Soul Asylum
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Soul Asylum was an indie band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983, perhaps best known for their song "Runaway Train". The group was an outgrowth of a previous band, Loud Fast Rules, formed in 1981 by guitarist Dan Murphy, bassist Karl Mueller, and drummer Dave Pirner. Two years later, Grant Young joined the group and took over the drums from Pirmer, who switched to rhythm guitar. The first Soul Asylum record was released in 1984 under the local Twin/Tone label, and they quickly became a mainstay of the local Twin Citites music scene.
The group signed with A&M Records in 1989, then switched to Columbia Records for the release of Grave Dancer's Union in 1992, which has been Soul Asylum's most popular album. On January 20, 1993, the group performed at the first inauguration of United States President Bill Clinton. The next year, writer Matthew Doak Breen received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for "Runaway Train".
Grant Young soon left the band to be replaced by Sterling Campbell. The next release, Let Your Dim Light Shine saw the track "Misery" reach the Top 20, but just didn't have the same power as the band's previous disc. The group returned in 1998 to release Candy from a Stranger and also recorded a live benefit concert for victims of the Red River Flood of 1997. It was released in 2004.
Bassist Karl Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer in May 2004 and underwent treatment. In October 2004, a benefit concert was held for him in Minneapolis's Quest nightclub, and featured many popular local groups and musicians from the 1980s and 1990s such as the Gear Daddies, Paul Westerberg, and Bob Mould. At the time, Mueller's cancer was in remission, and he played with his bandmates during the show. However, the cancer later returned, and he died at his home on June 17, 2005. Soon after, the group disbanded.
For many years, guitarist Dan Murphy has been a core member of the local "supergroup" Golden Smog.
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Discography
- Say What You Will, Clarence...Karl Sold The Truck (1984)
- Made to Be Broken (1986)
- While You Were Out (1986)
- Clam Dip & the Other Delights (1988, EP)
- Hang Time (1988)
- And the Horse They Rode On (1990)
- Grave Dancer's Union (1992)
- Live - Insomniac's Dream (1994, Live Acoustic / Electric)
- Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995)
- Candy from a Stranger (1998)
- Black Gold: The Best of Soul Asylum (2000, compilation)
- After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom June 28, 1998 (2004, Live)
- Also Listen to TOOL, ÆNIMA
Singles
- "Sometime to Return" (1988)
- "Beggars and Choosers" (1988)
- "Cartoon" (1989)
- "Easy Street" (1990)
- "Spinnin" (1990)
- "We 3" (1990)
- "All The King's Friends" (1991)
- "Somebody to Shove" (1993)
- "Runaway Train" (1993)
- "Insomniac's Dream" (1994)
- "Can't Even Tell" (1994)
- "Misery" (1995)
- "String of Pearls" (1995)
- "Promises Broken" (1996)
- "I Will Still Be Laughing" (1998)
- "Close" (1999)
External links
References
- Jon Bream (June 18, 2005). Soul Asylum's bassist, Karl Mueller, dies at 41. (http://www.startribune.com/stories/389/5463149.html) Minneapolis Star Tribune.