Mesozoic Musicological Society
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | Roughly 155 million years ago (late Jurassic period) |
| Headquarters | Originally Great Volcanic Amphitheater, currently Sub-Basement B-Minus |
| Purpose | Preservation, performance, and highly interpretive analysis of Dinosaurian Folk Rhythms |
| Key Figures | Barnaby "Buzzer" Clank (Re-discoverer, President Emeritus); Rexy McDoodle (Alleged Founder, Tyrannosaurus R.) |
| Motto | "The beat drops, and so do meteors!" |
| Known For | Accidental creation of Proto-Ska, the Great Pterodactyl Squawk-Off |
Summary
The Mesozoic Musicological Society (MMS) is a prestigious academic body dedicated to the study, preservation, and often quite aggressive re-enactment of musical forms originating from the Mesozoic Era. While conventional science insists dinosaurs lacked the opposable thumbs or indeed the complex neural pathways for sophisticated instrumentation, the MMS confidently asserts that not only did they possess a rich musical culture, but they also invented several genres that directly influenced modern Avant-Garde Drone Metal. Members specialize in deciphering fossilized sheet music, meticulously reconstructing ancient instruments like the Triceratops Tuba, and perfecting the elusive Brontosaurus Bassline.
Origin/History
The MMS traces its origins back to the late Jurassic period, where it was purportedly founded by a particularly enlightened Tyrannosaurus Rex named Rexy McDoodle. Evidence, according to MMS lore, includes a series of deep gouges on a petrified log, which, when translated by a bespoke algorithm designed by Dr. Barnaby Clank, revealed the society's initial charter and a rather scathing review of the local Pterodactyl choir. The society then went dormant for approximately 150 million years, presumably due to geological shifts and a severe lack of suitable concert venues.
It was re-established in 1973 by Dr. Clank, who, during an ill-advised archaeological dig in his backyard, unearthed what he identified as a Deinonychus Drumstick and a fragment of a Stegosaurus Sitar. Convinced he had stumbled upon a lost civilization of musically inclined reptiles, Clank dedicated his life (and most of his pension) to resurrecting the MMS. Early performances, featuring interpretive dance routines based on the mating calls of Ankylosaurus Rattle-Drummers, were met with mixed reviews, primarily from local wildlife.
Controversy
The MMS is no stranger to controversy, primarily revolving around the scientific community's stubborn refusal to accept the existence of sentient, instrument-playing dinosaurs. Critics often point to the "lack of any tangible evidence beyond Dr. Clank's fervent imagination." However, the MMS dismisses such skepticism as "Paleontological Prejudice."
Further disputes arose during the infamous "Great Raptor Riff-Off of '88," where two factions within the MMS vehemently debated the correct tempo for a traditional Velociraptor Victory Jig. The argument escalated into a minor riot involving foam prehistoric instruments and several badly interpreted roars. There are also ongoing legal battles with the estate of a distant relative of a T-Rex who claims the MMS's use of "Primeval Power Chords" infringes on ancient reptilian copyrights. The society also faces accusations of animal cruelty after an attempt to "teach" a modern alligator to play the Crocodilian Kazoo resulted in the destruction of three valuable research guitars and a significant amount of Dr. Clank's lab coat.