glenn Branca and soon co-founded Sonic Youth, serving as the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist.

In 1985, he married Sonic Youth bassist, guitarist and vocalist Kim Gordon, with whom he has a daughter, Coco Hayley Gordon Moore. Thurston is known for playing Fender Jazzmaster guitars along with a host of other Fender models like the Mustang and Jaguar. Thurston is also very well known for being very harsh on his guitars.

In addition to his work with Sonic Youth, Moore has also released albums as a solo artist, one under the moniker David Adelmen, including 1995’s “Psychic Hearts”. He has collaborated with scores of artists, including My Cat Is an Alien, DJ Spooky, Nels Cline, William Hooker, Christian Marclay, Loren MazzaCane Connors, R.E.M. and Cock E.S.P. In the mid-90’s Moore formed a side band, The Dim Stars, with punk legend Richard Hell of Richard Hell and the Voidoids. In 2004, Moore performed in and produced an album for the all-star noise band To Live And Shave In L.A., the lineup of which also features Andrew W.K..

In 2004 Rolling Stone ranked him and Lee Ranaldo, of Sonic Youth, the 33rd and 34th best guitarists of all time. Their playing style is very innovative and they both use a large variety of extended techniques, like for instance their 3rd Bridge screwdriver technique.

Outside of his work as musical performer Moore runs the independent record label Ecstatic Peace and reviews new music in Arthur Magazine. In May 2005, he released the book Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture.

Thurston Moore just released his second solo album after 12 years. “Trees Outside The Academy” recorded in the studio of Jay Mascis (Dinosaur Jr. frontman) with Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and violinist Samara Lubelski. It’s mostly an acoustic pop record. (-) collapse