Hüsker Dü was one of those bands that I totally missed. They were already broken up before I even graduated grammar school. By suggestion from one of the 90's grunge gods (perhaps, Nirvana, not sure) I decided to check them out.
The band was formed in 1979 in Minnesota. The members were guitarist Bob Mould, Bassist Greg Norton and drummer Grant Hart. Mould and Hart would share in the singing and songwriting duties. This however did not make for an easy partnership and caused personal and creative difficulties. Hüsker Dü began as a hardcore punk band. After four albums with independent labels, the band signed with Warner Brothers Records. Candy Apple Grey was released in 1986. It was the first album to make the Top 200 on Billboard (the highest being #140) and receive airplay on MTV. Basically making College Rock almost commercial. With Candy Apple Grey, we seen more melodies and somewhat calmer music. Hüsker Dü helped establish the alternative sound that many early 90's artists would try to emulate. It however peeved some of their hardcore fans. Truth, I prefer the later stuff.
After the tour of Warehouse: Songs & Stories in 1987 they disbanded. Their manager David Savoy had committed suicide and Hart's drug habit caused tension and concern. Mould stated the breakup was due to "three people going their separate ways". Mould & Hart would continue with solo careers and Norton became a restaurateur.
"Sorry Somehow" is my favorite Hüsker Dü. I believe it is about a messy divorce/breakup. He is not sorry for the relationship ending but I think sorry that the relationship even happened at all. At least that's what I get. Being older now I definitely appreciate Hüsker Dü lyrics and music a lot more.
I don't have to think about you, think about the past
Those days stand out in my mind and those days were the last
I know the time is coming and I'm waiting for the day
I'd give you everything in the world just to get it out of the way
Just a little useless fact, during a rehearsal, the band could not remember the french lyrics in Psycho Killer so they started shouted anything they knew in a foreign language. Someone shouted Husker Du, which was a memory board game and means "do you remember?" in Danish. Hüsker Dü was created with the help of those umlauts (röck döts). :)
Some song suggestions, pretty much anything from Candy Apple Grey, "Never Talking To You Again, It's Not Peculiar, Could You Be The One, Makes No Sense At All, Hate Paper Doll, Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely, Broken Home, Broken Heart, I Don't Know What Your Talking About, Turn It Around, Up In The Air".
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