Hüsker Dü | Artist
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed 1979 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, by guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist/vocalist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart. Hüsker Dü first gained notability as a hardcore punk band, later crossing over into alternative rock. The trio met at Saint Paul record store Cheapo Records where Hart was a sales clerk. They bonded over a shared love of the Ramones and started a band which initially included Charlie Pine on keyboards who was soon excluded because they wanted a basic guitar based punk sound. The band started releasing singles on Reflex Records in 1981, then their first two albums, Land Speed Record and Everything Falls Apart, which generated much critical praise. But it was their third album, the Steve Albini produced Zen Arcade released in 1983, that really made their name. Wanting to try something completely different, Albini and the band created a double album around the concept of a boy who leaves home to face a harsh and unforgiving world. In his review for Rolling Stone, David Fricke described Zen Arcade as "the closest hardcore will ever get to an opera ... a kind of thrash Quadrophenia" The album, which was recorded in only 45 hours at a cost of $3,200, received critical praise and significant mainstream music press attention, ending up on several year-end best-of lists. The following year (1985) the band released two more excellent albums New Day Rising and Flip Your Wig, bringing them to the attention of major label Warner Music. After three more albums, the rigours of drugs, alcohol and constant touring saw the band dissolve in 1988. Mould and Hart then formed two short lived bands, Nova Mob and Sugar, before carrying on with solo careers. The band Sugar released the excellent Copper Blue album in 1992. The band name "Hüsker Dü" was the title of a popular 1970s memory board game meaning "do you remember?" in Danish, with the addition of umlauts as a heavy-metal affectation. Standout albums include Zen Arcade, New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig and Warehouse: Songs and Stories. The EP compilation Eight Miles High/Makes no Sense at All is also highly recommended.
Artist Website: bobmould.com
Featured Albums: Hüsker Dü
Related Artists: Husker Du, Bob Mould, Sugar, Black Flag
Video Clips: Makes no Sense at All, Don't Want to Know if you are Lonely, Could You be the One
