RIP Karl Mueller
Karl Mueller, bass player for Soul Asylum, died yesterday of cancer at (gulp) 41.
The Strib article is a long chain of names from my twenties. My old band (actually a couple of bands) used to practice in a basement on 24th and Hennepin, the epicenter of most of the (non-Prince-related) music scene in the Twin Cities at the time. After practice (and at our peak, we practiced four nights a week, four hours a night) we'd hit the same bars that the rest of the people in the music scene hit: Lyle's, the Uptown, and of course the CC Club. I shot a few games of pool with everyone, including the guys who later became "Soul Asylum". This was long before they became stars, of course - I remember seeing "Runaway Train" on MTV and thinking "What, there's another Soul Asylum?" - but they were good guys.
The Strib covers it:
"Everyone was surprised it happened [Friday] morning," said Maggie Macpherson, a friend of Mueller's since 1980 and a longtime worker in the Twin Cities music scene. "We had all hoped he'd come through the worst. We knew his time would be shorter than hoped ... but he was due for surgery on Monday."
Maggie, who used to book bands at the Uptown. Oy.
Macpherson was among the members of the local music community who gathered at Mueller's home Friday. Also there were Soul Asylum guitarist Dan Murphy, Gary Louris and Marc Perlman of the Jayhawks, Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland and singer-guitarist Kraig Jarrett Johnson, who along with bassist Jim Boquist had painted Mueller's house after he became ill.
"He was a quiet guy with a big heart," Macpherson said.
Another longtime friend and local music maven, LeeAnn Weimar, said: "Karl was an intelligent guy and had a dry, sarcastic, sardonic wit. And he was a damn good cook. He and [his wife] Mary Beth liked to entertain. He was a really good friend."
Mueller was so well-liked in the local music community that an all-star benefit was held for him at the Quest nightclub in October last year, featuring an unprecedented lineup of 1980s and '90s Twin Cities rock luminaries including Paul Westerberg of the Replacements, Bob Mould and Grant Hart of Hüsker Dü, the reunited Gear Daddies and, of course, Soul Asylum, with Mueller participating in a full set of music.
Sigh.
This is a whack upside the head. It was one thing when Bob Stinson died; he pretty much gave the impression of someone who was going to kack like a rock star (as rumor had it he did, via overdose). Cancer? Well, that's just a disease. And rock and roll has no time for disease, right?
Mueller is survived by his wife and mother.
Posted by Mitch at
June 18, 2005 07:39 AM
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We will miss you, here in Holland [Den Bosch] too.
My condoleance Gabrie Vierhout [the man who killed Elvis]
Posted by: Gabrie Vierhout at June 20, 2005 12:33 PMI'm just as shocked as you are about Karl and share in the sadness for someone I'd met in the bars and even on tour out west once; he was a talented and unassuming good guy (only the good die young?). Please allow me to take issue with your comment about The Replacements’ Bobby--most people predicted he was going to expire before his time and those around him encouraged his horrendous habits. He felt he was better appreciated drunk or much worse unfortunately. It is a fact that he did not die of a drug overdose. His body simply tuckered out. He worked as a line cook and did the best he knew how for his son, while living in the shadow of former band mates (of other band efforts, too) that seemed to like him better messed up. He had unattended mental issues, which began during his formative years. FYI: he was hospitalized and nearly died a few years before his imminent passage from, of all things, an infected abscessed tooth. Despite his hardships and desire to rock out on his guitar while reminiscing, I’ll always smile when remembering the look of peace that overcame my dear friend’s face whenever he heard Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."
Posted by: Ode at June 20, 2005 01:38 PMOde,
Well, that shows what I get for believing the people I was hanging out with back then.
I met Stinson several times, during and after his time with the 'mats. Sorry to say, he lived up to the legend every time.
Thanks, sincerely, for sharing the story. The guy was one of my favorite guitarists ever.
Posted by: mitch at June 20, 2005 03:23 PMsad indeed. his funeral was today.
what band were you in mitch...?
Posted by: chuck at June 21, 2005 05:50 PMNobody you would have heard of; Tenant's Union, Joe Public, the Supreme Soviet of Love.
Posted by: mitch at June 21, 2005 05:53 PMThanks for your humble reply, Mitch. Hey--I'm loving your site and it makes me miss those of whom are more aware in the twin cities. You know, believing the rumours of my pal being found with a needle in his arm would only perpetuate that living "up to the legend every time," right? May he and Karl be enjoying eachother in spirit on another plane.
Posted by: Ode at June 21, 2005 08:20 PMP.S. Your band names were great.