• 1989-

  Jonathan DonahueVocals, guitars1989-

  Sean "Grasshopper" MackowiakGuitars, clarinet1989-

  David BakerVocals1989-1994

  Dave FridmannBass1989-1993

  Suzanne ThorpeFlute1989-1998

  Jimy ChambersDrums1989-1998

  Jesse ChandlerFlute, woodwind, piano2015-
• Mercury Rev is an American psychedelic pop-rock band formed in 1989 in Buffalo, New York. The band's leaders, Jonathan Donahue and Sean "Grasshopper" Mackowiak, first met at Buffalo's Continental club when they were 18. "We both loved the same stuff: Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, The Psychedelic Furs," Grasshopper told Uncut magazine. "We just started playing together."
• The band name came along during Mercury Rev's early days when they'd record at the University at Buffalo's studio. According to Mercury Rev Unofficial FAQ, the name means nothing in particular. "We just liked the juxtaposition of the two words," said Grasshopper. "Mercury as in the planet or alchemy or also a US-made automobile... and rev as in 'reving' or stepping on the accelerator of a car. Also, in French, 'rev' means dreams, or 'rev' as short for 'revolution' (spinning in circles). So it has many different meanings on many levels, as do many of our lyrics."
• For their second show, Mercury Rev got to support Bob Dylan at Yale University in 1991. "We had the same booking agent and Bob Dylan wanted younger bands to open up shows," Grasshopper told Uncut. "I think he got more than he bargained for! I remember that our set was pretty shambolic and crazy."
• The other founding members were Dave Fridmann, David Baker, Suzanne Thorpe and Jimy Chambers. Fridmann gave up his role as a touring member of the band in 1993 to concentrate on producing other artists. His resumé includes production work for Weezer, Mogwai, MGMT and most releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips. In August 2001, Fridmann joined the band again on stage for a pair of shows in Japan, marking his first live appearance with them since 1993.
• Mercury Rev's first three albums offered experimental psychedelic rock, but with the release of 1998's Deserter's Songs, they shifted to a more melodic, chamber-pop sound.
• Deserter's Songs spawned three UK top 40 singles and was NME's album of the year for 1998.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Bangla DeshGeorge Harrison

George Harrison's 1971 song "Bangla Desh" was the first major charity single. It was part of a concert held to bring relief to the people of Bangladesh, who were fighting for independence and suffering from a famine.

I'd Like To Teach The World To SingThe New Seekers

The first hit song that was used in a commercial before it was released as a single was "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing," which was written for a Coke ad.

TimberPitbull

Pitbull only raps for about a minute on "Timber." Kesha does most of the work.

AngieThe Rolling Stones

"Angie" was the only ballad by The Rolling Stones to hit #1 in America.

StrongerKanye West

A 2011 Gold's Gym poll found "Stronger" by Kanye West the best song to work out to. Second place was the Rocky theme.

Crocodile RockElton John

Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" borrows a bit from Don McLean's "American Pie." Both songs feature a Chevy, and are about young people who are heartbroken when their music "dies."

Editor's Picks

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.