Biography
Best known for fronting the massively successful alternative rock outfit Soul Asylum, Dave Pirner has also carved out space for a more introspective, soul-leaning approach across his developing solo output. Born April 16, 1964, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he had settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by 1981, where punk rock quickly took hold; after picking up drums he formed Loud Fast Rules alongside guitar-playing friend Dan Murphy and drummer Karl Mueller. Shifting to lead vocals and rhythm guitar by 1984—with Grant Young assuming the drum chair—the group had drifted sufficiently from its hardcore roots to adopt the name Soul Asylum. Early observers noted the band’s loose yet forceful attack and irreverent wit, which sometimes involved chastising indifferent crowds with eccentric cover sets; despite being viewed as also-rans within the Minneapolis scene, they gradually earned respect, issuing three albums, an EP, and a miscellaneous cassette collection on the local Twin/Tone imprint before A&M Records signed them in 1988. After two well-regarded but commercially underwhelming A&M releases, the band found its breakthrough via Columbia with 1992’s Grave Dancer’s Union, which yielded the hit singles “Runaway Train” and “Black Gold” and eventually moved two million copies.
With Soul Asylum’s rising profile, Pirner began contributing guest vocals to projects by artists he respected, leveraging his visibility to highlight deserving peers. Following the band’s appearance with Victoria Williams on the benefit collection Sweet Relief, he supplied backing vocals for several tracks on her album Loose and assisted with a cut for a Harry Nilsson tribute project; additional credits include work with Mike Watt, Paul Westerberg, and the Autumn Defense, plus production for Coup de Grace and Michal. He also guested on the debut EP from Dan Murphy’s side project Golden Smog and returned to drums for his own side band the O’Jeez, whose lineup featured Jessy Greene of the Geraldine Fibbers and the Jayhawks plus Kraig Johnson of Run Westy Run, another Golden Smog participant. After relocating to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1999, Soul Asylum entered a hiatus once Columbia dropped them following disappointing sales of Candy from A Stranger; Pirner meanwhile began informal solo sessions at Kingsway Studios with various musical associates, among them Chris Whitley. His debut solo album, the reflective, R&B-tinged Faces & Names, appeared in 2002, the same year Soul Asylum resumed live work and sketched plans for a new studio record in 2003.
With Soul Asylum’s rising profile, Pirner began contributing guest vocals to projects by artists he respected, leveraging his visibility to highlight deserving peers. Following the band’s appearance with Victoria Williams on the benefit collection Sweet Relief, he supplied backing vocals for several tracks on her album Loose and assisted with a cut for a Harry Nilsson tribute project; additional credits include work with Mike Watt, Paul Westerberg, and the Autumn Defense, plus production for Coup de Grace and Michal. He also guested on the debut EP from Dan Murphy’s side project Golden Smog and returned to drums for his own side band the O’Jeez, whose lineup featured Jessy Greene of the Geraldine Fibbers and the Jayhawks plus Kraig Johnson of Run Westy Run, another Golden Smog participant. After relocating to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1999, Soul Asylum entered a hiatus once Columbia dropped them following disappointing sales of Candy from A Stranger; Pirner meanwhile began informal solo sessions at Kingsway Studios with various musical associates, among them Chris Whitley. His debut solo album, the reflective, R&B-tinged Faces & Names, appeared in 2002, the same year Soul Asylum resumed live work and sketched plans for a new studio record in 2003.
Albums