Bob Mould interview (2019)

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Bob about his early fascination with music, songs he wrote when he was 9, discovering punk rock, The Ramones and Iggy Pop, forming Hüsker Dü, gaining attention, when the band fell apart, Workbook, his time in Sugar, his parents passing, moving to Berlin, writing for Sunshine Rock.
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Video interview with American musician Bob Mould, founding member of both Hüsker Dü and Sugar. FaceCulture spoke with Bob about his early obsession with music, songs he wrote when he was 9, discovering punk rock, The Ramones and Iggy Pop, how he formed Hüsker Dü, gaining attention, pressure and changes, when the band fell apart, his solo album Workbook, his time in Sugar, his parents passing, moving to Berlin, writing for Sunshine Rock, professional Rock ’n Roll, and a lot more! (14/12/2018)

[@barny15]

The moment he describes meeting Grant, and then describes Grant telling him that he knows someone who plays bass... that's some powerful stuff that ultimately and literally changed the course of rock and roll. Just crazy that it is captured here.

[@brianoneil9662]

Had a punk friend introduce me to 'Zen Arcade' in early '86 while I was in West Germany and it was amazing. I was obsessed. Incredibly harsh blended with melodic and these lyrical vignettes. Hüsker Dü were perfectly framed in a moment where music could still stretch into anything the musicians could imagine.

[@timacann]

I first found out about Bob from Sugar. Tilted blew my face off. I was learning guitar at the time and it always seemed so unachievable to be able to play like him. Husker Du came soon after got me. Then I found out he was a gay man and he became the ONLY true idol I’ve ever had. He was ever so important to me as a teenager. Knowing there was someone out there who looked and sounded like him got me through those difficult first years of realisation. Thanks Bob.

[@granthambeard]

Tilted is the greatest, any song that opens with "I only do these things to freak you out" just gets to me.

[@mnmade9062]

Bob is an amazing guitarist. When you see him live that becomes apparent. What’s awesome about his playing style is that his basic chord structures are very simple. The Bob Mould “sound” includes a lot of Gmaj, Cadd9, D, and Dsus chords that are endlessly rearranged, and I love it. Obviously, there’s much more to it, but nearly every song of his that I immediately fell in love with, has those chords as a base. Not being gay myself, I had a different reaction when I learned he was gay. I was 19, and I thought “Huh...that’s different.... I don’t give a fuck though. I love his songs and his sexuality plays no part in how I feel about them.”

[@Trumpwearsadiaper84]

I'm glad Bob made these songs because I love these songs, and I'm equally glad that they helped you to be with us here today. You should be able to probably love whoever you love, you should be able to get married and adopt everywhere, and you should never have to deal with the ridiculous notion of straight pride.

[@jimbohi3648]

Saw Husker DU at a small club The cubby Bear in Chicago and 85. I don't have to say it because you already know it, that show kick ass fantastic great memories for me

[@spnhm34]

This man literally changed my life

[@conorkennedy3304]

dope as fuck

[@LovesickBluesBoi]

He's changing my life ATM, i discovered his music a couple of weeks ago. Amazing person

[@void0094]

@@LovesickBluesBoi same

[@tribeshift]

He comes across as very content which is great to see. Love his stuff.

[@MrRustyspot]

I've had a crush on this man for 35 years.

[@MidnightinSavannah]

You too, he seems like the nicest guy.

[@JediNiyte]

He is sexy as HELL.

[@crushsatan]

gay.

[@MrRustyspot]

@@crushsatan Oh Duh. Bright!

[@crushsatan]

@@MrRustyspot you like that, huh.👍

[@herbertrichard614]

"Divide and Conquer " is the most life affirming song and finest composition in music history.

[@markusantonio4866]

Bob is a true guitar hero. He has his own sound.

[@markday5719]

A total hero and a wonderfully open interview - was amazing to see him play Cardiff in 2016 (Patch The Sky tour).

[@mikepurdy1738]

Oh he's still alive, thank all the gods

[@andylane3739]

He's very gracious

[@jslanier1355]

A towering genius. The very best there is.

[@NetMillionaire]

I’m blessed to see sugar live in Manchester UK, and they blew my face ofF! Copper blue blew me away and since then discovered husker du and loved every thing Bob does! I love nirvana but Bob mould total idol. True LEGEND!!

[@deerhunter2218]

I've been blessed to see sugar twice n Bob 3 times live, absolutely fkn brilliant!

[@markye1872]

A True Giant of Sound. Hero.

[@markendicott6874]

Yep.

[@etherealcatholic5711]

His generation was extremely blessed. By 1994 getting in a band was next to impossible and music was over. Nirvana wouldn't have made it if Hüsker Dü hadn't signed to a major label 4 yrs earlier.

[@tobymcgroby8967]

This is so true, and satisfying to hear someone else say it. It's gotta be harder than ever now, cause everything is shitty rap or techno, dubstep or whatever it's called. I can't even tolerate a minute of new music. This turned negative quickly didn't it lol

[@iggypopisgod9]

Getting into a band is fairly easy. Most do it as a hobby. However, becoming a "working" musician and that as your primary income is a quantum leap that most never make, regardless of talent. It takes focus, drive, ambition to really get anywhere. For the lucky few, it falls in their lap, but even the Beatles struggled early on, as did Van Halen. At some point, you need to catch a break. That takes years, if it appens at all

[@profd65]

"His generation was extremely blessed." I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. "By 1994 getting in a band was next to impossible and music was over." I have no idea what that's supposed to mean either. And as far as Nirvana goes, Nirvana didn't make it because Husker Du made it, Nirvana made it for the same reason Husker Du made it. By the mid '80s the record labels had become interested in "alternative" bands, and apparently were getting sick of hair metal.

[@tomedwards7580]

EXACTLY correct!

[@samstackhouse560]

The fact that older music has been curated so we mostly only hear the good stuff doesn't mean there's no good music being put out currently. Obviously I love Husker Du, and Nirvana, but I wouldn't claim there's nothing of comparable value now. Culture shifts. There was stuff of comparable cultural value before and after, and there will continue to be. Also there's no such thing as being blessed. There's just practice.

[@colin7168]

I love Bob. This is a nice interview too. Thanks.

[@colico14]

Bob is the best.

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

Thanx to Bob Mould i started investigate Rock history, i was strictly punk/hardcore, maybe a little bit of Hendrix, Motorhead or early Iron maiden (yeah, i'm old), but when i heard 8 miles high or Ticket to rode by Husker Du, it made me curious for past times. Thank you Bob, you did a good education

[@granthambeard]

Always amuses me how he finds a little joke in something and the interviewer never laughs. I totally relate, Bob.

[@Formula-602]

Interviewer sounds German..Does that answer your question? :-)

[@johnsertich-ye4gq]

Very cool my great grandparents and grandparents also ran a small grocery/general store in Western Pa. Never knew that about Bob.

[@clifton250]

Yeah! For real/sure! Love all of the SST releases and even the major label stuff is pretty darn neat! These guys had it rough in the early days but were able to survive and reap the benefits! A massive big up! Cheers man!

[@paulosicne5803]

"1 2 3 4!" Forever.

[@greacen]

Great conversation! I'm glad you went back to those formative years and getting to 'the ambition'.

[@davidtexmex1616]

Lovely interview here, Bob is very open and calming throughout, really enjoyable!

[@timacann]

David TexMex he’s a total delight to listen to. He’s always so warm and down to earth.

[@jahwobble5214]

The interviewer is also brilliant so many interviews are conducted by idiots now with such silly questions

[@keithandrew2705]

bob looks and sounds great! he rocks as hard as he ever did and he sounds great. saw him one year ago in boulder with friend keith ostrander and it was a wonderful night. mould rocks hard but is still melodic and that's a rare thing. go mould!

[@mattmacneil3424]

this was fun to listen to. thanks!

[@shannonsuo6970]

A legend.

[@Fog99horn]

Excellent interview.

[@AppleOno]

I would love to hear some of those earliest songs Bob recorded as a kid with his organ, and Grant Hart and the Hartbeats as well... Maybe one day Bob will record a kids' record LoL

[@TheDirge69]

It goes to the intellect of the person that is being interviewed that they are able to provide interesting response/commentary to an otherwise banal and inept question by the interviewer.

[@wide_awake]

Yea this interviewer is terrible

[@muazseker7741]

Good questions..historical answers.

[@genericjesus8803]

“Land Speed Record”, yup, all those songs are under 3 minutes. I think that was the first Husker Du album I bought and still have

[@retroecho]

“Professional Rock and Roll.” 1967 by Herbert H Wise is on Amazon for 8 dollars.

[@jennydeaf9O9]

He mould’nt of done it without ya!

[@penafidelensespelomundo966]

♥️

[@PurzelPadauZ]

Reading his autobiography right now it is quite uninteresting seeing this interview because I already know everything he says here. There are quite great questions, it's just that they are all answered in there.

[@purpletopturnip4113]

Right on, dude...right on.

[@davidice1]

There are three principle Bobs in music, Marley and Dylan are both great, but I'm a Mould man every time.

[@klausrain111]

Bob Mould listened to the MONKEES? Now I've heard everything! Well, then again he was just a kid, how could he know how massively unhip they wére at the time? But, in later years it was revealed that Michael Nesmith was a fine songwriter. The Monkees show was aimed at 9 year old kids, so, being popular like they were was definitely a threat to "serious" music lovers at the time. Looking back on it today, it was absurd to dislike them so much.

[@skinnywizardofironmeadow4430]

Check 1,2!

[@seeingeyegod]

I had one of those plastic air organs. I wrecked it cause I was more interested in seeing how things worked inside than writing songs.

[@ralphe.thompson5010]

i saw husker at duke university at university hall

[@crushsatan]

I like old Bob Mould.

[@john84896]

I’m a Kurt/ nirvana fan but they can’t touch husker...that being said not many alt bands could or will... husker was something else...the records can’t be touched...the guy in rem said it best when asked what were the great records of the 80’s “Anything by husker du”

[@kayakchrispy]

I kno...

[@jlouis4407]

His latest record is very good it’s heavy and I like it better than latter day Husker Du.

[@joeyrogerson83]

He's such a silver fox

[@cpwalsh6245]

0:11 - "Before we get into the new album, I'd like to go back a bit." I'm 20-minutes in and the interviewer hasn't got into the new album. Don't say this if all you really want to do is reminisce or uncover a history already written.

[@emilabrahamsson3597]

So bland questions for a legendary band. Schould ask for the time in uk(live in camden) and the crossover between punk and punkrock.

[@tobymcgroby8967]

Sounds like Lorne Michaels lol... ...I love Bob's music, reminds me of my 90s life as a kid, obsessed with MTV & MuchMusic(Toronto-based Canadian channel) & Beavis n Butthead, Mortal Kombat, Super Nintendo, GiJoes, Pogs... Alright enough already, I'm turning into one of those cheesy commenters. Next I'll start asking people to come back to the 90s with me, or if anyone is listening in 2020.. Kill myself first

[@bertilknudsen]

Anybody else think Husker Du and XTC sound a lot alike?