Grant Hart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grant Hart
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Hart performing in 2005 at the Metro Club in London
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Grantzberg Vernon Hart |
| Born | March 18, 1961 South Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | September 13, 2017 (aged 56) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1979–2017 |
| Labels | SST, Warner Bros., Rough Trade |
| Associated acts | Hüsker Dü, Nova Mob |
Grantzberg Vernon Hart (born March 18, 1961 – died September 13, 2017) was an American musician. He was best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the punk rock band Hüsker Dü.
After Hüsker Dü broke up in 1988, Grant Hart released his first solo album. It was called Intolerance. He then started a new alternative rock band named Nova Mob. In this band, he sang and played guitar. His solo music became his main focus after Nova Mob ended in 1997.
As a songwriter for Hüsker Dü, Hart wrote popular songs like "The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill" and "Turn on the News". Critics and other musicians praised his work. His singing style was more calm and melodic compared to his bandmate Bob Mould. Hart's songs explored many different topics. These included feelings of being a teenager in "Standing by the Sea" and fun stories in "Books About UFOs." This helped to broaden the kinds of topics found in hardcore punk music.
Grant Hart passed away on September 13, 2017. He was 56 years old.
Contents
Grant Hart's Early Life
Grant Hart was born in South St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the youngest child in his family. His mother worked at a credit union, and his father was a shop teacher. Grant got his brother's drum set and music records. He started playing in bands when he was a teenager.
Hart met Bob Mould while they both worked at a record store. The store was called Cheapo Records, in St. Paul, Minnesota. At first, Hart didn't think much of Mould. But they soon became good friends.
Hüsker Dü: The Band's Journey
Grant Hart formed the band Hüsker Dü in 1979. He started it with Bob Mould and their friend Greg Norton. The band's early music was part of the hardcore music scene in the early 1980s.
In their early days, the band members got help from their families. Grant's mother let him use the copier at her job to make flyers for their shows. The band also borrowed money to release their first song, "Statues." They released it in 1981 on their own label, Reflex Records.
The band had some success, but it was small. By 1982, Hart did not have a job. He relied on help from his friends and family.
Developing Their Music Style
Hüsker Dü's music grew more skilled and melodic over time. By late 1982, Hart's drumming was very precise. He and Mould shared singing duties. They began to sing more musically. Bob Mould wrote most of the band's songs. But Hart started writing more of them too.
Hart wrote two songs for the 1983 Metal Circus EP. These were "Diane" and "It's Not Funny Anymore." Hüsker Dü's more melodic hardcore music became popular with college students. Many songs from Metal Circus, especially Hart's "Diane," were played on campus radio stations across the US.
People sometimes called Hart the "hippie" of the group. This was because of his long hair. He also often played drums without shoes. A writer named Michael Azerrad noted that Hart's songs were very sincere. They felt more like the music from San Francisco in the 1960s. This was different from Mould's more serious songs.
Creative Differences and Success
As Hart and Mould became better musicians and songwriters, a friendly competition grew between them. This tension increased when Mould asked that each song on their records be credited to its writer. This started with the 1984 album Zen Arcade.
Even with these creative differences, Hüsker Dü received great reviews. This happened with Zen Arcade and their later albums. Michael Azerrad said that by 1985's Flip Your Wig, the two songwriters were trying to outdo each other. This led to amazing results.
Hüsker Dü moved away from the hardcore music style. This made their record label, SST Records, a bit uncomfortable. Hart once said that SST thought Hüsker Dü was "soft." This was because they stayed in motels while touring. They also sometimes wrote happy songs. Hart explained that they didn't need to suffer to be artists. He said there was nothing wrong with being happy.
Hart designed most of Hüsker Dü's album covers.
In 1986, Hüsker Dü became one of the first major indie bands to sign with a big record label. They signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. However, problems within the band grew worse after this deal. Mould and Hart had disagreements about creative control. Hart felt Mould made sure he couldn't have more than 45 percent of the songs on each album.
The band broke up after a show in Columbia, Missouri, in 1987. Hart said that the disagreements between the band members caused the band to end. He felt it was easier to be around Bob if you played by Bob's rules. He also thought Mould's songs had become too ordinary.
Grant Hart's Solo Music and Nova Mob
In 1988, Grant Hart released a solo EP called 2541. It was released on SST, Hüsker Dü's old label. The title came from the address of his former band's office. This was also where the band members had once lived. Other musicians later covered the song "2541."
After this EP, Hart focused on his health. He recorded and released the album Intolerance in 1989. He also released the EP All of My Senses in 1990.
In late 1989, he started a new band called Nova Mob. Grant Hart played guitar and sang. Michael Crego played drums, and Tom Merkl played bass. The band got its name from a book called Nova Express by William Burroughs.
Nova Mob released their first EP, Admiral of the Sea, and album, The Last Days of Pompeii, in 1991. The band's members changed later. Marc Retish and then Steve Sutherland played drums. Chris Hesler played lead guitar. The band often toured Europe and was well-received. Nova Mob released their second album, Nova Mob, in 1994. They broke up after touring to support the album.
Later Years and Tributes
Grant Hart returned to making music as a solo artist. He released a live album called Ecce Homo in 1995. He later released Good News for Modern Man in late 1999.
On October 21, 2004, he and Bob Mould played together again. This was at a benefit concert for Karl Mueller. Mueller was the bassist for another Minneapolis band, Soul Asylum.
Hart recorded his next solo album, Hot Wax, in Montreal and Minneapolis. He released Hot Wax on October 6, 2009. His album Intolerance was reissued in 2010. The Last Days of Pompeii was also reissued with extra songs.
In December 2012, Hart toured Ireland. He had a new band with him. Colm O' Herlihy played guitar, Dan Walsh played drums, and Simon Dargan played bass. Hart said he loved playing with them. He felt they made it easy for him to create music.
Hart released a double album called The Argument in the summer of 2013. This album was based on John Milton's poem Paradise Lost. In October 2013, a filmmaker named Gorman Bechard released a documentary about Hart. It was called Every Everything: The Music, Life & Times of Grant Hart. The film tells the story of Hart's life. Hart is the only person interviewed in the film.
Grant Hart has been honored with two stars on the outside wall of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue. One star is for his solo work, and one is for Hüsker Dü. These stars honor performers who have sold out shows or greatly contributed to the culture of the venue. Getting a star is a very important public honor for an artist in Minneapolis.
The band The Posies recorded a song called "Grant Hart." They released it on their 1996 album Amazing Disgrace. This song was a tribute to Grant Hart and his work.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Intolerance (1989, SST)
- Good News for Modern Man (1999, Pachyderm)
- Hot Wax (2009, Con d'Or)
- The Argument (2013, Domino)
- Live albums
- Ecce Homo (1995, World Service)
- Compilation albums
- Oeuvrevue (2010, Hazelwood)
- 2541 (1988, SST)
- All of My Senses (1990, SST)
- "Nobody Rides For Free" (2000, Pachyderm)
- "You're The Reflection" (2010, ... Reptile)
- "So Far From Heaven" (2011, Con D'Or)
- "Is The Sky The Limit?" (2013, Domino)
Hüsker Dü
Nova Mob
- Nova Mob albums
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1991, Rough Trade)
- Nova Mob (1994, Restless, World Service)
- Nova Mob EPs
- Admiral of the Sea (1991, Rough Trade)
- Shoot (1992, Big Store)
- Nova Mob singles
- "Evergreen Memorial Drive" (1992, Blackbox Records)
- "Shoot Your Way to Freedom" (1992, Big Store, Tontine Records)
- "Old Empire" (1994, World Service)
