Bob Mould

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Bob Mould

| image = Bob Mould.jpg

| caption = Mould performing live in 2005

| landscape = yes

| birth_name = Robert Arthur Mould

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|16}}{{cite book |title=Disco, Punk, New Wave, Heavy Metal, and More |date=December 2012 |publisher=Britannica |isbn=9781615309122|pages=208 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hd-bAAAAQBAJ}}

| instrument = Guitar, vocals, keyboards, bass, percussion

| genre = {{flatlist|

Punk rock{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/2012/02/bob-mould-plays-sugars-full-copper-blue-lp-first-time/ | title= Bob Mould Plays Sugar's Full 'Copper Blue' LP for First Time | work=Spin| date= February 27, 2012 }}
alternative rock

}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Musician
producer
singer
songwriter
dramatist
disc jockey

}}

| years_active = 1979–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

Hüsker Dü
Sugar
Blowoff

}}

| website = {{URL|www.bobmould.com}}

| birth_place = Malone, New York, United States

}}

Robert Arthur Mould (born October 16, 1960) is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.

Early years

Born in Malone, New York,{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137034891/bob-mould-looks-inward-shines-a-little-light|title=Bob Mould Looks Inward, Shines 'A Little Light'|author=Matt Morello|publisher=NPR|date=June 15, 2011}} Mould lived in several places, including the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where he attended Macalester College in Saint Paul.{{cite web|url=http://www.macalester.edu/news/macalestertoday/2010fall/music-makers.html|title=Music Makers|author=Jim Walsh|publisher=Macalester College|date=Fall 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226112105/http://www.macalester.edu/news/macalestertoday/2010fall/music-makers.html|archive-date=February 26, 2014}} At Macalester, he formed Hüsker Dü in the late 1970s with drummer/singer Grant Hart and bass guitarist Greg Norton.{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/06/14/bobmould/|title=Bob Mould looks back on Hüsker Dü with 'rage and melody'|author=Chris Roberts|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=June 14, 2011}} Mould and Hart were the principal songwriters for Hüsker Dü.

Musical career

=Hüsker Dü=

Forming in 1979, Hüsker Dü first gained notice as a punk rock group with a series of recordings on the independent label SST Records.{{cite web |url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/sst1.html |title=The SST Records story – Part 1 |author=Dave Lang |publisher=Perfect Sound Forever |date=July 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703032446/http://furious.com/perfect/sst1.html |archive-date=July 3, 2012 }} In 1986, they signed with a major record label (Warner Bros. Records), but found only modest commercial success.{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000639053|tab=awards|label=Hüsker Dü: Awards|access-date=August 8, 2012}} However, they were later often cited as one of the key influences on 1990s alternative rock, including bands such as Foo Fighters and Pixies.{{cite web|url=http://www.gomemphis.com/news/2010/nov/06/noise-story-o/|title=Memphis writer explores legacy of '80s indie-rock pioneers Hüsker Dü|author=Bob Mehr|publisher=Go Memphis|date=November 6, 2010}}

In the late 1980s, Hüsker Dü broke up acrimoniously amid members' drug abuse, personal problems, disputes over songwriting credits, musical direction, and the suicide of the band's manager, David Savoy.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/husker-du-men-reunite-20041025|title=Husker Du Men Reunite|author=Colin Devenish|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 25, 2004}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/01/19/grant-hart-putting-bad-image-husker-du-behind-him/|title=Grant Hart Putting Bad Image, Husker Du Behind Him|author=Chris Heim|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 19, 1990}}{{cite web|url= http://www.mmmm.eclipse.co.uk/press/bob_cut89.htm|title=Downside Up|publisher=Edge Boston|date=August 1989}} Mould and Hart played together only once after the breakup for two songs at a 2004 benefit concert for an ailing friend, the late Karl Mueller of Soul Asylum.

=First solo period (1988–1991)=

File:Bob Mould Pine City Farmhouse.jpg, where Bob Mould sequestered himself to write his first solo album, Workbook]]

Just before Hüsker Dü broke up, Mould moved to a remote farmhouse in Pine City, Minnesota,{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/123995639.html|title=Bob Mould an open book at Dakota|author=Chris Riemenschneider|work=Star Tribune|date=March 8, 2008}} having quit drinking and drugs, and wrote the songs that would make up his first solo album.{{cite web|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc3=&id=71337|title=Bob Mould walks the 'Line'|author=Sam Baltrusis|work=Star Tribune|date=June 16, 2011}} Released by the newly formed Virgin Records America label, 1989's Workbook eschewed Mould's trademark wall-of-noise guitar for a lighter tone. Drummer Anton Fier (of The Feelies and later The Golden Palominos) and bassist Tony Maimone (of Pere Ubu) served as Mould's rhythm section. The album peaked at number 127 on the Billboard 200 chart, and the single "See a Little Light" reached number 4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/workbook-mw0000653415/awards|title=Bob Mould Workbook|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 12, 2012}}

1990's Black Sheets of Rain had a much heavier guitar sound, recalling Hüsker Dü's louder, angrier moments. According to the liner notes for the 2012 re-release of Sugar's Copper Blue, Creation Records president Alan McGee verified that total album sales were 7,000 copies.{{cite AV media notes|title=Copper Blue / Beaster Deluxe Edition|others=Sugar|year=2012|chapter=Copper Blue|first=Keith|last=Cameron|page=6|work=Merge Records}} Still, the album peaked at number 123 on the Billboard 200 chart, and the single "It's Too Late" reached number 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/black-sheets-of-rain-mw0000308595/awards|title=Bob Mould Black Sheets of Rain|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 12, 2012}}

Mould also co-founded a record label, Singles Only Label, with Coyote Records label founder Steve Fallon. The label released singles from bands such as Daniel Johnston, Grant Lee Buffalo, Moby, Mojo Nixon, Morphine, Nikki Sudden, and R. Stevie Moore from 1989 to 1994.{{cite web|url=http://larecord.com/interviews/2009/04/27/no-age-interviews-bob-mould-whats-that-other-thing-over-there-making-noise#more-30210|title=Singles Only Label|publisher=LA Record|date=April 27, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/Singles+Only+Label|title=Singles Only Label|work=Discogs|access-date=August 12, 2012}}

=Sugar (1992–1995)=

Mould then formed the group Sugar, with bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis. Along with extensive touring, Sugar released two albums, an EP and a B-sides collection before breaking up in early 1995. 1992's Copper Blue was named as NME's 1992 Album of the Year, and was Mould's most successful commercial album, selling nearly 300,000 copies.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/161590-sugar-copper-blue-file-under-easy-listening/|title=Sugar: Copper Blue / File Under: Easy Listening (Deluxe Editions)|author=AJ Ramirez|magazine=Pop Matters|date=August 3, 2012}}

While in the band Sugar, in 1993 he contributed the track "Can't Fight It" as a solo artist to the AIDS Benefit Album No Alternative produced by the Red Hot Organization.{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/12/10/no-alternative-and-born-to-choose/|title='No Alternative' And 'Born To Choose'|author=Parry Gettelman|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=December 10, 1993}} In 1994, he recorded "Turning of the Tide" for Beat The Retreat, a tribute album to the English guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson.{{cite web |url=http://www.richardthompson-music.com/album.asp?id=50 |title=RT Covers by Others VII |publisher=Beesweb |date=July 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718014125/http://www.richardthompson-music.com/album.asp?id=50 |archive-date=July 18, 2012 }}

=Second solo period (1996–present)=

In 1996, Mould returned to solo recording, releasing a self-titled album in 1996 on Rykodisc, often referred to as Hubcap because of the cover photo. Mould played all of the instruments himself, and programmed the drums instead of using a real drummer. The album peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200 chart, and number 1 on the Heatseekers chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bob-mould-mw0000181975/awards|title=Bob Mould Bob Mould|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 12, 2012}}

In 1998, Mould released The Last Dog and Pony Show, his final album on Rykodisc (who had released all of the Sugar albums in the U.S.). The album was named as such because Mould decided that the tour that followed would be his "last electric band tour."{{cite web|url=http://www.granarymusic.com/ldap/|title=The Last Dog and Pony Show|author=Bob Mould|publisher=Granary Music|access-date=August 12, 2012}}

After the tour, Mould took a break from the music world to get involved with another passion of his, professional wrestling, when he joined WCW as a scriptwriter in 1999 for a brief period.{{cite news|last=Sinclair|first=Tom|title=Body Slam|url=https://ew.com/article/2005/07/22/professional-wrestling-bob-mould/|access-date=May 31, 2011|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 22, 2005|archive-date=October 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021133442/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1085611,00.html|url-status=live}} Creative differences with some of the other writers led to Mould's leaving the company and returning to music. The liner notes for the 2002 album Modulate thank some of the wrestlers he associated with, most notably Kevin Nash and Kevin Sullivan.

During a stint living in New York City in the late-1990s, as he more fully embraced his identity as a gay man, Mould's tastes took a detour into dance music and electronica. Those influences were clear on his 2002 release Modulate, which featured a strong electronica influence to mixed critical reviews and poor fan reaction.{{Citation | date=April 25, 2002 | title=Music Reviews: Bob Mould: Modulate | magazine=Rolling Stone | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bobmould/albums/album/179260/review/5944489/modulate | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826223314/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bobmould/albums/album/179260/review/5944489/modulate | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 26, 2006 | access-date=April 12, 2009 }} One song, "The Receipt," was fairly straightforward, according to City Pages: it "can be taken as a barely veiled attack on Mould's old Husker Dü-mate Grant Hart."{{Citation |date=March 27, 2002 |title=Minneapolis Music – Bob Mould: Modulate |periodical=City Pages |url=http://www.citypages.com/2002-03-27/music/bob-mould-modulate/ |access-date=April 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425195813/http://www.citypages.com/2002-03-27/music/bob-mould-modulate/ |archive-date=April 25, 2009 }} (In fact, another song on the album ["Trade"] had been written and performed live during his Hüsker Dü days.) In further pursuit of this sound, Mould also began recording under the pseudonym LoudBomb (an anagram of his name), releasing one CD ("Long Playing Grooves") so far under this name.{{cite news|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-05-03/85770/|title=Bob Mould, LoudBomb|author=Dan Oko|newspaper=The Austin Chronicle|date=May 3, 2002}}

File:Bob mould mccarren park pool.jpg in July 2007.]]

His next solo album, Body of Song, had been originally scheduled to closely follow the release of 2002's Modulate. Instead, Mould worked on the album for the next three years, resulting in a 2005 release. By this time, he had changed his mind on touring with a band, and announced his first band tour since 1998. The tour lineup included bassist Jason Narducy (of Verbow), drummer Brendan Canty (of Fugazi), and Mould's Blowoff collaborator, Morel, on keyboards.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thefader.com/2005/09/26/bob-moulds-i-body-of-song-i-tour-hits-north-america/|title=Bob Mould's Body of Song Tour Hits North America|author=Chip Adams|magazine=Fader|date=September 26, 2005|access-date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224041237/http://www.thefader.com/2005/09/26/bob-moulds-i-body-of-song-i-tour-hits-north-america/|archive-date=December 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}

In addition to his solo work, Mould also worked as a live DJ in collaboration with Washington DC-area dance music artist Richard Morel, under the collective banner Blowoff. They frequently staged at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. A Blowoff CD was released in September 2006, consisting of songs recorded together by the two. Mould has also done remixes for a variety of dance and alternative rock artists, including a remix of the Interpol song "Length of Love."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/blowoff-mn0000926702|title=Blowoff|author=Mark Deming|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 12, 2012}}

District Line was released February 5, 2008. A little over a year later, on April 7, 2009, Mould released his next album entitled Life and Times in the midst of researching his life for an autobiography.{{Cite web|url=http://www.anti.com/news/index/582/Bob_Mould_Schedules_Performances_Leading_up_to_the_Release_of_his_Latest_Solo_Effort_Life_and_Times|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103092257/http://www.anti.com/news/index/582/Bob_Mould_Schedules_Performances_Leading_up_to_the_Release_of_his_Latest_Solo_Effort_Life_and_Times|url-status=dead|title=Bob Mould Schedules Performances Leading up to the Release of his Latest Solo Effort 'Life and Times|archive-date=January 3, 2010|access-date=June 20, 2021}}

Mould ultimately wrote that memoir with Michael Azerrad, the author of Our Band Could Be Your Life and Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. The book, See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody, was published in June 2011.{{cite book | last=Mould | first=Bob |author2=Michael Azerrad | title=See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody | location=New York | publisher=Little, Brown and Co. | year=2011 | isbn=9780316045087}}

On August 6, 2012, Mould released the first single from his first album on Merge Records, Silver Age, on September 4, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.mergerecords.com/blog/2012/08/bob-mould-premieres-the-descent-the-first-single-from-silver-age/ |title=Bob Mould premieres 'The Descent' the first single from Silver Age |publisher=Merge Records |date=August 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818222904/http://www.mergerecords.com/blog/2012/08/bob-mould-premieres-the-descent-the-first-single-from-silver-age/ |archive-date=August 18, 2012 }} It peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard 200 album chart, No. 12 on the Alternative Albums chart, and No. 3 on the Tastemaker Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=bob mould|chart=all}}|title=Silver Age – Bob Mould|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 16, 2013}} In 2014 Mould released Beauty & Ruin and in March 2016, his album Patch the Sky was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.mergerecords.com/patch-the-sky|title=Merge Records, Bob Mould, Patch the Sky, Album|website=Mergerecords.com|date=January 20, 2016}}

On October 25, 2018, Mould shared a new song, "Sunshine Rock" from his new album of the same name, arriving February 8, 2019, via Merge Records{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/10/music-news-ever-evolving-artist-bob-mould-shares-the-new-song-sunshine-rock-today-along-with-the-announcement-that-he-will.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027061618/https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/10/music-news-ever-evolving-artist-bob-mould-shares-the-new-song-sunshine-rock-today-along-with-the-announcement-that-he-will.html |title=Bob Mould Shares New Song 'Sunshine Rock' From New Album Available 2/8 Via Merge Records |website=Music News Net |archive-date=October 27, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2019}}

On June 3, 2020, Mould released a new song "American Crisis" the lead single from his album Blue Hearts, released on September 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2020/06/03/bob-mould-shares-single-american-crisis-from-upcoming-album|title=Bob Mould Shares Single American Crisis From Upcoming Album|website=Spin (magazine)|date=June 3, 2020|access-date=June 3, 2020}}

On January 8, 2025, he announced a new album, Here We Go Crazy, coming out on March 7, and released the title track as its first single. He will be touring throughout the United States in support of the album.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bob-mould-announces-tour-and-new-album-here-we-go-crazy-shares-video-watch/|title=Bob Mould Announces Tour and New Album Here We Go Crazy, Shares Video: Watch|website=Pitchfork|date=January 8, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025}}

= Instruments =

As a member of Hüsker Dü, Mould was known for playing Flying V–style guitars, mainly an Ibanez Rocket Roll Jr.{{Cite news|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/5-minutes-alone-bob-mould-641650|title=5 minutes alone: Bob Mould|work=MusicRadar|access-date=March 27, 2018|language=en}}

In 1988, Mould bought a blue Fender American Standard Stratocaster off the rack after playing it "for about 15 seconds, unplugged." The Stratocaster has been his electric guitar of choice since the breakup of Hüsker Dü around that time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2014/06/18/the-current-s-guitar-collection-bob-mould|title=The Current's Guitar Collection: Bob Mould, Fender Stratocaster|access-date=March 27, 2018}} His favored acoustic guitar is a 12-string Yamaha APX.

Collaborations

Mould has made various guest appearances throughout his career. In 1984, Mould played piano on Ground Zero's album Ground Zero.{{cite web|url=http://www.thirdav.com/hd_discog/hdd.html|title=Hüsker Dü Database|author=Paul Hilcoff|publisher=Thirdav|access-date=August 16, 2012}} In 1991, Mould sang and played guitar on the Golden Palominos album Drunk with Passion on the song "Dying from the Inside Out." In 1992, he contributed vocals to the song, "Dio" on the Throwing Muses album Red Heaven. Mould performed the guitars for the soundtrack for the film version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, released in 1999. In 2000, Mould sang "He Didn't" (written by Stephin Merritt) on The 6ths' album Hyacinths and Thistles.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hyacinths-and-thistles-mw0000068675|title=Wig in a Box|author=Michael Gallucci|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 16, 2012}} He also contributed vocals to the 2009 Fucked Up cover of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

In 2011, Mould performed on the Foo Fighters album Wasting Light, contributing guitar and vocals to the track "Dear Rosemary."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/wasting-light-mw0002115022|title=Wasting Light|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 16, 2012}} He made sporadic appearances with the band during their Wasting Light tour to perform the song on stage, including on the Conan O'Brien show.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/amplifier/see-foo-fighters-and-bob-mould-pulverize-conan.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130206151244/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/amplifier/see-foo-fighters-and-bob-mould-pulverize-conan.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |title=See Foo Fighters and Bob Mould Pulverize 'Conan' |author=Caryn Ganz |publisher=Amplifier |date=September 16, 2011 }} In December 2017, Mould opened for the Foo Fighters in four states during their Concrete and Gold tour.{{cite web|title=Bob Supporting Foo Fighters in December|url=http://bobmould.com/2017/11/14/bob-supporting-foo-fighters-in-december/|website=Bobmould.com|access-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218062026/http://bobmould.com/2017/11/14/bob-supporting-foo-fighters-in-december/|archive-date=December 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Personal life

Though Mould's sexual orientation had previously been an open secret, he was outed in the early 1990s in an interview in the music magazine Spin. Since then, Mould has been cited as a musical and social influence among other openly gay musicians. "Hüsker Dü changed my life. That was a huge influence on me," said Steve Brooks of Torche.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestranger.com/music/2008/10/30/729140/a-big-gay-roundtable |title=A Big, Gay Roundtable |author=Kurt B. Reighley |work=The Stranger |date=October 30, 2008 }} "Before Rob Halford came out, there was Bob Mould. He wasn't very vocal about it, but I'm a big fan of his music. It was comforting — one of my favorite musicians was 'a gay!' Kick ass."{{cite web |url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/sep2006/gaysinmetal.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020164323/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/sep2006/gaysinmetal.aspx |archive-date=October 20, 2006 |title=Gays in Metal |author=Anthony Bartkewicz |work=Decibel |date=September 2006 }} Mould self-identifies as a gay bear and appeared in the 2010 documentary Bear Nation.{{cite news |author=Ted Simons |title=Sweet And High Bob Mould's Sugar Proves The Best Listening Is Not Always Easy |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-12-08/music/sweet-and-high-bob-mould-s-sugar-proves-the-best-listening-is-not-always-easy/ |access-date=April 15, 2011 |newspaper=Phoenix New Times |date=December 8, 1994 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907030944/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-12-08/music/sweet-and-high-bob-mould-s-sugar-proves-the-best-listening-is-not-always-easy/ |archive-date=September 7, 2012 }}{{cite news |author=Steve Kandell |title=The Spin Interview: Bob Mould |work=Spin |url=http://www.spin.com/articles/spin-interview-bob-mould?page=0%2C1 |date=January 28, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2012}}

In April 2004, Mould was a co-organizer of the WEDRock benefit concert for Freedom to Marry. "WedRock" was a play on the word "wedlock". The event raised an estimated US$30,000. Mould also contributed the song "See a Little Light" to the 2006 album Wed-Rock: A Benefit for Freedom to Marry, an album to support in the legalization of same-sex marriage.{{cite news |author=Doug Rule |title=Rock the House |work=Metro Weekly |url=http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=1259 |date=September 30, 2004 |access-date=February 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407080128/http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=1259 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

In interviews to promote his 2019 album Sunshine Rock, Mould revealed that he had been residing in Berlin, Germany, since 2015.{{cite news |author=Kory Grow |title=Bob Mould on His Surprisingly Upbeat New LP, Remembering Grant Hart |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bob-mould-interview-sunshine-rock-berlin-husker-du-grant-hart-789799/ |date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2019}}{{cite news |author=Jedd Beaudoin |title=Melody, Aggression, Intelligence: An Interview with Bob Mould |work=PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/bob-mould-sunshine-rock-interview-2628016118.html?rebelltitem=6 |date=February 6, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2019}} {{As of|2020|post=,}} he splits his time between San Francisco and Palm Springs, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/interviews/heart-on-my-sleeve-an-interview-with-bob-mould-59957 |title=Heart on my sleeve: An interview with Bob Mould |author=Stephanie Phillips |work=The Wire |date=December 2020 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/2022/03/24/former-husker-du-frontman-bob-mould-play-alibi-april-1/7099115001/ |title=New Palm Springs resident and former Hüsker Dü frontman Bob Mould to play Alibi on April 1 |author=Bryan Blueskye |work=The Desert Sun |date=March 24, 2022 }} In San Francisco, he specifically lives in the Castro District, famously known as San Francisco's gay neighborhood.{{Cite web |last=Pehling |first=Dave |date=February 18, 2023 |title=Pioneering punk songwriter Bob Mould plays solo show at Chapel - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/pioneering-punk-songwriter-bob-mould-returns-to-san-francisco/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222025630/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/pioneering-punk-songwriter-bob-mould-returns-to-san-francisco/ |archive-date=February 22, 2023 |access-date=May 9, 2024 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}}

File:Bob Mould 27.jpg, New Zealand, November 2024]]

Bob is married to Don Fisher.{{Cite Instagram |author=Bob Mould |user=bobmouldmusic |postid=CsMV-bXhEwJ |date=May 13, 2023 |title=One week ago with my husband Don Fisher! Photo courtesy @ajrhq. |language=en-US |access-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125133639/https://www.instagram.com/p/CsMV-bXhEwJ/ |archive-date=2024-01-25|url-status=live}}

In popular culture

File:Bob Mould - First Avenue Star.jpgMould's song "Dog on Fire" is the theme song for The Daily Show. He originally wrote the track for his third solo album, but cut it as redundant. The name was picked by mastering engineer Jim Wilson from an offhand comment Mould made in an interview. They Might Be Giants performed updated versions which were used in the 2000s, and the song was later remixed by Timbaland when Trevor Noah took over as host.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/books/see-a-little-light-by-bob-mould-of-husker-du-review.html|title= After Metal Music's Deafening Roar, Hüsker Dü's Guitarist Pauses to Reflect|author=Dwight Garner|work=The New York Times|date=June 14, 2011}}{{cite web |last1=Van Luling |first1=Todd |title=The Bizarre Thing You Never Noticed About 'The Daily Show' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/daily-show-theme-song_n_5790e29ce4b0fc06ec5be431 |website=Huffpost |access-date=October 27, 2021 |date=July 21, 2016}} On December 19, 1996, Mould made a cameo appearance on The Daily Show Holiday Spectacular in an homage duet of "The Little Drummer Boy" with Mould playing the part of David Bowie to Craig Kilborn's "Bing Crosby".{{cite web|url=http://www.thirdav.com/hd_discog/13_live_tv.html|title=Section 13—TV Appearances|author=Paul Hilcoff|publisher=Thirdav|access-date=August 16, 2012}}

The song "See a Little Light" has been used more than once in various television applications: It was used in the closing scene of the original un-aired test pilot episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0609690/|title=Bob Mould|publisher=IMDb|access-date=August 16, 2012}} it was also used in the closing scene of the season 1 finale for 13 Reasons Why, it became one of the principal theme songs for the HBO series The Mind of the Married Man and was also used in a television commercial for TIAA-CREF (August 2007). Mould also composed the theme for the TLC program, In a Fix.{{cite web|url=http://www.ktvu.com/news/entertainment/godfather-of-alternative-rock-to-visit-sf/nKdC9/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127111919/http://www.ktvu.com/news/entertainment/godfather-of-alternative-rock-to-visit-sf/nKdC9/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |title=Godfather of Alternative Rock To Visit SF |publisher=KTVU |date=October 14, 2007 }}

In 2011, Mould wrote his autobiography See a Little Light with Michael Azerrad.{{cite book |last1=Mould |first1=Bob and Michael Azerrad |title=See a Little Light |date=2011 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York}}

In 2001, Mould played lead guitar in the house band for the film of John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch (musical), and on the film's soundtrack.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hedwig-and-the-angry-inch-soundtrack-mw0000010914/credits|title=Hedwig and the Angry Inch [Soundtrack]|author=MacKenzie Wilson|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 16, 2012}} In 2003, Mould also participated in a Hedwig tribute album, Wig in a Box, on which he covered the song "Nailed."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/wig-in-a-box-mw0000693312|title=Hyacinths and Thistles|author=Heather Phares|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 16, 2012}}

On September 29, 2005, Mould's song "Circles" was included on The OC.{{cite web|url=http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/bobmould.html|title=File Sharing, electronica and "The O.C.": Chatting with Bob Mould|author=Mike Sandler|website=OnMilwaukee.com|date=November 14, 2005}}

Mould appeared on an episode of Independent Film Channel's The Henry Rollins Show on June 15, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/24202/|title=Bob Mould plans January release, previews song on the Henry Rollins Show|website=Punknews.org|date=June 16, 2007}}

On November 21, 2011, musicians such as Dave Grohl, Britt Daniel and Jessica Dobson of Spoon, Craig Finn and Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady, Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt of No Age, Margaret Cho, Jason Narducy, Jon Wurster of Superchunk, and Ryan Adams came together at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and played songs from Bob Mould's career. During the concert, Bob discussed his then-forthcoming album Silver Age, involving Jason Narducy and drummer Jon Wurster (of Superchunk), and a limited tour of Sugar's debut album Copper Blue.{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2011/11/video-dave-grohl-ryan-adams-britt-daniel-pay-tribute-to-bob-mould/|title=Video: Dave Grohl, Ryan Adams, Britt Daniel pay tribute to Bob Mould|author=Alex Young|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=November 22, 2011}}

Mould has been honored with two stars on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,{{cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |title=The Stars |author= |website=First Avenue & 7th Street Entry |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135117/https://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |url-status=dead }} one for his solo work and one for Hüsker Dü. The stars recognize performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.{{cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |url=https://www.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/ |title=10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 3, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 }} Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steve |url=http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |title=First Avenue's Star Wall |work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 }}

Discography

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = Bob Mould

| Image =

| Caption =

| Alt =

| Studio = 15

| Live = 2

| Compilation = 2

| Music videos = 2

| Singles = 14

}}

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;

!rowspan=2|Year

!rowspan=2|Information

!colspan=4|Chart positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

!width=30|US
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/bob-mould/chart-history | title=Bob Mould Chart History |magazine=Billboard| access-date=February 8, 2019}}

!width=30|US Heat.

!width=30|US Ind.

!width=30|UK
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/4683/bob-mould/ | title=The Official Charts Company - Bob Mould| date=May 11, 1996| publisher=Official Charts Company| access-date=August 12, 2015}}

1989

|align=left|Workbook{{ref label|note_a1|A

}

Label: Virgin
Released: April 1989

| 127

| –

|1990

|align=left|Black Sheets of Rain

Label: Virgin
Released: May 1990

| 123

| –

|1996

|align=left|Bob Mould

Labels: Creation, Rykodisc
Released: April 30, 1996

| 101

| 1

| –

| 52

|1998

|align=left|The Last Dog and Pony Show

Labels: Creation, Rykodisc
Released: August 25, 1998

| 164

| 11

| –

| 58

|rowspan=2|2002

|align=left|Modulate

Labels: Cooking Vinyl, Granary Music
Released: March 12, 2002

| –

| 45

| 18

| –

|align=left|Long Playing Grooves (as 'LoudBomb')

Labels: Cooking Vinyl, Granary Music
Released: 2002

| –

|2005

|align=left|Body of Song

Labels: Cooking Vinyl, Yep Roc
Released: July 12, 2005

| –

| 22

| 37

| –

|2006

|align=left|Blowoff (with 'Blowoff'){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blowoff-mw0000446343|title=Blowoff, Album|website=AllMusic|date=February 5, 2014}}

Label: Full Frequency Music
Released: September 5, 2006

| –

|2008

|align=left|District Line

Labels: Anti-, Beggars Banquet
Released: February 5, 2008

| 191

| 5

| 24

| –

|2009

|align=left|Life and Times

Label: Anti-
Released: April 7, 2009

| –

| 7

| –

|2012

|align=left|Silver Age

Labels: Edsel, Merge
Released: September 4, 2012

| 52

| –

| 13

| –

|2014

|align=left|Beauty & Ruin

Label: Merge
Released: June 3, 2014

| 38

| –

| 5

| 96

|2016

|align=left|Patch the Sky

Label: Merge
Released: March 25, 2016

| 82

| –

| 6

| 54

|2019

|align=left|Sunshine Rock

Label: Merge
Released: February 8, 2019

| 192

| –

|2020

|align=left|Blue Hearts

Label: Merge
Released: September 25, 2020

| 181

| –

|2025

|align=left|Here We Go Crazy

Label: Granary Music
Released: March 7, 2025

Notes

A{{Note|note_a1}}Workbook 25 — A remastered version of Workbook including a second disc of live versions of the songs recorded after the original release in 1989 was released in 2014.

=Compilations and live albums=

Poison Years (1994, Virgin)
Live Dog '98 (2002, Granary Music) (released under the name 'Bob Mould Band')
Live at ATP 2008 (2009, Granary Music) (released under the name 'Bob Mould Band')
Bob Mould + The Last Dog And Pony Show + LiveDog98 (2012, Edsel)
Distortion: 1989-2019 (Series of boxsets released 2020-2021, Demon Records / Edsel)

=Singles=

"See a Little Light" (1989) #4 US Modern Rock Songs{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bob-mould/chart-history/mrt/|title=Bob Mould|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 20, 2021}}
"It's Too Late" (1990) #10 Modern Rock Songs
"Egøverride" (1996)
"Fort Knox, King Solomon" (1996)
"Classifieds"/"Moving Trucks" (1998)
"Soundonsound" (2002)
"Paralyzed" (2005)
"The Silence Between Us" (2008)
"I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand in My Light Anymore" (2009)
"The Descent" (2012)
"I Don't Know You Anymore" (2014){{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/54978-bob-mould-shares-single-i-dont-know-you-anymore/|title=Bob Mould Shares Single "I Don't Know You Anymore" - Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|date=April 29, 2014|access-date=November 12, 2017}}
"Hold On" (2016)
"Voices in My Head" (2016)
"Sunshine Rock" (2018)
"What Do You Want Me to Do" (2018)
"Lost Faith" (2019)
"American Crisis" (2020)
"Siberian Butterfly" (2020){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-mould-new-song-siberian-butterfly-1056601/|title=Bob Mould Tries to Pin Down the True Self on 'Siberian Butterfly'|first=Jon|last=Blistein|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2021}}
"Here We Go Crazy" (2025)

=Videos=

Circle of Friends (2007, MVD Visual)
See a Little Light: A Celebration of the Music and Legacy of Bob Mould (2013){{cite web|url=http://bobmould.com/2013/01/01/see-a-little-light-a-celebration-of-the-music-and-legacy-of-bob-mould-available-for-the-first-time-to-the-public-through-kickstarter/|title=Bob Mould, See a Little Light, Announcement|website=Bobmould.com|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222020343/http://bobmould.com/2013/01/01/see-a-little-light-a-celebration-of-the-music-and-legacy-of-bob-mould-available-for-the-first-time-to-the-public-through-kickstarter/|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}

=Contributions=

Various artist compilations including individual tracks by Bob Mould:

No Alternative (1994) – includes "Can't Fight It"
Beat the Retreat: Songs by Richard Thompson (1994) – includes "Turning of the Tide" by Richard Thompson, performed by Bob Mould
Wig in a Box (2003) – includes "Nailed"
Wed-Rock: A Benefit for Freedom To Marry (2006) – includes "If I Can't Change Your Mind (acoustic)"
30 Days, 50 Songs (2016) - includes "In a Free Land (live)"{{cite web | url=http://www.30days30songs.com/33 | title=Bob Mould - 30 Days, 30 Songs | website=30 Days 30 Songs | access-date=June 22, 2020 | archive-date=February 19, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219112043/http://www.30days30songs.com/33 | url-status=dead }}

Bands produced

Man Sized Action, Claustrophobia
Soul Asylum, Say What You Will... and Made to Be Broken
Articles of Faith, Give Thanks and In This Life
Magnapop, Hot Boxing
Verbow, Chronicles
The Zulus, Down on the Floor
Friction Wheel, Something Tells Me/Won't Fall Down – SOL
Impaler, If We Had Brains... We'd Be Dangerous
Low, Tonight the Monkeys Die Remixes EP
Half a Chicken, Food For Thought
Starfish, Stellar Sonic Solutions
Titus Andronicus, An Obelisk

References

External links

[http://thequietus.com/articles/14555-bob-mould-workbook-25th-anniversary-interview Interview with The Quietus 21/02/14]
[http://www.avclub.com/article/bob-mould-58231 Interview with The Onion A.V. Club]
[https://archive.today/20130713103600/http://figure8magazine.co.uk/default/seen-a-little-light-bob-mould-interviewed/ Figure 8 Interview with Bob Mould 19/05/13]
[http://bobmould.com Official Bob Mould Granary Music artist page]
[http://d-n-i.com/bob-mould/ Wishing Well: A Small Web Site About the Music of Bob Mould]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120806195927/http://www.thirdav.com/hd_discog/hdd.html Paul Hilcoff's Hüsker Dü Database]
[http://www.ubu.com/sound/tellus_10.html Bob Mould Soundcheck (3:16)] published on the Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine @ Ubuweb