Soul Asylum

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Soul Asylum
2016SoulAsylum.jpg
Soul Asylum performing in Rochester, Minnesota, 2016
Background information
Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Years active1981–present
Labels
Members
Past membersSee members section
Website soulasylum.com

Soul Asylum is an American rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their 1993 hit "Runaway Train" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

Contents

The band was originally called Loud Fast Rules, with a lineup consisting of Dave Pirner, Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller, and Pat Morley. [1] They changed their name to Soul Asylum in 1983. [2] Morley was replaced by Grant Young in 1984.

The band recorded three albums with Twin/Tone Records and two with A&M Records, with little commercial success. In 1992, they released the triple-platinum album Grave Dancers Union , featuring "Runaway Train". The band played at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton early the next year. They also scored a platinum record with the album Let Your Dim Light Shine three years later. In 1998 they recorded Candy from a Stranger. The band released four more albums over the next 15 years. Their most recent was Hurry Up and Wait in 2020, their twelfth studio release. [3]

Mueller was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, and the band organized a benefit concert on his behalf. Mueller died a year later.

History

Formation and early years

The group was an outgrowth of a previous band, Loud Fast Rules, formed in 1981 by drummer and lead vocalist Dave Pirner, guitarist and backing vocalist Dan Murphy, and bassist Karl Mueller. Pirner switched to rhythm guitar, and Pat Morley took over on drums. As Loud Fast Rules, two of their songs were released on the 1982 Reflex Records cassette compilation Barefoot and Pregnant. [4] On the following Reflex compilation, Kitten (recorded live at Goofy's Upper Deck), they were billed as Proud Crass Fools. [5] Soul Asylum began performing around the Minneapolis–St. Paul area (including the First Avenue nightclub) and quickly developed a core following while becoming known for their powerful, dynamic stage shows. [6]

Their 1984 debut album, Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen was originally released on LP and cassette by local record label Twin/Tone as a nine-song EP. It is out of print but was re-released on CD as Say What You Will, Clarence...Karl Sold the Truck , which includes five additional tracks that were cut from the original album. Between the release of Say What You Will and their second album, Grant Young joined the group, taking over the drums from Morley. [1] In 1986, Soul Asylum released three albums: Made to Be Broken , Time's Incinerator (on cassette only) and While You Were Out .

The band toured relentlessly in its early years, opening for other American touring bands and later performing as a headliner act after gaining exposure on the "Flip Your Wig" tour with fellow Twin Cities band Hüsker Dü in early 1986. Contrasted with some of the popular underground and alternative styles at the time, audiences were struck by the band's onstage swagger, scruffy Midwestern appearance and extremely loud, frenetic sound, mixing tuneful but unrestrained punk, hardcore, 1970s rock, country and self-effacing kitsch. [7] One early review [8] described their sound as "some unholy mix of Kiss and Hank Williams thrown under the wheels of a runaway train." All elements contributed to the band's being described as a "grunge precursor", a claim often recited in comparisons between pre-Nirvana Minneapolis and Seattle bands. Despite critical acclaim locally and internationally, they remained unknown to a larger U.S. audience and radio market.

Mainstream popularity and success: 1988–1999

Dave Pirner at a Soul Asylum concert in Germany in 1990 DavePirner.jpg
Dave Pirner at a Soul Asylum concert in Germany in 1990

The group signed with A&M Records in 1988. Their first offering on that label was Clam Dip & Other Delights (1989), the title and cover art being a parody of Whipped Cream & Other Delights , by A&M Records co-founder Herb Alpert. Hang Time was released in 1988, followed by And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 (produced by X-pensive Winos drummer Steve Jordan). Because of poor sales and Pirner's hearing problems, the group considered disbanding.

After playing a series of acoustic shows in the early 1990s, they were picked up by Columbia Records. In 1992 they released Grave Dancers Union , which became their most popular album. [1] On January 20, 1993, the group performed at the first inauguration of United States President Bill Clinton. Later that year, the band performed "Sexual Healing" for the AIDS benefit album No Alternative , produced by the Red Hot Organization. The band added keyboard player Joey Huffman in the summer of 1993. He toured with the band until joining Matchbox Twenty in 1998. Huffman played on the albums Let Your Dim Light Shine , After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997 , and The Silver Lining . Soul Asylum won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for "Runaway Train". The music video for that song featured photographs and names of missing children, in the style of a public service announcement. At the end of the video, Pirner appeared and said, "If you've seen one of these kids, or you are one of them, please call this number", and then the telephone number of a missing children's help line was shown. For use outside the U.S., the video was edited to include photos and names of missing children from the area where the video would be shown. The video was instrumental in reuniting several children with their families. [9]

Before their next studio album, drummer Grant Young was fired and was replaced by Sterling Campbell. [10] Campbell had been credited as providing percussion on Grave Dancers Union (although he had actually done at least half of the drumming on that album). [11] The next release, Let Your Dim Light Shine , included the track "Misery", which reached the Top 20, but the album was not as successful as the band's previous one. In 1997 Soul Asylum performed a benefit concert for North Dakota students whose prom had been cancelled because of the Red River Flood of 1997. [12] Some of the songs played during the prom were later released on After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997 in 2004. The group released Candy from a Stranger the following year. The album was unsuccessful, and the band was dropped by Columbia Records. Pirner said, "It's sort of sad to say, but you could see the whole grunge-rock-band thing getting totally over-saturated and people were looking for something new." The band took a step back; Pirner explained, "We needed to reassess how far we've gone and how much further we're going to go and which way we want to go and what we do right and what we do wrong. It was kind of time to take inventory." [13]

2000s

Pirner became friends with the film director Kevin Smith, a longtime Soul Asylum fan. [14] Soul Asylum contributed music to three Kevin Smith films, Clerks , Clerks II , and 1997's Chasing Amy (in which Pirner provided the score). Smith directed the music video for the song "Can't Even Tell," which was featured on the Clerks soundtrack. [15]

In May 2004, bassist Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent treatment. In October 2004, a benefit concert was held for him in Minneapolis at The Quest nightclub, featuring popular local groups and musicians, including Soul Asylum, the Gear Daddies, Paul Westerberg, and former Hüsker Dü bandmates Bob Mould and Grant Hart, who reunited for their first performance together in sixteen years. The benefit raised over $50,000. [16] At the time, Mueller's cancer was in remission, and he played with his bandmates during the show. Mueller later recorded his last Soul Asylum album, The Silver Lining . However, the cancer returned, and he died at his home on June 17, 2005. Soul Asylum released The Silver Lining on July 11, 2006, their first album of new material since Candy from a Stranger , released eight years earlier.

Soul Asylum in 2010 Soul Asylum 2.jpg
Soul Asylum in 2010

In late 2005, ex-Replacements bassist (and former Guns N' Roses bassist) Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined Soul Asylum. The band completed its American tour in support of The Silver Lining in late 2006. In November and December 2006 they opened for Cheap Trick on that band's American tour. On March 10, 2007, Soul Asylum joined Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lifehouse in a concert to benefit Wain McFarlane, the leader of the reggae band Ipso Facto, to help pay for the expenses of a kidney transplant. [17]

2010s & 2020s

Stinson was a permanent member until 2012, but in 2006 and 2007, while he was on tour with Guns N' Roses, his place was temporarily filled by George Scot McKelvey. During the 2010 Guns N' Roses world tour, his fill-in was Pete Donnelly. Soul Asylum released the album Delayed Reaction in 2012. [18]

On October 9, 2012, guitarist Dan Murphy retired from Soul Asylum to focus on his private life. [19]

In November 2012, Winston Roye replaced Tommy Stinson on bass and Justin Sharbono replaced Dan Murphy on guitar. In 2016, Ryan Smith replaced Sharbono.

In 2014, Karl Mueller's widow Mary Beth founded the nonprofit Kill Kancer in Karl's memory to help continue the fight against cancer. [20] [21]

The band's twelfth studio album, Hurry Up and Wait , was released on April 17, 2020. [22]

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the 2020 tour in support of "Hurry Up and Wait" with a final performance at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on March 11, 2020. Pirner and Smith instead hosted frequent "live" performances during the 2020 shutdown via Facebook and Instagram.

Soul Asylum returned to the stage on June 26, 2021 performing in New Lenox, Illinois as the opening act for the Bodeans.

In March 2023, through Kill Kancer, singer Dave Pirner and bassist Jeremy Tappero met with Alex Etheridge, a 13-year-old Phoenix musician suffering from bone cancer, at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis. Flowers was founded by musician Ed Ackerson, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2019; Ackerson's widow Ashley donated the studio time to Alex. [23] The trio recorded Alex's song "Home Sweet Home". The song is about how Alex's thoughts of returning home helped him deal with being in the hospital. It was largely written by Alex himself, who had worked out the drums parts, lyrics, and main guitar riff before meeting with Soul Asylum. He and the band spent four hours in the studio working on the song, which was later released on SoundCloud. [24] Alex died on July 19, 2023. [25]

Musical style

The band have been described musically as alternative rock, [26] [27] [28] [29] grunge, country rock, punk rock, [30] pop rock, [31] post-grunge, [32] and indie rock. [33]

Honors and awards

Soul Asylum's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue Soul Asylum - First Avenue Star.jpg
Soul Asylum's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, [34] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. [35] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh. [36]

Band members

Former members

Former touring musicians

Timeline

Soul Asylum

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Pirner</span> American songwriter, singer, and producer

David Anthony Pirner is an American songwriter, singer, and producer best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative rock band Soul Asylum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Stinson</span> American musician

Thomas Eugene Stinson is an American rock musician. He came to prominence in the 1980s as the bass guitarist for The Replacements, one of the definitive American alternative rock groups. After their breakup in 1991, Stinson formed Bash & Pop, acting as lead vocalist, guitarist and frontman. In the mid-1990s he was the singer and guitarist for the rock band Perfect, and eventually joined the hard rock band Guns N' Roses in 1998.

<i>Grave Dancers Union</i> 1992 studio album by Soul Asylum

Grave Dancers Union is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum and was released in 1992. The album spent 76 weeks on the US Billboard music charts and was certified triple-platinum in 1993, establishing Soul Asylum as one of the most successful rock groups of the first half of the 1990s.

Karl Mueller was an American rock musician. He was the bass guitarist and a founding member of the Minneapolis alternative rock band Soul Asylum.

Grant Young is an American musician who was the drummer for the alternative rock band Soul Asylum from 1984–1995. He replaced Pat Morley shortly after the release of Soul Asylum's debut album, Say What You Will, Clarence...Karl Sold the Truck in 1984. Young's last appearance on a Soul Asylum record album was the breakthrough album, Grave Dancers Union. He was replaced in the middle of the recording sessions by Sterling Campbell, who has also since left the band and is primarily associated with David Bowie, as part of his touring bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Murphy (musician)</span> American musician (born 1962)

Daniel David Murphy is an American musician best known as a co-founder lead guitarist for the alternative rock band, Soul Asylum from 1981 to 2012. He is also a member of Golden Smog.

<i>Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck</i> 1984 studio album by Soul Asylum

Say What You Will... is the debut studio album by American rock band Soul Asylum. It was originally released on August 24, 1984 by Twin/Tone Records, and produced by Hüsker Dü's Bob Mould.

<i>Let Your Dim Light Shine</i> 1995 studio album by Soul Asylum

Let Your Dim Light Shine is the seventh studio album by American rock band Soul Asylum, released June 6, 1995, on Columbia Records. Critically, it suffered in comparison to its predecessor, Grave Dancers Union, the band's breakout release. It includes the hit "Misery", which was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Syndicated Inc." on his album Bad Hair Day.

Golden Smog is an alternative country-rock supergroup of loosely connected musicians mostly from the Minneapolis area. At various times members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs, and Big Star have worked with Golden Smog. Given the fluid collaborative nature of Golden Smog the lineup has often changed, but relative constant members who appear on all the recordings are guitarists Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, and Gary Louris along with bassist Marc Perlman.

Michael Bland is an American musician best known as a drummer for Prince starting in 1989. He was with Prince during The New Power Generation era and played with him live and on albums for seven years.

<i>Made to Be Broken</i> 1986 studio album by Soul Asylum

Made to Be Broken is the second full-length album by Soul Asylum. It was released on January 18, 1986. It was the first of the three albums released by Soul Asylum in 1986.

<i>The Silver Lining</i> (Soul Asylum album) 2006 studio album by Soul Asylum

The Silver Lining is the ninth album by American rock band Soul Asylum. It was released on July 11, 2006, eight years after Candy from a Stranger.

<i>Candy from a Stranger</i> 1998 studio album by Soul Asylum

Candy from a Stranger is Soul Asylum's eighth studio album. It was released on May 12, 1998. It follows 1995's Let Your Dim Light Shine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Asylum discography</span> Band discography

The discography of American alternative rock band Soul Asylum consists of 12 studio albums, two live albums, five compilation albums, two extended plays (EPs), 22 singles, and 17 music videos. Formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota using the name Loud Fast Rules, the band's original lineup consisted of vocalist Dave Pirner, guitarist Dan Murphy, bassist Karl Mueller, and drummer Pat Morley. The band changed their name to Soul Asylum prior to the release of Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen in 1984. Later that year, Morley was replaced on drums by Grant Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaway Train (Soul Asylum song)</span> 1993 single by Soul Asylum

"Runaway Train" is a song by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in June 1993 by Columbia Records as the third single from their sixth album, Grave Dancers Union (1992). The power ballad became a success around the world, reaching numbers five and four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and climbing to the top position on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single earned a gold sales certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after selling 600,000 copies in the US. Outside North America, it reached number two in New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland and peaked within the top five on the charts on several other European countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody to Shove</span> 1992 single by Soul Asylum

"Somebody to Shove" is a song by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in 1992. The song was written by Soul Asylum's lead singer, Dave Pirner. It was the first single from their sixth studio album, Grave Dancers Union (1992). It reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number nine on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. The music video for the song was directed by American filmmaker Zack Snyder, who also directed the "Black Gold" videoclip.

<i>Change of Fortune</i> 2016 studio album by Soul Asylum

Change of Fortune is the eleventh studio album by Soul Asylum. It is the follow-up to their 2012 album Delayed Reaction. It was released on March 18, 2016. It is their first album released on Entertainment One.

Flowers Studio is a recording studio in Minneapolis founded by Ed Ackerson, leader of the alternative rock bands Polara and the 27 Various, and co-founder of the Susstones Records label. Many notable musicians have recorded at the studio, including the Jayhawks, The Replacements, Motion City Soundtrack, Brian Setzer, Golden Smog, Mark Mallman, Soul Asylum, the Old 97's Rhett Miller, Clay Aiken, the Wallflowers, Pete Yorn, Juliana Hatfield, Free Energy, Lizzo, Jeremy Messersmith, and Joseph Arthur.

<i>Hurry Up and Wait</i> (Soul Asylum album) 2020 studio album by Soul Asylum

Hurry Up and Wait is the twelfth studio album by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in 2020.

Alex Etheridge was an American boy from Phoenix, Arizona, whose battle with bone cancer received international attention, leading to recording with the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum and a viral video of a meeting with his musical hero, Travis Barker of Blink-182.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 906–907. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  2. ↑ Sullivan, Denise. "Soul Asylum". AllMusic . Retrieved June 20, 2007.
  3. ↑ Luken, Jeremy (April 14, 2020). "Soul Asylum Retain Their Gritty Sonic Charm On 'Hurry Up and Wait'". Glide Magazine. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  4. ↑ Scholtes, Peter (October 7, 1998), "Spinning in their Graves", City Pages, archived from the original on April 22, 2010, retrieved April 19, 2010
  5. ↑ Soul Asylum, Minnesota Historical Society, retrieved April 19, 2010
  6. ↑ Archived June 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Soul Asylum : Library". Mnhs.Org. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Soul Asylum – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. May 24, 1998. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Back on track". Pasadena Weekly. July 13, 2006. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  10. ↑ Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 366. ISBN   0-7535-0427-8.
  11. ↑ "School of Journalism & Mass Communication : University of Minnesota". Sjmc.cla.umn.edu. April 1, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Soul Asylum Gets Prom Date". RollingStone.com. May 27, 1997. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2007.
  13. ↑ Devenish, Colin (December 7, 2001). "Soul Asylum Return". RollingStone.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2007.
  14. ↑ "why Soul Asylum rules". Readexiled.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Clerks II". EnterTheSoulAsylum.com. August 22, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  16. ↑ Devenish, Colin (October 24, 2004). "Husker Du Men Reunite". RollingStone.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
  17. ↑ Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ "Change of Fortune". EnterTheSoulAsylum.com. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Guitarist Dan Murphy Leaves Soul Asylum". Rolling Stone . October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Kill Kancer". Kill Kancer. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  21. ↑ Raihala, Ross (April 16, 2014). "Kill Kancer launches in Karl Mueller's memory". St. Paul Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  22. ↑ "New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On April 17". NPR. April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  23. ↑ Brian Oake (June 1, 2023). "Episode 319: Chris Strouth". The Brian Oake Show (Podcast). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  24. ↑ Strouth, Chris (May 11, 2023). "The Song Doesn't Remain the Same". Dispatch. No. 24. Minneapolis. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  25. ↑ Etheridge, Brian (July 19, 2023). "A busy 24 hours". CaringBridge . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  26. ↑ Yancey, Bryne (March 30, 2012). "Soul Asylum cover Dead Kennedys, Joy Division, Stooges for new covers album". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  27. ↑ Sterling, Scott T (April 16, 2020). "Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner Once Embraced 'No Future,' Now He's Content To Hurry Up And Wait". SPIN. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  28. ↑ Kevin, Brian (August 22, 2006). "Soul Asylum: On What Not To Sweat In The Music Biz". Paste. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  29. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (May 22, 2019). "'Runaway Train 25': Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner Talks All-Star Re-Imagination and Lasting Legacy of Classic '90s Song and Video". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  30. ↑ Prato, Greg (March 30, 2012). "Soul Asylum Rediscover Their Punk Roots". Rolling Stone . Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  31. ↑ Heller, Jason. "Soul Asylum: Delayed Reaction". AV Club. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  32. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (August 6, 2004). "Top Ten Mediocre Post-Grunge / Alternative Bands". Stylus Magazine . Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Wilco, Deep Forest". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  34. ↑ "The Stars". First Avenue & 7th Street Entry. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  35. ↑ Bream, Jon (May 3, 2019). "10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show". Star Tribune . Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  36. ↑ Marsh, Steve (May 13, 2019). "First Avenue's Star Wall". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
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