Thurston Moore

Thurston Moore

Acting

July 25, 1958Coral Gables, Florida, USA

Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label. Moore was ranked 34th in Rolling Stone's 2004 edition of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." In May 2012, Spin published a staff-selected top 100 ranking Moore and his Sonic Youth bandmate Lee Ranaldo together on number 1.

Known for

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls

2000

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003

The Wizard of the Kremlin

The Wizard of the Kremlin

2026

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

2006

Irma Vep

Irma Vep

2022

Demonlover

Demonlover

2002

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

1994

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

2009

Acting117

The Last Critic

The Last Critic

2026

The Best Summer

The Best Summer

2026

Self

Broken English

Broken English

2026

Self

The Wizard of the Kremlin

The Wizard of the Kremlin

2026

Synthesizer Player

Sonic Youth: Live in 1991

Sonic Youth: Live in 1991

2025

Pavements

Pavements

2025

Self (uncredited)

Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt

Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt

2025

Self

The Road to Ruane

The Road to Ruane

2024

Self

Uncropped

Uncropped

2024

Self

Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story

Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story

2024

Scala!!!

Scala!!!

2024

Self

Louder Than You Think

Louder Than You Think

2023

Self (archive footage)

Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

2021

himself

Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson

Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson

2021

Self

The Sparks Brothers

The Sparks Brothers

2021

Self

Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché

Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché

2021

Self

Thick Air

Thick Air

2020

Himself

Swans: Where Does a Body End?

Swans: Where Does a Body End?

2019

Self

Sonic Youth: NYC and Beyond

Sonic Youth: NYC and Beyond

2019

Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over

Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over

2019

Self

SY NYC 12/12/01: The Demonlover Sessions

SY NYC 12/12/01: The Demonlover Sessions

2019

Self

Creem: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine

Creem: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine

2019

Self - Sonic Youth

Punk

Punk

2019

Self

Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation

2019

Desolation Center

Desolation Center

2018

Teenage Superstars

Teenage Superstars

2017

Self

The Public Image Is Rotten

The Public Image Is Rotten

2017

Himself

Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape

Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape

2016

Himself

Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90)

Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90)

2015

Self

Station to Station

Station to Station

2014

It's Not Repetition, It's Discipline

It's Not Repetition, It's Discipline

2014

Himself

Lou Reed - Remembered

Lou Reed - Remembered

2013

I'm Now: The Story of Mudhoney

I'm Now: The Story of Mudhoney

2013

Ben Lee: Catch My Disease

Ben Lee: Catch My Disease

2012

Self

The Hardcore Collection

The Hardcore Collection

2012

(archive footage)

Sonic Youth: Live at SWU Festival 2011

Sonic Youth: Live at SWU Festival 2011

2011

Sonic Youth: Maquinaria Festival

Sonic Youth: Maquinaria Festival

2011

Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard

Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard

2011

Self

Blank City

2011

Self

Sonic Youth & The Black Keys: Live at Austin City Limits 2011

Sonic Youth & The Black Keys: Live at Austin City Limits 2011

2010

Ecstatic Peace Archives

Ecstatic Peace Archives

2010

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

2010

Self

No Wave - Underground '80: Berlin - New York

No Wave - Underground '80: Berlin - New York

2009

Self

Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB

Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB

2009

Self

From the Basement

From the Basement

2009

Self - Sonic Youth

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

2009

Self - Musical Guest

New York Rock at the BBC

New York Rock at the BBC

2008

Self - Sonic Youth

I Need That Record!

I Need That Record!

2008

Himself

365 Day Project

365 Day Project

2007

Self

Welcome to My Castle!

Welcome to My Castle!

2007

Self

Llik Your Idols

Llik Your Idols

2007

Himself

You're Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson

You're Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson

2007

Self

Dinosaur Jr: Live in the Middle East

Dinosaur Jr: Live in the Middle East

2007

Himself

Cut Shorts

Cut Shorts

2006

Kill Your Idols: More.

Kill Your Idols: More.

2006

Self

Noise

Noise

2006

Self

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

2006

Self

Punk: Attitude

Punk: Attitude

2005

Himself

Sonic Youth: Live at Eurockéennes

Sonic Youth: Live at Eurockéennes

2005

Classic Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind

Classic Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind

2005

Self

We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen

We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen

2005

Self

Day Trip Maryanne

Day Trip Maryanne

2005

Cecil Taylor: All The Notes

Cecil Taylor: All The Notes

2005

Himself

Sun Ra: Brother From Another Planet

Sun Ra: Brother From Another Planet

2005

Self

(This Is Known as) The Blues Scale

(This Is Known as) The Blues Scale

2004

Self

Sonic Youth: Corporate Ghost

Sonic Youth: Corporate Ghost

2004

Kill Your Idols

Kill Your Idols

2004

Self

Sonic Youth: Live at Soundstage

Sonic Youth: Live at Soundstage

2003

Performer

Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)

Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)

2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003

Self - Musical Guest

Pavement: Slow Century

Pavement: Slow Century

2002

Self

25 Years of Punk

25 Years of Punk

2001

Self

Money for Nothing: Behind the Business of Pop Music

Money for Nothing: Behind the Business of Pop Music

2001

Self - Narrator (voice)

Sonic Youth: Live in São Paulo 2000

Sonic Youth: Live in São Paulo 2000

2000

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls

2000

Cool Dad Troubadour

Record Player: Christian Marclay

Record Player: Christian Marclay

2000

Himself

The Hardcore Collection

The Hardcore Collection

2000

Silver Rockets Kool Things - 20 Years of Sonic Youth

Silver Rockets Kool Things - 20 Years of Sonic Youth

2000

Self

David S. Ware

David S. Ware

1999

Himself

Turn of the Century

Turn of the Century

1999

Himself

Free Tibet

Free Tibet

1998

Self - Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth: Festival Internacional de Benicàssim

Sonic Youth: Festival Internacional de Benicàssim

1998

Classic Albums

Classic Albums

1997

Self

Don't Bring A Dog

Don't Bring A Dog

1997

Himself

Sonic Youth: Rocknacht - Live In Dusseldorf 1996

Sonic Youth: Rocknacht - Live In Dusseldorf 1996

1996

Tibetan Freedom Concert

Tibetan Freedom Concert

1996

Self

An Introduction to Harmolodics

An Introduction to Harmolodics

1995

The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special

The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special

1995

Self

Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

1995

Self

Sonic Youth: Screaming Fields of Sonic Love

Sonic Youth: Screaming Fields of Sonic Love

1995

Sonic Youth: Blood on the Beach

Sonic Youth: Blood on the Beach

1995

Self

Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!

Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!

1994

Freaks, Nerds & Weirdos

Freaks, Nerds & Weirdos

1994

Self

Hi Octane

Hi Octane

1994

Self (Host)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

1994

Fred Cracklin

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993

Self - Musical Guest

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

1993

Self - Musical Guest

Changing Fashions

Changing Fashions

1993

Sonic Youth: Live at Campo Pequeno Lisboa

Sonic Youth: Live at Campo Pequeno Lisboa

1993

Grunge Pedal

Grunge Pedal

1993

1991: The Year Punk Broke

1991: The Year Punk Broke

1992

Self

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992

Self - Musical Guest

Skeeno H.C. Rules

Skeeno H.C. Rules

1991

Goo

Goo

1991

Self

Rap Damage

Rap Damage

1991

Notebook

Notebook

1991

Weatherman '69

Weatherman '69

1989

Jeff Jones

Sonic Youth: 930 Club

Sonic Youth: 930 Club

1988

Put More Blood Into the Music

Put More Blood Into the Music

1988

Himself

Lou Believers

Lou Believers

1988

Himself

Sonic Youth: Mississippi Nights, St. Louis

Sonic Youth: Mississippi Nights, St. Louis

1986

Sublapse Video Mag 1

Sublapse Video Mag 1

1986

Submit to Me

Submit to Me

1986

Sonic Youth: Gila Monster Jamboree

Sonic Youth: Gila Monster Jamboree

1985

Sonic Youth - Gila Monster Jamboree - January 5, 1985

Sonic Youth - Gila Monster Jamboree - January 5, 1985

Sonic Youth: Tibetan Freedom Concert 1996

Sonic Youth: Tibetan Freedom Concert 1996

Sonic Youth Full Set From The Basement

Sonic Youth Full Set From The Basement

Self

Sound14

Irma Vep

Irma Vep

2022

Original Music Composer

2020

2020

2021

Music

Street

Street

2011

Music

Clean

Clean

2011

Original Music Composer

William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

2010

Music

I Was Jack Goldstein

I Was Jack Goldstein

2010

Music

Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis

Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis

2007

Music

Extra Action

Extra Action

2007

Music

Demonlover

Demonlover

2002

Original Music Composer

Things Behind the Sun

Things Behind the Sun

2001

Original Music Composer

Heavy

Heavy

1995

Original Music Composer

Hippy Porn

Hippy Porn

1991

Original Music Composer

Made in U.S.A.

Made in U.S.A.

1987

Original Music Composer

Submit to Me Now

Submit to Me Now

1987

Music

Directing2

Sonic Youth: Corporate Ghost (The Videos: 1990-2002)

Sonic Youth: Corporate Ghost (The Videos: 1990-2002)

2004

Director

Goo

Goo

1991

Director

Production2

Black Lodge

Black Lodge

2022

Executive Producer

Fire Music

Fire Music

2021

Executive Producer

Writing2

Goo

Goo

1991

Writer

Rock My Religion

Rock My Religion

1984

Idea

Art1

1991: The Year Punk Broke

1991: The Year Punk Broke

1992

Title Designer