Biography

History

Formed in the summer of 1981 by high school friends Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller, and Dave Pirner, Soul Asylum (named Loud Fast Rules up until 1983) quickly became frontrunners of American college rock, following in the tradition of fellow Minnesota bands Hüsker Dü and The Replacements.

Landing their first record deal with Twin/Tone in 1984, Soul Asylum recorded a total of four albums for the local label: Say What You Will… Everything Can Happen in 1984 (later re-released as Say What You Will, Clarence… Karl Sold the Truck), Made To Be Broken, and While You Were Out in 1986, and the EP Clam Dip & Other Delights in 1988. The band then switched to A&M, releasing Hang Time in 1988 and And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 under that label. Although they enjoyed some success as a live band, Soul Asylum suffered from low album sales and considered disbanding.

In 1992, they signed with Columbia Records to produce Grave Dancers Union, a record that would come to transform them from underground college rockers to international superstars. The first two singles off the album, Somebody To Shove and Black Gold, both came in at high positions at the Modern Rock and Album Rock charts, but it was the album's third track that led them to their major breakthrough. Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, raised album sales to double-platinum level, and won Soul Asylum the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.

In 1995, Soul Asylum followed up the success of Grave Dancers Union with Let Your Dim Light Shine, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track Misery. After releasing Candy From a Stranger in 1998, the band members took a break from recording and didn't release a new studio album for the better part of seven years.

They reunited in 2004 to record their ninth full-length album. Shortly thereafter, Karl was diagnosed with throat cancer. Up until this point, Soul Asylum had always included Dan, Karl, and Dave, despite several line-up changes. This changed on June 17th, 2005, when Karl passed away after finishing his work on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and dedicated to Karl Mueller's life and memory, with Dan expressing that, "For me, this record is Karl."

Current Members

Dave Pirner

Full Name David Anthony Pirner
Birthdate April 16th, 1964 (44 years)
Birthplace Minneapolis, Minnesota
Position Frontman; lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist
Instruments played 1982 Fender Telecaster, acoustic guitar, saxophone, trumpet, harmonica, piano, drums, kazoo
Duration in band 1983–present

Dan Murphy

Full Name Daniel David Murphy
Birthdate July 12th, 1962 (46 years)
Birthplace Duluth, Minnesota
Position Lead guitarist, backup vocalist (lead on some songs)
Instruments played Gibson Les Paul guitar, acoustic guitar
Duration in band 1983–present

Michael Bland

Full Name Michael Anthony Bland
Birthdate March 14th, 1969 (39 years)
Birthplace Minneapolis, Minnesota
Position Drummer, backup vocalist
Instruments played Yamaha drums with Zildjian cymbals
Duration in band 2004–present

Tommy Stinson

Full Name Thomas Eugene Stinson
Birthdate October 6th, 1966 (42 years)
Birthplace Minneapolis, Minnesota
Position Bassist, backup vocalist
Instruments played Bass guitar
Duration in band 2005–present

George Scot McKelvey

Full Name George Scot McKelvey
Birthdate May 18th, 1969 (39 years)
Birthplace Minneapolis, Minnesota
Position Bassist, backup vocalist
Instruments played 1972 Fender Precision Bass
Duration in band 2006–present (currently off)

Former Members

Karl Mueller

Full Name Karl Herman Mueller
Birthdate July 27th, 1963–June 17th, 2005 (41 years)
Birthplace Minneapolis, Minnesota
Position Bassist, backup vocalist
Instruments played Bass guitar
Duration in band 1983–2005

Ian Mussington

Full Name Ian Mussington
Birthdate ?
Birthplace ?
Position Drummer, backup vocalist
Instruments played Drums
Duration in band 1998–2001

Sterling Campbell

Full Name Sterling Campbell
Birthdate May 3rd, 1964 (44 years)
Birthplace New York City, New York
Position Drummer, backup vocalist
Instruments played Brady (and/or) DW drums with Zildjian cymbals
Duration in band 1995–1998

Grant Young

Full Name Grant D. Young
Birthdate January 5, 1964 (45 years)
Birthplace Iowa City, Iowa
Position Drummer, backup vocalist
Instruments played Yamaha drums with Zildjian cymbals
Duration in band 1985–1994

Pat Morley

Full Name Patrick Morley
Birthdate 1962 (47 years)
Birthplace Minneapolis, Minnesota
Position Drummer, backup vocalist
Instruments played Drums
Duration in band 1983–1985