Grant Hart, of Hüsker Dü and Nova Mob fame, has passed away today at 56 from cancer.
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.