Hüsker Dü and the Birth of Alternative Rock

Initially punk rock was not profitable. Though it might save your life, seldom did it pay the bills. The music was brash, loud and rarely ever played on the radio, but Nirvana and grunge changed that in 1991. Unlike the classic rock/metal indebted versions of grunge pedalled by Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains, Nirvana's version was a slick collision of Black Flag, and The Beatles; a punk, metal, pop hybrid previously unheard by the mainstream public. But as Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic once said in interview: [It] was nothing new, Hüsker Dü did it before us.
Few bands summed up the pre-grunge alternative rock scene of the 1980s like Minneapolis' Hüsker Dü. Their name came from a Danish boardgame that guitarist/songwriter Bob Mould recalled from his youth, ironically translated as "do you remember?" Starting as an underground hardcore band they transformed into what we'd know today as alternative rock, a sound that would attract the attention of radio stations, major labels and the masses. The musical groundwork they put in their 9 years of existence paved the way for the 90s alt rock takeover. But who were Hüsker Dü? Why were they so important? And how did they give birth to alternative rock?
#punkrock #alternativerock #documentary
Soundtrack
Patricia Taxxon - Cowardice (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Comfort (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Safety (erictaxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Scarcity (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Bellstep (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Home (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Luar - Anchor ( / luarbeats )
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[@TrashTheory]

If you like this video and the rest of my content, please consider kicking a buck or two over to me on Patreon. Benefits include specific video-curated Spotify playlists. This one features the Du, those they influenced and a smattering of college radio hits. Check it out and many other playlists now for as little as $1 per month! Link below: www.patreon.com/posts/june-2019-27774621

[@sergiogonzalez7881]

A Pixies video? Why Not?

[@theshocker4626]

Not everything is the fkn Beatles, damn

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

Thanks. That was the golden age f rock as much as the 60's. I knew it at the time and still think so. Thank you

[@paulhb]

I stopped watching 8 minutes in. The disjointed video clips had me looking away constantly. The clips mean nothing to the story. The block lettering credits mean even less. Looks like it could have been really good. I couldn’t follow it with all of the visual noise.

[@Vampirebear13]

My only qualm with this video is, Husker Du reached their "zenith" with their last album, Warehouse : Songs & Stories. I see it as a "goodbye" album because thru the tracks, you can tell there's a fight between them to see who'd get more time. And of course, Bob Mould is the only member to go on & have a successful career.

[@littleferrhis]

I remember my brother was a big fan of Husker Du, and my Grandma had the game of Husker Du in the basement. So we played Husker Du while listening to Husker Du.

[@AndersonTückmantel]

Hahahaha maluquices

[@jt1929]

How “do you remember”?

[@jackpavlik563]

@@jt1929 boom…

[@devilaverage6718]

Yo dawg, ...

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

I played Husker Du in my basement in Minneapolis and then I saw it spray painted in big letters on the local high school in Uptown. THEN I saw Bob Mould play live at downtown Minneapolis on the NBC Today show. Bob first feasted on the free donuts at the food truck that NBC had set up.

[@rufuspipemos]

I was in college from 1985-1989. This was the GREATEST period for alt rock ever. Early REM, Replacements, Husker Du.... on and on. The music was so alive and literally every month for 5 years or so something new and interesting came out. Also, the bands you liked released a record every year so there was always something to look forward to.

[@FelipeNavarro120]

It should such a good period, always something new and relevant wish i did live this period. It should be a privilege!

[@biancachristie]

I was in high school and my first year of college during that time and lived in a nice-sized college town with a bangin radio station plus a great "alternative" hour in the nearby city with a major market where all the bands came thru. I think the boom extended through the early nineties, because the underground was very lively and lots of the classic punk bands were still around or got back together to take advantage of the scene. Good times , , , ,

[@lizzy-wx4rx]

Yes! Exactly!! There are always these comments on videos of Husker Du, Meat Puppets, early REM saying "they were ahead of their time"--no, no, no! Not at all. They were perfectly OF that wonderful time

[@vin-cc9nk]

RIP Grant Hart, one of the best songwriters of his generation. He made most of my favorite Hüsker tunes and pretty much everything he put out after the band ended is excellent as well.

[@steverose3435]

I liked his input but I liked bob mould’s vocals better but Hart it seems was musically more advanced. However since music isn’t a competition, variety is a good thing in the goal of finding your own sound. That’s where things start getting interesting

[@martinevensen406]

I liked bobs songs better

[@AlanSantana331]

Spetacular video. Husker Du forged the basis to the grunge, pop punk and alternative rock that came in the 90's. Deserves more recognition.

[@chocomanger6873]

Yeah but, you know, there's always another band. One band influences another, and so on, and so on, and so on, ...

[@replecon1408]

@@chocomanger6873 a lot of SST bands were the proto grunge sort, Husker Du, meatpuppets, Screaming Trees, Black Flags later work, and lots of other less known bands

[@laurastrobel718]

Loved sst bands back in the day

[@piotrb8434]

Pop punk existed already in the 1970's - Buzzcocks, The Undertones...

[@deadstar44]

@@piotrb8434 also Magazine featuring ex-Buzzcocks Howard DeVoto.

[@brandonpage7087]

The 80s College Rock scene deserves to be discussed more often! Thank you for shining a light on them & Husker Du.

[@edwardgiovannelli5191]

The college stations back then were SO MUCH better than the mainstream pop and classic rock stations were. 98% of the high school population listened to the same 8 songs played on constant rotation... but the college stations had endless variety... always someone new to hear, or they'd play - get this - more than just one song off an album!

[@EuphoricTincture]

The Wipers were an extremely underrated band. They were gifted, and influenced many '90's rock bands.

[@blackflagnation]

The Wipers were amazing and underrated. Before Nirvana, there was The Wipers

[@Mraquanetchris]

Every time I hear The Wipers - wonder how on earth was this band was not huge.

[@pabloisusi6097]

Me too

[@DTD110865]

@@blackflagnation Kurt Cobain himself said Grunge was invented in 1979 by The Wipers.

[@digineet8421]

I found the wipers album is this real and was overcome with the desire to write something. The product of that was the song I’m money proud of making in the decade I’ve been writing songs. Truly incredible band and album

[@paulthomas5901]

One of the most jaw dropping facts about "Zen Arcade" is that the entire 25-song double-album was a non-stop, whirlwind session of recording for 40 straight hours with 23 of the songs being the first recorded takes. They then spent another 40 hours mixing the entire thing. Let that sink in for a minute.

[@hanskloss1331]

I have heard that ! it's definitely The Husker's Swan Song IMO it's really psychedelic in its own right

[@Compton3clipsed]

Husker Du and The Replacements, two excellent bands so deeply connected.

[@conorkennedy3304]

The two rock bands that got me into rock music.

[@korakotsutharomna8662]

And​ minutemen too.. O

[@hanskloss1331]

Smokin' Bob (RIP)

[@b.deanslife]

I’m 51 and a massive music fan. I’ve followed Everything from 70’s Punk through alt rock to modern prog rock. I haven’t got a clue a clue how I missed Husker du and Bob Mould. Brilliant I love it

[@brianoneil9662]

Zen Arcade is a masterpiece. Beauty and harshness blended into something like nothing else.

[@hanskloss1331]

yes , yes it is phenomenal

[@geecee6764]

RIP Grant, it’s criminal how under appreciated he is.

[@juliefrommes4119]

he was a predator

[@clarkrogers7789]

Julie Frommes can you tell me more? can’t find anything on google

[@juliefrommes4119]

@@clarkrogers7789 sure....I was born in Minneapolis MN and back then, everyone in the scene knew each other. Grant Heart hated postcard punks and was very vocal about it. He got a hetro friend of mine hooked on heroin and took advantage of him sexually in exchange for drugs (for at least one summer that I know of) and i am pretty sure "Kevin" was not the only one. ☺peace☺

[@1985cactus]

@@juliefrommes4119 What are postcards punks?

[@juliefrommes4119]

@@1985cactus "postcard punks" are punks that look like punks, Mohawks, charged hair , colored hair, boy of London zipper pants, Stretch F**king jeans, bleach spotted jeans, animal print, plaid, safety pins, ripped fishnets, black jean vest, studded jackets, engineer boots..... he called us posers. ☺peace☺

[@richalderson6069]

Husker Du are my favourite rock band ever, they were incredible, a really unique band.

[@robeson1231]

Ditto. The greatest of all time 👍

[@darkotto5044]

Yes and i saw them live in Germany.

[@stevemccart9109]

I saw Husker Du and immediately clicked. Glad to see great bands get respect these days. Thank you

[@SrSacaninha]

More people need to talk about Hüsker Dü. Amazing band.

[@jackattack7940]

Definitely. People need to discover the bands that inspired the popular bands they love in the first place.

[@spikeycoda]

Talk talk talk talk yak yak yak yak yak yak yak

[@darkotto5044]

Saw them live in Germany!

[@TryNSave]

No, Anthony, you suck. These guys were great.

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

Everything falls apart is one the great ignored albums

[@HistorianOfThings]

OK, I thought I'd heard everything but I'd never heard Robert Palmer covering Husker Du before! Great video!

[@damanlidison]

I'm waiting to discover that Rick Hastley,in the 80's, covered CIRCLE JERKS!

[@awookieandagerman]

Yeah, that one threw me for a loop! Felt like one of those completely wacky forgotten anecdotes you learn watching Todd In The Shadows.

[@dj-um7el]

So today, it's been 44 years since their first performance!!! Such a talented and underrated band!

[@harrietparkinson717]

Wouldn’t be a Trash Theory Video without a few Buzzcocks references

[@mountzod]

IMO, a band not mentioned enough.

[@markusantonio4866]

Husker were influenced by them and Ramones

[@killval849]

@@markusantonio4866 every single band that played any form of punk rock was influenced by the Ramones whether they want to believe it or not = P. They laid punk rock landmark birth album with their debut.

[@robertbeauchamp8054]

It’s rare to get to say I was there when, but I was! Sometimes you just stumble into greatness, going to see a band with a cool name for the first time and then becoming a life long fan. A special moment in time for Minneapolis. The Replacements, Loud Fast Rules, The Wallets, The Suburbs and so much more.

[@alexschnarr7718]

For those not in the know, Loud Fast Rules and Proud Crass Fools were short lived names for the band best known as Soul Asylum. I heard a bootleg of LFR about 3-4 years after it was recorded just as I was starting to discover these bands and moving away from pop in my teens. It was a fun contrast to the pop/R&B movement happening at the same time - Prince, the Jets, even the more techno Information Society.

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

I grew up in MPLS and saw Husker Du, The Replacements and too many bands to count both local, national, and from other countries countless times in the 80s while I was in HIGH school with my fake ID, and into my late 20s. UNBELIEVABLE TIMES AND INCREDIBLE SHOWS! I was truly blessed to be able to see such groundbreaking, diverse, and truly great bands!

[@hauntedhose]

I love reading comments like yours! My fave bands growing up were the ones that influenced larger acts and never got the proper cred......Swervedriver, Failure, Bailterspace, even Wire!

[@blackflagnation]

I'm so envious of you

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

I was very fortunate. Noting your name BlackFlagNation: re: Cali punk- I saw Black Flag circa 82 in a dive bar above a strip joint called Goofys Upper Deck in Downtown Mpls. Small venue with practically no stage ( the other venue Downtown then was First Ave/7th Street Entry, great club!. )I also saw the Circle Jerks at a bar in SE Mpls. with a volleyball court !( saw Iggy there too when I was 14, the Replacements opened the show, Tommy Stinson was 12! That was my first ' punk ' show. I was snuck in by some U of M students who wanted to blow my mind! ) Very surreal. Went to a party with the Circle Jerks after their show and got so high on the weed they had I had a total anxiety attack! Also used to party with the DKs sans Jello when they would come through town, I was at the Husker Du church headquarters in St. Paul after a gig they did and Peligro was trying to get me and my girlfriend to go to Chicago with them- I told them truthfully I could not go because I had school in the morning! Hahaha! Wild, wild times. The Twin Cities kicked ass back then! BTW, John Doe from X ( I LOVED X )has a new book coming out soon called More Fun in the World re: the heyday and decline of LA punk. Hope I did not bore you with a few memories from a old woman! Keep the rock flame burning BlackFlagNation!

[@mirabelleant]

I grew up in minneapolis in the 90s and my first show was smashing pumpkins at first ave and I went on to see many great acts there such as belly, frente, the cardigans, hole, babes in toyland...I could go on. it's great to read a comment from someone with a similar background!

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

@@mirabelleant I left Mpls in 93, the last show I saw was The Boredoms from Japan in the Entry. Did you know there is book out on the history of First Ave? (titled Minnesotas Mainroom: First Avenue ) I received it for Xmas a few years ago!

[@lloydonlead]

Saw Husker Du in a small club in Phoenix. It was in 88. They were loudest band I have ever heard. I have seen tons of metal and hard rock bands and none of them came close to the volume of this band. I didn't think me hearing would ever return to normal. Great band though. RIP Grant Hart.

[@urgetodrive]

Can confirm...seeing them live was a total sonic assault. Unreal, nothing like it. Will never forget it.

[@souljahroch2519]

I've seen Husker Du. Dinosaur Jr was louder😉

[@lloydonlead]

@@souljahroch2519 I didn't know this was a contest.

[@kzintilord6145]

They were, hands down, the loudest band I'd ever heard in my life or since. They were playing in some basement venue of a bar/club in Orlando Fla. The room was comically small - I had to keep ducking out to try and save my ears.

[@Thinkforwardnow]

Dinosaur Jr’s J. Mascis is the loudest I’ve heard live. Man, that was a good show.

[@PJCochrane]

I’m so happy to see this video. Hüsker Dü are one of the greatest, most important and underrated bands in history, especially in terms of hardcore and later, the music of the 90’s. Zen Arcade is an absolute masterpiece. One of the greatest albums ever .

[@geoffoakland]

yep, I've been blasting it just this last week. Great for letting off steam, anger etc. I started playing it because I got "friended" by a woman I was /am crazy about

[@christophercasey6775]

From Zen Arcade to Warehouse. Husker Du put out 5 albums in 3 years, including 3 double albums. Incredibly prolific, and most importantly, not a single bad song.

[@cyborgjohnny3318]

I always liked Husker Du music. I didn't know they had so much influence on the industry. Thanks for posting.

[@danthomas2146]

"She's telling the same old story to everyone that she knows, she's just sittin' in her room readin' books about UFOs."

[@philerphup2091]

Absolute favorite

[@fessick2848]

Bob Mould deserves more respect for his solo stuff and Sugar

[@suesutton9226]

Yes!! I am proud owner of A circle of friends dvd - ( Bob Mould )- plus a couple of Sugar cds but must get some more!!

[@atheistconservative6211]

Sugar's album file under easy listening got me laid once, so I'm forever in their debt haha

[@kathymyers7279]

Fessick mold allergies? Sugars like pouring gas on a fire. Hey, you set that up. Maybe someone needed to hear it.

[@Gilpow]

Workbook + Copper Blue + Beaster = pure genius

[@WilliamRMize]

Tell it! Copper Blue by Suhar. Workbook. Molds first solo!

[@Fatherjohn76]

It's not just the sonic diversity or story arc that made Zen Arcade such a magnificent leap forward; it's the emotional connection. The pop is poppier, but also the hardcore is tighter and more emotionally pointed. The two extremes come together into a masterpiece fever dream. If you have even a remote kindred spirit with American alternative rock, you have to come back to Zen Arcade and pay your respects

[@Mark95876]

Good to see XTC getting some recognition at last. Great songwriting!

[@biancachristie]

We need a Trash Theory vid about those guys!

[@ManfromHell83]

In a perfect world XTC were the Beatles of the 80s

[@yawninghyaena]

Thank you! The world needs this. Something rarely falls out of the sky, which is completely natural, but Hüsker Dü definitely belong to this small group of artists who although they clearly influenced many famous bands, themselves never received a fragment of attention that their fans/bands got later on. Lemme think for a second, no Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, Gorillaz etc. without Meat Beat Manifesto. No Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, NIN, Portishead, etcetera etc. without the Silver Apples and Throbbing Gristle. No Doors or Black Angels without the 13th Floor Elevators. There's always an influence or influencial band earlier which doesn't diminish the more succesful or sometimes relatively more popular follow-ups. Think Neu for Stereolab. Suicide for Spacemen Three, for let's say the Verve to name but one. And bands who themselves picked up on earlier stuff and gave it their own unique twist to become on their turn a "band's band", like euh, Cabaret Voltaire! I was born 20 years too late to see the early Pink Floyd play, and 10 years to witness Joy Division in concert, but i do remember buying the first releases of Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Death, God Machine, Nirvana, Afgan Whigs, Mudhoney, Cop Shoot Cop, Fugazi, Codeine, the Lemonheads (somebody said Hüsker Dü? Lol), Godspeed Y.B.E., Spiritualized, Stereolab, the Cranes, DJ Shadow,... aaah, music! :))) And in Belgium we're blessed with the whole wave of bands who gave birth to "Eurowave" or "EBM", with a few exeptions from Germany (D.A.F., arguably the Enstürzende Neubauten), the Uk (Nitzer Ebb, Portion Control) and the USA (the Weathermen, Crash Course in Science), this was the epicentre! With Front 242, The Klinik, the Neon Judgement, A Split Second, Absolute Body Control, Vomito Negro, Insekt, Suicide Commando, A;Grumh, Poesie Noire, Revolting Cocks,... And the continuation of underground (cold) wave! With bands as Siglo XX, de Brassers, Aroma di Amore, Vita Noctis, Sigmund und Sein Freund, .. As an endnote, R.I.P. Mark E. Smith, John Balance, Lemmy Kilmister, Johnny Cash, and many others, you'll be missed.

[@chrishenniker5944]

I’d also add: “No Count Bishops, no Smiths. Or Blur, for that matter.”

[@marlowename3713]

I’ve been listening to Hüsker Dü for as long as I can remember I’m thirteen and my dads a massive fan and always used to play them in the speakers in the kitchen I’ve been waiting for someone to do a video on them for ages and finally my prayers are answered

[@leamanc]

You and your dad are awesome. The Dü in the kitchen? That’s great. You just need “New Day Rising” for your alarm clock song in the morning!

[@cazgerald9471]

Damn, you can remember 13 whole years. That's impressive.

[@stubkar]

Hoping you've checked out Sugar.

[@sonicmojo]

Husker Du changed my life... They gave me the courage to write my own music and go against the grain of mainstream crap. They were a category all their own!!!

[@daisyangeles4227]

The Replacements next ?

[@crash8563]

The Mats, please!

[@ryanduray1]

Guessing you're from Mpls too

[@jimbo-fk4dq]

The Replacements are one of the greatest rock and roll stories in history. If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was legitimate, they should be in it.

[@JPVanderbuilt]

@@jimbo-fk4dq Yes, Replacements wrote some of the best songs in rock history.

[@dmvconartists1855]

Man sized action and soul asylum too please

[@hiway7]

These essays are so good man, really appreciate this kind of content!

[@gustavmarie]

Really good video. Huskers are quite simply one of the greatest bands of any genre for me, especially when you consider how they evolved and what they achieved in less than a decade. One thing I think that should have been said in this however, is the importance of how much Mould and Hart took so much inspiration from the 60s in their writing and playing, with the most obvious nod to this being their cover of the Byrds' "Eight Miles High" (from Flip Your Flip forward, one could say that Husker Du were basically a loud distorted darker version of the Byrds), as well as the influence of Beatles, Arthur Lee/Love, The Who, Bob Dylan etc. Even Hart's drum style was more influenced by the 60s compared to most punk drummers (he never used the high-hat, lots of rolling Keith Moon style fills, swinging ride cymbal, etc). Much has been said about their influence on alt-rock and pop-punk, which is true, but as a band they're music is still a lot deeper and more interesting than the vast majority of the stuff they inspired IMHO.

[@Crampsam]

Thank you so much for making this video! I’ve been a Hüsker Dü fan since my high school years and not enough people know their music. Some of the best rock music of the 80’s, not to mention insanely influential as you said. One of my favourite random encounters I’ve ever had was in a supermarket when I was wearing a Hüsker Dü t shirt and some grizzled old punk rocker came over and complimented my shirt. He shook my hand and told me I was a good kid and it warmed my heart so good

[@suesutton9226]

I first discovered them about 4 or 5 years ago when my friend played me the album candy apple grey and i fell in love with them - first song that got me hooked was Dont wanna know if you are lonely - then I discovered Sugar - Bob Moulds other band after them and especially love one called 'B Sides" they are phenomenal !!

[@geoffoakland]

I've been blasting their album Zen Arcade this last week. Epic, awesome, love the guitar effects, the ferocity, just a masterpiece. I'm trying to enlighten younger people to the group and it's signifigance

[@nylonnerves8422]

Finally! Somebody recognized this band and made a video about it! They were like thunder and lightning and I have never heard anything as energetic and catchy as they were after I got into Hüsker Dü. Thank you for a good video!

[@JMD1965]

Thank you... Thank you.. THANK YOU for posting this. The Huskers gave SO many an outlet, a voice and inspiration in the 80s... and it's ABOUT TIME more who were or were NOT there acknowledge and (re)discover the importance of this band

[@RudigerLippert]

Love what you're doing with these videos covering nuances of rock history. Thank you!

[@ericdiefel4505]

The band I was in covered Terms of Physic Warfare. I played bass and was the only song I sang lead on. It was a crowd favorite. Our band went to a local bar on open mic blues night one evening. During a break, we got up and played the song and had the crowd riled up. After the song, the host grabs a mic and says "Let's hear it for the Rock and Roll band. Now get the hell off the stage" 😁. Husker Du is one of the best ever!

[@jlarrybrewer1149]

I loved Husker Du and really loved Sugar’s first album “Copper Blue”

[@petermgruhn]

Bob came to campus one day. We all showed up expecting "Workbook." He was refining "Copper Blue." Excellent show.

[@mattvanmantgem8600]

Good job, and 90% accurate- just one thing, and it's important to some- Bob wasn't "out" in Husker Du- he was essentially outed shortly afterwards ( Spin Magazine was going to "out him" so, he he outed himself with the release of the video for "It's Too Late" timed to coincide with the interview.

[@allenschmitz9644]

Bob Butler made Husker du a acid trip..bzzzz.

[@richalderson6069]

I thought he outed himself in the If I Can't Change Your Mind video where he shows a photo of himself and his partner.

[@mattvanmantgem8600]

@@richalderson6069 That was the "formal presentation" well after the Spin Magazine outing, however, look again at the "It's Too Late "- he positioned himself under the "Silence=Death" slogan- that was him "outing himself"- at least that's what he told me.

[@richalderson6069]

@@mattvanmantgem8600 cool, didn't know about that, thanks for telling me.

[@mattvanmantgem8600]

@@richalderson6069 all good- most don't.

[@neltymind]

I love Alternative Rock since the early 2000s, but I never realised how this genre really came to be and how it's a consequence of 80s hardcore.

[@richardtaubman8604]

So good to see so many young kids commenting, it's important and fascinating to examine the history and influences of the bands you love today. I saw Husker Du at Glastonbury 1987 and bought every record within a few months. Incredible band.

[@diverjim242]

Great video!! Just discovered your channel, gonna have a blast combing through your content. I had the privilege of being a roadie for Husker Du on about half a dozen gigs on their New Day Rising tour 1985. Truly one the best bands ever, full stop!

[@doctube126]

Great retrospective of post punk, grunge, and a flashback soundtrack of my twenties. Well put together!

[@robsrxx]

Dude so much of what you show us helps me to notice how the world takes shape. I grew up with Mtv and early 90's alt music give me so many memories of my youth. Memories are nearly all that remain. So Thank you for this.

[@marciocalixtodefreitas856]

After to see this video, I'm crying. Husker Du is the band of my life And will always be!

[@leonardotube]

Sempre uma boa surpresa ver brasileiros que gostam de Husker Du.

[@christophercasey6775]

Same here. Thanks Martha Quinn for introducing the band. Changed my life.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Warehouse Songs and Stories, Television Marquee Moon and XTC English Settlement and Skylarking. Four of the most brilliant albums of the period

[@18percentphotographer]

I don't think people give Warehouse Songs and Stories enough love. Yes Zen Arcade is great, so is New Day Rising, but Warehouse has some really good Grant and Bob songs on it, people should talk about that album more.....

[@shinybeast8946]

@@18percentphotographer Grant didn't care too much for it.

[@petarticinovic2710]

@@18percentphotographer The production is horrible.

[@stuartwashington5698]

Loved Husker Du back then, and still Du now. Thanks for a superb mini-doc on why they were so great, and highly influential.

[@tomasenrique]

This is the best channel I've ever seen! Thanks for existing.

[@luisracero9683]

Gracias por este gran documental. Lo he disfrutado muchísimo. Un saludo y gracias por el trabajo realizado.

[@bigkroner766]

The Feelies are one of my favorite slept on Alt rock bands, along with The Dream Syndicate!

[@marlowename3713]

Lowgain I love the feelies Let’s Go is one of my favourite songs

[@bbbabrock]

At one point some writer described Dream Syndicate as a Velvets cover band that does originals. And so long as they stuck to that, they were incredibly awesome yes. Tho by their second album, they sounded as much like CCR, Rolling Stones, and other bands as much as The Velvet Underground.

[@johnsummers9660]

The Feelies were great!

[@laurastrobel718]

I have The Days of Wine and Roses on vinyl still to this day I feel in love with them from the 1st listen☺

[@johnnybravo5726]

naked raygun

[@tonsfocus]

I just feel luck that approaching age 50 I'm just discovering them. Something new, for me. Already had half a lifetime with Sonic Youth, Nirvana, etc.

[@mikekrause3671]

college /community radio is by far the only radio i have listened to since '84. its infinitely more interesting/listenable than mainstream radio. ive learned so much music from it: Punk, weird homemade recordings, industrial, noise, hardcore, odd avant garde composers, obscure 60's/70s bands ect... it informed my whole music world. Husker Du was one of my discoveries on it

[@UntilTheSilence]

Always outstanding research and outstanding delivery.

[@PacoTube926]

Just came across this video and channel (subscribed!). Excellent work, man!

[@liambarry7704]

These videos are seriously fantastic! Your research is impressive but it's the way you craft the stories that is so captivating. You should release these as a series on one DVD.

[@EllaBrownHart]

Glad to see a video about husker du! I knew Grant personally and I love him so much. He was a father figure to me at a time when I lost my father. ❤️ You Grant. I miss you.

[@RexMundi_UTC]

I love your channel, I've never reheard of Husker Du but now I have and they rock!

[@willbrown6287]

Man I love your work! From Refused to Husker Du! Awesome stuff! One band I think would be great to write about is American Football and how they have found success 20 years after their original debut

[@tractorfan7655]

Bought my first Husker Du record, Metal Circus in 1992, Still listen to it regularly today.

[@AllIsWellaus]

I love this channel. I know a lot of this music from my youth. Listening about this movement is refreshing hearing it from the next generation.

[@theyakkoman]

Glad you made this video. I'm a pretty big Hüsker Dü fan, with "The Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill" my favourite song and Warehouse: Songs and Stories my favourite album of theirs (although, to be fair, I haven't heard all their albums, which is why I just consider myself a "pretty" big fan). They have some really catchy and loveable melodies that mixed with their raw energy just makes it a joy to listen to.

[@philmole1209]

I had no idea Robert Palmer ever covered "New Day Rising" in concert! Wow.

[@bbbabrock]

And it was way better than that Green Day turd player right befor it.

[@Robv93]

about time someone made a full length documentary on this band. Maybe turn Bob's autobiography into a biopic. More people need to know about Husker Du!

[@suesutton9226]

So true!!!!

[@jaybee8764]

You manage to state properly just how influential and sonically groundbreaking this amazing trio of musicians truly were - love the Lennon/McCartney comparisons and the apt description of The Byrds meets Black Flag and I'm also somewhat glad that it did not devolve into how they tragically imploded amidst inter-personal conflicts, the lure of filthy lucre and critical acclaim and stardom and ego - the three as a whole were greater as a total sum than they were after they splintered off into other projects or as solo artists as well as professional cooking and painting. There will never be another release as poignant and ambitious and as stellar as the double LP Zen Arcade, a recording which helped define my teenage years sonically and lyrically and which became my best find left of the dial. Thanks for this great commentary and history/influence lesson.

[@robeson1231]

Husker Du remains the greatest band of all time.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Those were great years in Minneapolis... husker du, the suburbs, replacements, and then soul asylum... there was some Prince guy too...

[@coolkoi7999]

1st avenue was always a party

[@politicallycorrectredskin796]

The guy who always sang about his penis?

[@MM-vv8mt]

Suicide Commandos started it all in Minneapolis in 1975. And those bands started playing at Jay's Longhorn Bar and at 7th Street Entry, the much smaller black box room in the back of First Avenue, which was originally called Uncle Sam's. The other good Minneapolis room was The Cabooze.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

Eh, Minneapolis has been garbage for about two decades now. I blame the Mighty Ducks.

[@anongoloid]

I love this channel, keep up the good content

[@souljahroch2519]

I got to see Husker at Liberty Lunch in Austin. I remember Bob's guitar chord winding up tighter than a rubber band on a balsa wood plane. He was a big guy, but I swear his feet never hit the ground. I heard later that he was gay, & remember the shock of thinking I Will Never Forget You was about a dude. It really helped me grow.✌️

[@euchrideucrow1970]

Flip Your Wig was the first Hüsker Dü album I heard so naturally it holds a special place in my heart. One of the most amazing bands ever. RIP Grant Hart.

[@Syncopator]

As a guitarist, one thing about Bob Mould that made me sit up and notice is the way he seemed to prefer open position chords rather than bar chords, and was able to play the chord changes fast. It seemed pretty unique at the time, most punk guitar players would stick to bar chords because it's easier to play them fast, as the fingering is the same all over the neck.

[@solocandy6271]

You should do sugar, they deserve way more appreciation as there's hardly anything about them on KZbin. Love the video (:

[@knutrokne3653]

Just yes. This is brilliant, brought me to near tears in nostalgia, and I have shared it with anyone I have ever spoken to.

[@c.brogansavage3385]

I discovered your channel last week (Kate Bush vid was recommended to me) and I’ve been hammering your content ever since! I’ve recommended it to loads of people too. I have to keep pausing the vids to add songs to my Spotify playlists 😅 My fave vids so far are Sade, Ian Dury and Deftones. Thanks for all the hard work you put in ✨

[@Linn8379]

Love your channel! Totally have to investigate Husker Du and thank you for the reminder...and a good chunk of the other bands that were listed. If you were to ask me what band you should do your next video on I'd say that I've boiled it down to either Portishead or Metric ;)

[@Zach_Beebe]

Upvote for shining light on Minnesota's underrated contribution to music. The Replacements, Harvest, After The Burial, Animal Chin, Dillinger 4, Disembodied and so many more influential bands. The underground music scene of the late 90's was the best. Foxfire Cafe anyone?

[@REEDRICHARDS2]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO! HD SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOREVER!

[@cscinaka]

Great video, thanks. I grew up in this era and love this music, but still have so much to listen to and learn. Favorite forgotten alt-rock indie band: the Poster Children, from Champaign, Illinois.

[@EverDownward]

When are we getting a video on Pylon?! They're just as important to the formation of alternative rock!

[@dondevice8182]

I remember opening for Husker Du, Sonic Youth and Flipper back in the day. I sometimes wonder if anyone can truly appreciate the hardcore scene then if you weren't there. I love the records, but they were a pale imitation, it always seemed to me, of the sheer energy unleashed nightly by these bands and more and our audiences in the scene.

[@consciously73]

Great content, really enjoying this channel. Husker were such a force of nature. New Day Rising never fails to cheer me up. Had no idea that Robert Palmer covered it?!?

[@josephblumenberg6574]

Awesome video about an equally awesome band! Well done!!

[@luisbaltodano227]

Wow, so much I didn’t know. Thanks for the educational video, I can now appreciate a lot more the great music I grew up with in the 1990s. 🤟🏼

[@jamessullivan4391]

Teenage years in the 80's would have been better for you. But it wasn't meant to be I guess...

[@luisbaltodano227]

James sullivan I enjoyed my time as a teenager just as much as anyone, music was a part of my life but it wasn’t the only part of my life. For me to assume that music filled some void during your teenage years would be unfair because I don’t know you and even less how and where you grew up. But your opinion is only an opinion.

[@buddhafx5973]

Never knew about Robert Palmer! That's awsome! Thanks

[@BJWFenix]

that reveal is up there with his thick yorkshire accent haha

[@jt1929]

Robert Plant was a fan as well

[@markseverino8853]

Another amazing video. Thank you.

[@redbird726]

Well done. Very well done. From minneapolis and they were my heroes age 18-22. Had me reflect on how much they influenced me personally and as a songwriter. Going to go listen and play along. Probably start with Flip Your Wig and then New Day Rising.

[@anabasis3144]

Being from this generation, I can tell you that we loved Husker Du because we could slam to their songs and Bob Mould held that flying v guitar all the way down low low low.... So cool coming out with The Replacements. Candy Apple Grey was the album that turned most of us, btw, but I swear I never saw them on MTV so I have no idea what the hell the author is talking about in that regard.

[@terrywachter]

Television were post-punk before punk even happened. They get my nod.

[@materialhell]

wouldn't that be "proto post punk"??

[@j_freed]

Patty Smith

[@jaschul]

Pere Ubu too

[@thureintun1687]

Marquee Moon

[@Luxington1]

And Brian Eno

[@VanielDeeform]

Excellently edited and thorough coverage of the band and it’s connections. Surprised there was no mention of their final album: Warehouse Songs & Stories. All their previous ones noted, but not that one where they’d evolved in their sound & composition that would inspire even further and has so much of their very best songs.

[@ThePigman6]

I managed a college radio station in the 1980s. This vid tells a tale that many are unaware. To like Sonic Youth was to LOVE Husker Du!

[@youthofyesterdayrecords]

Ice Cold Ice and Celebrated Summer are amazing. Love so many of their songs, but those are my favorites

[@robeson1231]

Yep, Ice Cold Ice sounds like the Foo Fighters but 10 years before their time. Astonishing that it was made in '87.

[@LarryBobary]

Fugazi next?

[@GreenDayDookieDemos]

Fuck yes

[@richardkinier3493]

thissssssssssss

[@RockOfGreece]

Yeeeeaaaah

[@DerwoodEllington]

Def

[@stevemccart9109]

Last time I saw Fugazi was 1998 and they still would only charge $5.00 for they're shows

[@BruceWalkerPhotography]

My favourite forgotten alt-rock band is Catherine Wheel, based mainly on one great tune, "Sparks Are Gonna Fly". Thank you so much for this series of terrific docs!

[@tueferbenz7492]

The knowledge, experience, context, and scholarship - not to mention excellent production - that went into this is very impressive and it totally rings true.

[@LCA84]

Such a mature band. They worked hard and held the opportunities when they appeared.

[@seanwantstomakemovies]

Joy divison next?

[@maritheresereyes]

Yes!!!

[@rosssmith173]

There's a famous movie on them already. Control

[@seanwantstomakemovies]

@@rosssmith173 Great film

[@punklover99]

Let's not, personally I think they were better as a punk band. When they changed it got boring

[@HalfdanMCMX]

@@punklover99 You're a moron.

[@scotthovland7380]

Thanks for giving them their deserved recognition 😎👍

[@zhenjiu]

Brilliant analysis and history, as always. I had (still have) Zen Arcade on cassette and vinyl. I saw them live twice in NYC. Still relevant and inspiring, 30+ years on.