By: Laura Christopherson

“It’s a crazy mixed up world out there, Someone’s always got a gun and it’s all about money

You live with loneliness, or you live with somebody who’s crazy It’s just a crazy mixed up world …”

(“Crazy Mixed Up World”)

• David Pirner - vocals & guitar• Daniel Murphy - guitar & vocals • Michael Bland - drums & vocals • Tommy Stinson - bass & vocals

• Karl Mueller (1983-2005) (Deceased) Bassist• Pat Morley (1983-1984) Drummer• Grant Young (I984-1995) Drummer• Sterling Campbell (1995-1998) Drummer• Ian Mussington (1995-1998) Drummer

•Outgrew name and renamed themselves Soul Asylum. •Soon after Pat Morley joined.•Began performing around Minneapolis/St. Paul•Quickly developed a following and was known for their incredible stage presence.

•The Band was first known as Loud Fast Rules (1981)•Formed by Pirner, Murphy and Mueller (now deceased)

Twin/Tone Years…

• Debut album was released in 1984 as an LP (vinyl record) titled Say What You Will… Everything Can Happen and was released by local record company Twin/Tone.

• Re-released on CD titled Say What You Will, Clarence…Karl Sold the Truck.

• After album released, Pat Morley was replaced on drums by Grant Young

Continued….• Released three albums in 1986 under

Twin/Tone record label.– Made to be Broken– Time’s Incinerator (cassette only)– While You were Out

• Critical acclaimed locally and internationally, but remained unknown to larger U.S. audience

A&M Record Years…

• Signed with A&M records in 1988, they released their first album under new label and also released their final album under Twin/Tone.

• Twin/Tone album was a parody of A&M records co-founder Herb Alpert’s Whipped Cream & Other Delights. Soul Asylum’s was titled Clam Dip & Other Delights.

• Other A&M albums include – Hang Time– And the Horse They Rode In On.– Due to poor sales and Dave Pirner began having

hearing problems, the ban considered disbanding.

Becoming Famous….

• 1990’s they played a series of acoustic shows and were soon picked up by Colombia Records.

• 1992 saw the release of Grave Dancers Union, which became their most popular album.

• On January 20th, 1993 the band performed at the 1st inauguration of former President Bill Clinton.

Award Winning…

• In 1994 they received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for “Runaway Train.”– The music video for this song features

photographs and names of missing children in a public service announcement format.

• Before their next album Grant Young was fired and replaced by drummer Sterling Campbell.

• Next release Let Your Dim Light Shine with track “Misery” reached the Top 20, but not as successful as Grave Dancers Union.

Beginning to Fall…

• 1997 played at a benefit for North Dakota students whose proms were cancelled because of the Red River Flood of 1997.

• 1998 released Candy From A Stranger.– Album was unsuccessful and the band was

dropped from Colombia Records.

• Pirner befriended director Kevin Smith who was a long time Soul Asylum fan.– Contributed music for 3 films, Clerks, Clerks II, and

Chasing Amy.

Death…

• In 2004, bassist Karl Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer.– Benefit concert was held for him at The Quest

nightclub in Minneapolis featuring Soul Asylum along with local bands The Gear Daddies and Paul Westerberg (former lead singer of The Replacements)

• Mueller recorded The Silver Lining, his last album with Soul Asylum.– Died June 17, 2005

Today…

• Late 2005, ex-Replacements and current Guns N’ Roses bassist Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined the band for a tour.

www.soulasylum.com

www.mtv.com/music/artist/soul_asylum/artist.jhtml

www.vh1.com/artists/az/soul_asylum/bio.jhtml

www.rollingstone.com/artists/soulasylum

www.myspace.com/soulasylumofficial

Bibliography