LOU BARLOW (SOLO)

Arguably the most prolific songwriter of his generation, Lou Barlow has also been one of the most influential; thanks to his lo-fi legacy, any geek with a guitar, a four-track machine, and an unrequited crush on a girl could become an underground pop star.

Although born in Dayton, OH, Barlow was raised primarily in Westfield, MA, where during high school he joined forces with fellow introverted outsider J Mascis in the hardcore band Deep Wound. After the group’s breakup in 1983, Barlow and Mascis reunited in Dinosaur (later Dinosaur Jr.), one of the most acclaimed indie bands of the era. Barlow left Dinosaur Jr. and went on to form influential ’90s outfits Sebadoh and Folk Implosion as well as to maintain a nearly constant output as a solo artist.