However a few of singer/guitarist Bob Mould‘s finest music occurred after Hüsker Dü – as evidenced by his work with Sugar and as a solo artist all through the ’90s. And he continues to supply up memorable and impressed music to today, as evidenced by his fifteenth solo effort total, Right here We Go Loopy.
Mould spoke with AllMusic a month earlier than the March 7, 2025 launch of Right here We Go Loopy, and was up for looking again all through his profession, in addition to the story behind his newest solo effort.
It has been 4 years between Right here We Go Loopy and your final launch, Blue Hearts. Why so lengthy?
“I believe, like many of the world, I bought a little bit knocked off my regular cycle. Sometimes, my cycles for my total grownup life, give or take a number of months right here and there, is months of writing a document, then a time frame to document a document, then, {that a} bizarre time frame the place I’ve turned in my homework, however no one will get to have a look at it. And that is the interval that you just and I are in at present – the press and the all that stuff. After which there’s the discharge, after which there is a tour. So, Blue Hearts had a plan that was constructed precisely that manner, however with out touring, every part form of froze in place.”
“I’m the type of musician who actually appreciates performing and getting suggestions on new materials, and I form of misplaced that a part of my MO for what, a few 12 months and a half. I do not assume I used to be capable of get out and do exhibits till the autumn of ’21. So, spending a lifetime in that type of repetitive cycle and having it damaged, I used to be a little bit bit little bit misplaced with, ‘I ponder if these items’s any good?’ That final little little bit of suggestions was lacking. I used to be writing by ’20 and ’21 with some blended outcomes. I used to be a bit preoccupied with different stuff. Y’know, staying alive I assume being the primary one. So I believe that is a part of the drag in time.”
“I imply, I believe the stuff that I used to be writing throughout that interval wasn’t…I had a pair good songs – ‘Respiration Room’ was an early track, ‘When Your Coronary heart Is Damaged’ was a fairly early track. Nevertheless it wasn’t top quality output all the best way round. Simply in a time like that, I’ve discovered from expertise, in the event you rush it, it is in all probability not going to be your finest work. So, simply wait. Simply preserve working and it will all come into focus. And thru ’22 and thru ’23, I used to be out doing quite a lot of solo electrical work and attempting out new stuff.”
“Kind of rebuilding that reference to the viewers and getting a superb sense of how Blue Hearts hit them, how the brand new materials that I used to be taking part in was becoming subsequent to the catalog. And that was the type of stuff that was lacking. So after I was getting that, then every part begins to line up a little bit bit higher. I do know that is an excellent lengthy reply to a quite simple query, but it surely was an extended break. I used to be tremendous busy with touring in ’22/’23, and a good bit of ’24. It is simply now that it feels just like the cycles are again. The cycle, so to talk, is again in place.”
Let’s focus on the monitor “Right here We Go Loopy” and its video.
“The video was shot and directed by a gentleman named Gus Black. And the brand new document firm, properly, the brand new father or mother firm, BMG, had labored with Gus prior to now. I noticed a bunch of his work and actually linked with it. And Gus and I talked for like an hour and mentioned, ‘Yeah, let’s attempt to make this video. Let’s do that, and do that, and possibly do this if we have now a little bit further time.’ We shot every part within the totally different desert areas in Southern California. And I believe Gus did a tremendous job. It is a very cool video. I had quite a lot of enjoyable working with him.”
“The track itself, properly, it is the title monitor. And very similar to the title monitor from Sunshine Rock, or the title monitor from Sgt. Pepper, it was…because the recording was wrapping up, it grew to become fairly clear to me that that could be the opening for the document. I had different songs in thoughts to be the opener, however that one turned out actually nice, and it felt like the easiest way to introduce individuals to the remainder of the album. To form of set a time and a spot and a location and a sentiment. It is identical to that, ‘We hope you’ll benefit from the present’ type of factor.”
“When Your Coronary heart Is Damaged” I assumed is a standout monitor on the album, too.
“That is a superb one. That is an prompt traditional for me, proper? Mid-tempo, super-pop catchy guitars with super-depressing lyrics. [Laughs] That is form of my specialty, I assume. However ‘Right here We Go Loopy’ is attention-grabbing, as a result of it is quite a lot of like, small snapshots of what I have been as much as the previous few years, and issues that I am simply attempting to form of set this huge open area for individuals. And simply exhibiting individuals bodily areas, specific objects that come to thoughts, recurring themes.”
“The title is, gosh, possibly I ought to put a slogan mark on ‘Right here We Go Loopy,’ in order that some chain restaurant would not steal it. [Laughs] Nevertheless it’s a kind of titles, proper? It is a good one and who knew by placing out the monitor on January eighth, that it might be considerably well timed in a normal sense. I did not see that coming.”
I’ve at all times discovered the ’90s to be a really attention-grabbing a part of your profession, together with Sugar and your solo work. What do you recall about that period particularly?
“If I have a look at ’89/’90 – Workbook and Black Sheets of Rain –Workbook was undoubtedly a press release of intent. ‘I’m not simply the man from Hüsker Dü.’ Black Sheets to me was form of a reimagining of what [bassist] Tony Maimone and the late [drummer] Anton Fier dropped at Workbook, and what all of the touring from Workbook bought us to this heavier, louder model. And that was Black Sheets. And after that document ran its course and I parted methods with Virgin Information, the purpose in 1991 to me was to simply begin writing what I hoped could be the very best document I may probably write.”
“I used to be on the street, continuously doing solo acoustic exhibits. I’d play for 3 weeks and check out new materials. I might go residence for a pair weeks, write extra stuff. I might return out for one more three weeks. And this was all form of planting seeds for what was to return. That is the understanding the fabric in entrance of the individuals to gauge what’s good and what’s not. After which by the tip of ’91 it grew to become clear to me which document corporations would have an interest, what sort of construction would work.”
“And January ’92 is me and David Barbe and Malcolm Travis – the three of us rehearsing and studying 30 songs at the back of a tire store in Downtown Athens, Georgia, with the intent of creating the third Bob Mould solo album. And we bought requested to do a present at 40 Watt the night time earlier than we began heading as much as suburban Boston, to document the album. And determined we must always give it a band title, and we got here up with the title Sugar. That is form of how that every one began.”
“The following three years was a whirlwind. I knew Copper Blue and Beaster had been actually good information. I did not foresee being the beneficiary of, y’know, I assume the wave of grunge that basically picked up steam when Nevermind got here out. And I believe, form of ‘reverse engineering’ why that document was profitable – it might take you to the Pixies, that might take you to Hüsker Dü. As like, only a small proportion of what made that document nice. I believe the roads had been already paved in a manner.”
“I didn’t see the moment success of Sugar because it was taking place. I imply, the second I assume I knew, was we did a pair exhibits in London in late July/early August of ’92, and one among them was at ULU – the College of London Pupil Union Constructing. And it was only a fully unhinged, insane present. Components of the PA falling into the group, nutty stage diving – simply insanity that I hadn’t seen in years. And I may form of really feel it – ‘That is taking off, and we have not even put the document out.’ In order that was fairly thrilling.”
“We ran arduous and quick. In ’94, the recording of File Underneath Simple Listening, I used to be operating so quick that I did not have a totally superb document written. However, we went with what we had. After which by the tip of ’94, the band was wrapping up. And I believe our final present was in Sendai, Japan in January of ’95. After which I retreated quietly, figuring out that that challenge was finished. I stored writing music. Recorded an album – a few of it at residence, a few of it in a small studio in Austin – and that grew to become the eponymous album that quite a lot of us name Hubcap.”
“I didn’t intend to tour on that document. The ask from Pete Townshend to open a pair exhibits of his in New York within the spring of ’96 bought me desirous about getting out and dealing once more, and went out and did quite a lot of solo touring. After which ’98 was The Final Canine and Pony Present, and by the point I bought there, I used to be beginning to get stressed for one thing new in my very own life. Not my skilled life, however my private life. I had moved again to New York Metropolis and was integrating with the LGBTQ group greater than I ever had. So I used to be enriching my life in that path, and thought, ‘Perhaps this might be a superb time to cease being solely the rock man who’s on the street in a van for his entire life.'”
“And in order that that notion of stepping away from rock touring with that document, that was 100% in earnest, that I simply felt like, ‘I am gonna take a break right here, and I am gonna construct this different life that I by no means actually took the time to construct.’ I believe that is it in a nutshell. There’s the professional wrestling stuff within the fall of ’99 by spring of 2000 – that form of ran parallel to my homosexual life in New York, my curiosity in digital music. Numerous issues had been shifting. To go write professional wrestling [music] and begin writing digital music, that ultimately led me to DJing for many of the aughts. I knew I needed to alter, I did not know what kind it might precisely take, but it surely all got here collectively fairly properly. Naturally, I believe.”
The Sugar track “Your Favourite Factor” is a ’90s alt-rock traditional. What do you recall about writing that track?
“Actual tremendous riff, tremendous catchy. I do not assume that one took lengthy to put in writing. Which may have been like, a half hour track. Which, quite a lot of the nice ones are. However I simply thought it was a extremely cool signature riff. It is form of in that traditional ‘Sugar tempo’ – y’know, the 120s to 130s. Simply these form of arduous driving 4 on the ground pop songs. The lyrics, there’s nothing revelatory within the phrases. However hopefully the best way that they had been constructed is attention-grabbing. Good track, although.”
Earlier than you mentioned one thing that I completely agree with: “The roads had been already paved” earlier than Nirvana’s Nevermind hit. As a result of I’ve at all times felt that bands such because the Pixies, REM, Hüsker Dü, and a number of other others from the 80s undoubtedly helped set the stage for various rock’s large breakthrough within the early ’90s. Do you see that on the time?
“I believe I noticed it when Sugar bought actually large. I used to be like, ‘Oh yeah, we did this.’ [Laughs] On the threat of the sound of me patting myself on the again being louder than my voice. And I imply Mudhoney, Meat Puppets…there’s so many issues that bought into Nevermind, proper? However yeah, I believe I knew, by the point Sugar was blowing up that if I had any doubts about what possibly had occurred prior to now, then I believe that was form of like, ‘Oh yeah. That is proper.‘”
What had been your impressions of listening to Nevermind for the primary time?
“Properly, I had the demos as a result of I used to be in rivalry for producing the document. I didn’t have the demo of ‘Teen Spirit’ – I do not know if there was one, and I do not know if anyone bought it, if there was. However I keep in mind sitting with Gary Gersh at Geffen, and it got here up. Historical past went the best way it did, and it was completely the precise manner. Butch Vig was any individual that I labored with again in ’84. Butch is superb. And it was an ideal match for what the songs on Nevermind had been. And every part went precisely because it ought to. [Laughs] Y’know, Butch does that, they blow up, after which it is form of like, ‘Oh, now I’ve bought this E-ZPass for the toll street I’ll have had a hand in constructing.'” [Laughs]
How necessary was MTV and 120 Minutes for alt-rock artists within the ’90s?
“MTV, generally – and Matt Pinfield and 120 Minutes, particularly – did a lot to raise all of us that had been making that type of guitar-driven music within the early ’90s. It was so necessary. There have been different exhibits earlier than it – a present again within the ’80s, The Chopping Edge. I keep in mind that as a result of there was one episode, it was the primary time the Smiths had been on TV in America, I believe. There was one thing with Morrissey speaking.
I keep in mind going to see Stone Temple Pilots in 2000 or one thing with a pal. And after like, the thirteenth track, I checked out my pal like, ‘These are all Stone Temple Pilots songs?’ I had heard all of those songs endlessly, however I did not know who they had been.
“And that very same episode, Hüsker Dü was on, as properly. There was form of a trampoline or basis being set already earlier than 120 Minutes. However yeah, 120 Minutes was the place that every one of us needed to be. It was the place the place everybody discovered about new music. It was the best way to get there. No query about it.”
“There have been quite a lot of radio stations that had been round. School stations, after which stations like WLIR in New York. So, that was all a part of constructing the firmament, as properly. It was an extended course of. It did not simply occur out of skinny air. And WBCN, and Matt was DJing down in South Jersey. So, that late ’80s by ’91/’92, all of that was essential infrastructure, as properly. It is simply humorous – you recognize this and I do know this – however there’s form of a ‘mainstream historical past,’ like, ‘There was all this hair steel, after which Nevermind got here, and it modified.’ There was lots of people who did quite a lot of work to get to that time.”
Who’re a few of your favourite ’90s alt-rock artists?
“Not many. [Laughs] I imply, I’ve quite a lot of respect for Pearl Jam and Nirvana. I keep in mind going to see Stone Temple Pilots in 2000 or one thing with a pal. And after like, the thirteenth track, I checked out my pal like, ‘These are all Stone Temple Pilots songs?’ I had heard all of those songs endlessly, however I did not know who they had been.”
“Through the ‘Sugar years,’ the bands that jumped out to me would have been my UK label mates, like Swervedriver. Or the Boo Radleys, who came to visit and toured with Sugar. However the largest one to me was My Bloody Valentine. I preserve ready for any individual to prime Loveless. There have been information since then which have gotten near that degree…however that was like a beacon of sunshine of what might be finished with this kind. So, that might be the one which I’d at all times go to.”
“Swervedriver being up there on the prime, as properly. The best way that Adam [Franklin] and Jimmy [Hartridge] strategy songwriting and placing stuff collectively and the sounds of their information was actually good, as properly. It was simply the guitar interaction, Adam’s voice, the songwriting was actually complicated…but it surely stayed actually catchy. And I knew about these guys from like, ’88, once they had been known as Shake Attraction – as a result of they despatched me the demos that grew to become Son of Mustang Ford. I’m going manner again with them, and I am an enormous fan. I at all times sing their praises. And so they bought new stuff – the brand new stuff is fairly cool, too. There is a monitor that got here out possibly three weeks in the past. It is nonetheless bought all the earmarks. So, it is nice.”
What can followers count on from the upcoming tour?
“The touring for ‘Right here We Go Loopy’ within the US, it is precisely what you’d count on. It is me, and me and the rhythm part which have been on the final six information. It is simply going to be a pleasant celebration of this document. I’d counsel that it will likely be a celebration of all six information that we recorded collectively. I might prefer to put the highlight on that – which the three of us did collectively, and simply actually focus into that. I imply, I’ve bought a deep catalog – solo, Sugar, Hüsker Dü. I believe the meat and potatoes of the tour would be the six information that we made. And I believe every part else will in all probability…do not quote me on this! [Laughs] Simply kidding – I believe these different parts of my songbook, that’ll be the spice, not the meat of it.”