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 Herbst Theatre

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Bob Mould

In conversation with Michael Azerrad
Co-presented with Noise Pop

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 | Herbst Theatre, 8pm

Bob Mould is one of the most influential figures in modern music. He formed the trio Hüsker Dü in 1979, and started playing some of the loudest, fastest music ever recorded. The group's first album Land Speed Record was recorded live and featured an unprecedented seventeen songs in just twenty-six minutes. In an era that included Bad Brains, Black Flag, and Minor Threat, Hüsker Dü (named after a popular Scandinavian board game) established itself as one of the most aggressive and unpredictable hardcore bands around. Over the span of a few short years, primary songwriter Mould transformed Hüsker Dü's music into something more complex, adding tuneful melody to their fast-paced sound. It is widely accepted that Hüsker Dü was the key influence on alternative rock, with bands from Nirvana to the Pixies citing their impact. Hüsker Dü was also the first American independent band to cross over to a major label, and their traumatic experience with Warner Brothers served as a warning for the indie bands that followed. Mould then formed the group Sugar, an alternative rock force in the mid-nineties. In the late nineties he started experimenting with electronica, and continues to make appearances as a DJ in the Washington D.C. area. A pioneer in the landscape of modern music, Bob Mould was one of the first openly gay American musicians and he continues to be an outspoken gay rights advocate.

Michael Azerrad is a preeminent rock critic whose feature articles have appeared in Spin, Musician, Details, and Rolling Stone, where he is a contributing editor. His biography Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, is considered the definitive study of the band and one of the greatest rock books ever written. He is also the author of Our Band Could Be Your Life, a collection of profiles of thirteen influential indie rock bands including Sonic Youth, Black Flag, and The Replacements.

Noise Pop has championed new music since 1993 through its annual music festival, spotlighting local talent and bringing nationally known, independent artists to San Francisco stages. For more information, visit www.noisepop.com.

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