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Chris

Sad day for Soul Asylum fans.

Jun 21, 2005

Karl Mueller, bassist and founding member of the Minneapolis-based rock band Soul Asylum, died Friday at his home. He was 41.

Diagnosed with throat cancer in May 2004, Mueller underwent radiation treatment and was said to have been in and out of the hospital in recent months.

In the early 1980s, Mueller formed Loud Fast Rules with singer/guitarist Dave Pirner and drummer Dan Murphy, a band that became Soul Asylum three years later. After a period of underground notoriety, the band achieved mainstream success with its 1992 breakthrough, "Grave Dancers Union" (Columbia).

The album peaked at No. 11 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 2.14 million copies in the United Stated, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set featured the single "Runaway Train," which peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100.

Mueller's cancer was in remission in October when such veterans of the Minneapolis music scene as the Replacements' Paul Westerberg and Husker Du's Bob Mould staged a benefit concert to help with spiraling medical costs. Mueller also joined his bandmates for a Soul Asylum performance at the show.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Mueller, Pirner and Murphy recorded a new Soul Asylum album earlier this year and had been "negotiating with a major label" for its release.

A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel in Minneapolis.

In Mueller's paid obituary in the Star Tribune, Pirner, Murphy and former Soul Asylum road manager Bill Sullivan are listed as "bandmates and brothers," even though the bassist was an only child. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth, and his mother, Mary.

Mr Film · Member Joined: 09 May 2005 Posts: 1245

That's tragic. I used to listen to Soul Asylum back in the day and they had some good tracks. Too bad for those die-hard fans, family, and friends who knew him well.

Chris · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject:

It was too bad....

Mr Film · Member Joined: 09 May 2005 Posts: 1245

You know something Chris the worst part is now the record company will milk Mueller's unfortunate death by putting together a Soul Asylums greatest hits CD. Give it time and you will see. Probably sometime next year with the option of purchasing a pakage deal containing a DVD with Live rare footage, unseen interviews, mini-band touring documentaries and all of Souls Asylums videos and unreleased bonus tracks fans have never heard or seen before for the great price of $45.99, and if you pre-purchase it today you will recieve an Soul Asylum poster. It's sad but true.

Chris · Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 1:40 pm Post subject:

True. Wont surprise me... Courtney Love did it... so why not this too....

Worst part is... the fans buy into it.