Hart co-founded Hüsker Dü in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979 along with Bob Mould and Greg Norton. As well as being the band’s drummer/co-vocalist, he was also co-songwriter for a lot of the group’s songs with Mould. From their inception until their demise in 1988, the band were instrumental in expanding hardcore punk into new musical territories and subject matter, even birthing the style that we now know as alternative rock. After the release of six studio albums and various EPs,  records of which were released on indie label SST Records and two of the albums being released on major label Warner Bros. Records, the band split due to creative tensions.

Following this Hart would form alt rock trio Nova Mob, who were active until 1997. He was the band’s vocalist/guitarist here and released an EP and two albums with them. From then Hart’s solo career would be his main musical focus. His last album was his 2013 fourth effort ‘The Argument’ on Domino Records.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to Hart’s family and friends.

This deluxe collection features sixty-seven tracks from the Minnesota trio’s early releases, from 1979 to 1983. As well as tracks from their early SST Records releases, including the singles ‘In a Free Land’ and ‘Statues’, 1983 debut album ‘Everything Falls Apart’, and an alternate recording of their 1982 live release, ‘Land Speed Record’, the comp also features forty-seven previously unreleased songs. All of these songs were remastered from the original analogue demos. This will come packaged as either a four LP set or three CD boxset, accompanied by a hard bound book featuring an essay on their history, never before seen photos and rare flyers. This will be released on the 10th November via Numero Music Group.

Finally, the trio are exclusively streaming this collection over at NPR.

Hüsker Dü were originally active from 1979 to 1988. Comprising of vocalist/guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart, the band were a cornerstone on transitioning hardcore punk aesthetics into what is now known as alternative rock. They released various EPs/singles, two live albums and six studio albums before their demise in 1988 due to creative differences. As well as forming a solo career, Mould would also form Sugar in the early 90s, whilst Hart also went onto pursuing his own solo career and fronting 90s alt rockers Nova Mob. As for Norton, after following band Grey Area disbanded in 1991, he focused on being a restauranteur before returning to music in 2006 with Gang Font feat. Interloper, and more recently, from 2016, being the bassist for Porcupine.

photo: Steven Hengstler