I grew up with the Beatles in the 60's, Mercury Rev in the 90's and both now. Jonathon is a lovely honest heartfelt man who envisions gracefulness.and spiritual longevity God bless him for the beautiful music
I stumbled upon this interview by accident today...I am so glad I did. Jonathan has such a remarkable insight into his art, with so little ego, and he has certainly rekindled the love for the band that I felt a quarter of a century ago
Jonathan is such an intelligent and articulate fellow! So interesting to hear about what they went through with their career. Thank you Iain for being such a good interviewer!
I was about 16 and going through the tumult of teendom. My friend had introduced me to Deserters Songs a year or 2 earlier. I bought The Secret Migration off the back of this, and it was the soundtrack to my next few years. Beautiful album. The Irish autumn fits beautifully with it
I dive into Mercury Rev music With the Secret Migration album in 2004. (It resonated to me ! I’m one of the few ) They have written some of the most melodic & delicate songs ever (Black Forest, Snowflake in a hot world, Central East Park and much more) - they don’t receive the recognition they deserve ! I attended 2 live shows, I was mesmerized. Thank you for this interview, they don’t talk often, especially Jonathan. It was a pleasure to hear & see this lovely sensitive soul. Thanks ! And I wish to see them again in Concert in Paris…🤞
this is fantastic! mercury rev & the flaming lips' music has meant a great deal to my younger self trying his best to not murder himself or just give up completely and never leave my bedroom in my family's house... growing up is hard doing but when you find something--anything-- that works for you, well, it's all the way beyond remarkable and an ultimately indescribable wonderment of nature. now, as a 45 years old man I still love the albums and can listen to them straight on through as I did as a teenager. thanks for everything, my fellows. cheers!
Great interview, and story telling by JD. I like that he refused to go there about a blow-out with Wayne. It was about "a wind of life that became stronger'.
this is such a great conversation we are lucky to be able to enjoy. i am listening/watching it after receiving my deluxe version of the secret migration in the mail on CD. what a treat!
"For Mercury Rev, Pop was the experiment" Yes! And that's why I love this band. And Johnathon doesn't start rambling on about "spirituality" and other such souless nonsense. He paints the scene of creation as richly as his songs tell a story or tug on your emotions. So refreshing
Fantastic interview! I love how Jonathan speaks about his experiences and guiding philosophies. He has to have a deep soul to produce such singularly powerful music.
One of the most interesting things about this band is, as Donahue mentions, their insistence on the use of 35mm magnetic tape for recording their albums - apparently originating from their recording of music for student films. You can really hear it in the cinematic sound that Deserters Songs has I guess.
I listened to All is Dream yesterday in my car for the first time. I thought it was an increlible listen . I could hear in the lyrics that there was an astrological mystical esoteric tinge to the lyrics /song themes. I found out that the album was released on 9/11 and that has obviously had a dramatic effect on the bands career at that point listening to this interview. I get the impression some of the lyrics were almost describing that day. Dark is Rising and Lincoln eyes-plumes of smoke and imploding zeppelins. Anybody else noticed that?
Saw them in Melbourne, Australia in 1999, they did a medley of Talking Heads ‘once in a liftetime’..one if the great love shiws ive ever seen. Good to see the early catalogue being reissued, they are all great.. Steam, Boces, Other side ..almost impossible to find there days...‘meth from a rockett’s kick’ epic 90s psych!
Herself is steam is still stunning I saw them with spiritualised who just couldn’t follow the absolute total onslaught of strobes and immense sound Dr phibes on first, great show Ahh the old days I went with Tristessa Angel, where are you now, Tris?
I always felt Mercury rev were a spiritual indie band. So much indie indie rock is nihilistic but I always found Mercury Rev had a spiritual yearning from its feedback soundscape early days to its later days with lyrics with mythological themes.
The two first album is better, baker tok it to another level i think. Jonathan is probebley the man in the band with most controll in the end 😴 wish baker still play with them ❤
Interesting, i always thought All Is Dream reminded me of Supertramps Breakfast in America, whos album cover and some songs were considered offensive and not sold for a while after 9/11
I totally thought that See You on the Other Side was exactly what Jonathan described it as. A rainbow in a very flat landscape of 1995. Yet I totally understand why it did not register. I know I was into so much historically weird 70s music & I was a big ambient electronic fan. The indie scene was just the wrong place for that album to drop. The vanguard in the uk & Europe for open minded listeners had totally transitioned to the dance & electronic world at that moment. It’s still a gem though but my view on the album is that it was also too rigid and precise. I think Boces and Deserter Songs are similar in their ease of flow.
I worked with jonathan at an OKC record store managed by the Lips manager. He had come to town to join the band. Not exactly a customer service enthusiast. Nor conversationist. Fair enough. I guess he was short on money. He would eat … some orange flavored 90s vitamin powder. Metamucil? Probably not. Straight. He also turned me on to Felt, Loop and an organ player I forgot. So. History of two.
"You realize how much of a faucet you are and not the water itself. That's the liberating moment in art for any artist..."
- Jonathan Donahue
Thank you for this interview! It's so seldom that we hear anything about this bewildering and brilliant band! Thank you, again!
They're going through that briefly, but I still fell that See You On The Other Side is that band's lost masterpiece. It's utterly beautiful.
I saw them on that tour and I am glad I did because they never play anything from it.
It’s surprisingly good. Such a varied album
Or strongest album, and The one most ulike the others. No mean fest in itself
Easily my favourite album. But then again I probably did Deserters Songs to death.
My fave album of all time
Awww what a treat, I'm 43. I grew up with this man.
42 here! Been with them since Goddess on a Highway🙋🏻♂️🔥
47. Still looooove Yerself is Steam
Have your lives worked out?
I grew up with the Beatles in the 60's, Mercury Rev in the 90's and both now.
Jonathon is a lovely honest heartfelt man who envisions gracefulness.and spiritual longevity
God bless him for the beautiful music
I stumbled upon this interview by accident today...I am so glad I did. Jonathan has such a remarkable insight into his art, with so little ego, and he has certainly rekindled the love for the band that I felt a quarter of a century ago
Jonathan is such an intelligent and articulate fellow! So interesting to hear about what they went through with their career. Thank you Iain for being such a good interviewer!
Jonathan still got it ! Ooh lala think I'm in 🥰 love .. its those eyes so beautiful 😍
Love all his metaphors and similies. Seems like very sweet and open guy.
What a lovely and sincere, interesting man.
I was about 16 and going through the tumult of teendom. My friend had introduced me to Deserters Songs a year or 2 earlier. I bought The Secret Migration off the back of this, and it was the soundtrack to my next few years. Beautiful album. The Irish autumn fits beautifully with it
I dive into Mercury Rev music With the Secret Migration album in 2004. (It resonated to me ! I’m one of the few ) They have written some of the most melodic & delicate songs ever (Black Forest, Snowflake in a hot world, Central East Park and much more) - they don’t receive the recognition they deserve ! I attended 2 live shows, I was mesmerized. Thank you for this interview, they don’t talk often, especially Jonathan. It was a pleasure to hear & see this lovely sensitive soul. Thanks ! And I wish to see them again in Concert in Paris…🤞
I love moving on. Its like a Psalm.
this is fantastic! mercury rev & the flaming lips' music has meant a great deal to my younger self trying his best to not murder himself or just give up completely and never leave my bedroom in my family's house... growing up is hard doing but when you find something--anything-- that works for you, well, it's all the way beyond remarkable and an ultimately indescribable wonderment of nature. now, as a 45 years old man I still love the albums and can listen to them straight on through as I did as a teenager. thanks for everything, my fellows. cheers!
Great interview, and story telling by JD. I like that he refused to go there about a blow-out with Wayne. It was about "a wind of life that became stronger'.
He's so adorable 😘😘😘😘😘😘
Has he ever written a book? He articulates his sentences so well
This interview is on a different level, thanks..
this is such a great conversation we are lucky to be able to enjoy. i am listening/watching it after receiving my deluxe version of the secret migration in the mail on CD. what a treat!
Every time I drive up I-87 North thru Kingston the scenery exudes Mercury Rev 🌲🌿🌳🍂🍁⛰ ...
"For Mercury Rev, Pop was the experiment"
Yes! And that's why I love this band.
And Johnathon doesn't start rambling on about "spirituality" and other such souless nonsense.
He paints the scene of creation as richly as his songs tell a story or tug on your emotions.
So refreshing
Fantastic interview! I love how Jonathan speaks about his experiences and guiding philosophies. He has to have a deep soul to produce such singularly powerful music.
Such a calming demeanor. I could fall asleep to him talking.
One of the most interesting things about this band is, as Donahue mentions, their insistence on the use of 35mm magnetic tape for recording their albums - apparently originating from their recording of music for student films. You can really hear it in the cinematic sound that Deserters Songs has I guess.
I listened to All is Dream yesterday in my car for the first time. I thought it was an increlible listen . I could hear in the lyrics that there was an astrological mystical esoteric tinge to the lyrics /song themes. I found out that the album was released on 9/11 and that has obviously had a dramatic effect on the bands career at that point listening to this interview. I get the impression some of the lyrics were almost describing that day. Dark is Rising and Lincoln eyes-plumes of smoke and imploding zeppelins. Anybody else noticed that?
Love him
Nobody talks about See You On The Other Side. So much better than Deserters Songs.
this is great
Saw them in Melbourne, Australia in 1999, they did a medley of Talking Heads ‘once in a liftetime’..one if the great love shiws ive ever seen. Good to see the early catalogue being reissued, they are all great.. Steam, Boces, Other side ..almost impossible to find there days...‘meth from a rockett’s kick’ epic 90s psych!
This is very enlightening. YORESELF is probably my favorite freak rock record. But i understand they had to change. It took me awhile to accept that.
Love Mercury Rev, they did so many poweful songs but nothing would match debut and sophomore lps to me.
I love JD & MR xxx
See you on the other side is my favourite Mercury Rev LP.
Herself is steam is still stunning
I saw them with spiritualised who just couldn’t follow the absolute total onslaught of strobes and immense sound
Dr phibes on first, great show
Ahh the old days
I went with Tristessa Angel, where are you now, Tris?
*yerself, obvs
Fucking auto correct
The Willy Wonka of indie music 💚
I always felt Mercury rev were a spiritual indie band. So much indie indie rock is nihilistic but I always found Mercury Rev had a spiritual yearning from its feedback soundscape early days to its later days with lyrics with mythological themes.
The two first album is better, baker tok it to another level i think. Jonathan is probebley the man in the band with most controll in the end 😴 wish baker still play with them ❤
The hunted prey becomes the predator through changes in mind body soul and music 🖤🤍
Interesting, i always thought All Is Dream reminded me of Supertramps Breakfast in America, whos album cover and some songs were considered offensive and not sold for a while after 9/11
I totally thought that See You on the Other Side was exactly what Jonathan described it as. A rainbow in a very flat landscape of 1995. Yet I totally understand why it did not register. I know I was into so much historically weird 70s music & I was a big ambient electronic fan. The indie scene was just the wrong place for that album to drop. The vanguard in the uk & Europe for open minded listeners had totally transitioned to the dance & electronic world at that moment. It’s still a gem though but my view on the album is that it was also too rigid and precise. I think Boces and Deserter Songs are similar in their ease of flow.
I worked with jonathan at an OKC record store managed by the Lips
manager. He had come to town to join the band. Not exactly a customer service enthusiast. Nor conversationist. Fair enough.
I guess he was short on money. He would eat … some orange flavored 90s vitamin powder. Metamucil? Probably not. Straight. He also turned me on to Felt, Loop and an organ player I forgot. So. History of two.
Metamucil 😂
Wayne’s Nickname was ‘Stinky’
A bit late but.. me and my mates thought See You On The Other Side was out/astounding
Psychedelic as feck
… What about the voice of Jonathan Donahue
How did it get so high?
I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy?
N you're my fact checkin cuz
Christopher Ryan are u from NYC area?
I know him and he does!
@@charlesanderson3651 hey! listen to you - on the same wavelength - we're on the *STEREO* .
But hi ho silver ride. Hi Ho silver ride.
I cherish Snowflake Midnight. I feel its one of the bands best efforts.
Lol
Boces & Yourselves Steem.. after that just not the same
Bit of a spacer