Conversation so far:
When did Dinosaur Jr. form?
Dinosaur Jr. was initially named Mogo, and played their first show on University of Massachusetts Amherst campus in the first week of September 1984. The trio named themselves Dinosaur.
How did Dinosaur Jr. decide on the name?
Immediately following the release of You're Living All Over Me, supergroup The Dinosaurs sued then Dinosaur over the use of the name, prompting the addition of Jr.
Did Dinosaur Jr. sign onto a label?
Dinosaur Jr. signed with Sire Records in 1990. They made their major-label debut Green Mind in 1991. The new record was virtually a J Mascis solo album.

Question: Did they have any influences?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Dinosaur Jr. have any influences?