Note – this is a final part of an overview of “See A Little Light: The Trail Of Rage And Melody” – an upcoming biography of former Sugar/Husker Du frontman Bob Mould. See overview of previous chapters here.
Chapter 24
In which Bob Mould talks about
– Collaborating with Rich Morsel
– Playing Blowoff parties at the Velvet Lounge / 9:30 Club
– Dealing with dissolution of relationship with Kevin
Quote
In Jaunary 2004, I had a solo show booked at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. My sister, Susan, lives in Roanoke, and she flew my mother up from Florida for the show. They’d met Kevin many times, but I asked Kevin not to go to the show, given the state of things. He understood and suggested that he came over to the house the next day and cook brunch for everyone. I said, “OK, that sounds reasonable.”
The 60’s folk-pop legend Donovan was in town then for a photo show at Govinda Gallery in DC. Chris Murray is the owner, he knows a lot of famous rock people, and he brought Donovan backstage after my set. Twenty minutes into the aftershow party, my sister comes up and says, “This is the most interesting group of people. I met this guy named Donovan, and it’s so weird – I never think of that name except Donovan the singer. He was my favorite singer when I was in college. I loved Donovan.” I looked at my sister and said, “Susan that is Donovan.” That is “Wear Your Love Like Heaven,” “Sunshine Superman’ Donovan.” She made a beeline toward him and bent his ear for the next half hour.
Chapter 25
In which Bob Mould talks about
– His decision to stay in Washington DC and not move anywhere else
– Getting into bear culture
– Writing Body of Song
– Playing shows with Grant Hart
Quote
When I turned down Grant’s dinner invite, I walked away knowing that if there was ever a question as to the remote possibility of Husker Du reuniting, those few hours reminded me that I couldn’t go back. It hadn’t been a bad experience, but compared to all the new and exciting things happening in my life, socializing and playing music with Grant Hart wasn’t on my “to do again” list.
My feelings about Grant were borne out of the following year when we both participated in a [Magnet] magazine cover story, an oral history of the Minneapolis music scene – specifically, of Husker Du and the Replacements. My favorite quote in the piece came from Grant: “Sorry about your dead friend David Savoy, Bob, but you’re still a fucking prick.” I doubt that this was a misquote. And people still wonder why there will never be Husker Du reunion.
Chapter 26
In which Bob Mould talks about
– Signing a record deal with Yep Roc
– Finishing / releasing Body of Song
– The experience of mass at St. Matthew’s church
– Putting together a new touring band w/ Jason Narducy, Brendan Canty and Rich Morel
– Playing Husker Du songs during live shows
– Celebrating 44th birthday
Quote
By never playing songs like “Makes No Sense At All,” “I Apologize”, “Hardly Getting Over It” and “Chartered Trips” in the electric band setting, I felt like I’d buried them. I had tried to erase that time. It was liberating to lift the shroud from my older songs and incorporate them into the rock band show. They’re beautiful songs that stand the test of time, and I will play them to my grave.
But there was some material I still wouldn’t touch: no matter how much people might love to see it, I can’t imagine myself playing side two of Zen Arcade. I wrote those songs when I was twenty-three years old, angry at the world, feeling misunderstood, persecuted, and disappointed. I can’t even get into the head of that person anymore. I can’t sing those songs. I’m a different person now.
Chapter 27
In which Bob Mould talks about:
– Starting a relationship with Michael Brodbeck
– Finishing / releasing Blowoff album
– Dealing with Karin Berg’s passing
– Meeting Thomas Bangaltar from Daft Punk
– Finishing / releasing District Line album
– Meeting Dean Spunt from No Age
Quote
People had told me about No Age, and when I heard the first minute of their song “Miner,” I could hear their influences. When I started to learn more about them, that they have their own community-oriented label, it was so reminiscent of what Husker Du had done in Minneapolis. It made me feel good. I did this thing in the 80s, then in the 90s a bunch of people copied certain pieces of it for all the wrong reasons, and now in 2008 there were people who were influenced by not only the music but the mentality and the aesthetic. I guess this was the second wave of legacy, which made me a grandfather. Ouch. It’s both good and bad. Either way, I can neither run nor hide from it.
Chapter 28
In which Bob Mould talks about
– Finishing Life And Times album
– Moving to San Francisco with Michael
– Playing 2009 All Tomorrow’s Parties festival with No Age
– One final look at his career/life
Quote
After years with little money for food and no permanent address, I am blessed to be living in a home that looks out across the city of my dreams. After years filled with unpredictable experiences, I’m happy and grateful to have lasted thirty years at the job I love. And after two failed relationships, I’ve been with Michael for five years, building a healthy and happy bond. I’m as best I can to carry the good lessons along with me.
If you had asked me at twenty-one if I would make it to fifty, I would have scoffed at you, made some painfully existential comment, and headed off to my next self-destructive adventure. But as I write this, I look at myself and am pretty content with what I see. Restless, always. Happy, mostly. Satisfied, occasionally. But the cathartic thing? Those days have come and gone.
Soundtrack
Bob Mould – Very Temporary
Bob Mould – Again And Again
No Age + Bob Mould – In A Free Land (Live at ATP NY 2009)
No Age + Bob Mould + Bradford Cox (Deerhunter) – Chinese Rocks (Live at ATP NY 2009)
No Age + Bob Mould – Eraser (Live at ATP NY 2009)
Image Credit: Under The Radar Mag
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