Soul Asylum MTV News 3-15-95

It's been two years since Soul Asylum crashed the big time with an album called "Grave Dancers Union" -- and now the band has just finished recording a follow-up in New York City -- with a new drummer on-board, named Sterling Campbell. We were hanging around, too --and here's the story.

DAN MURPHY, Soul Asylum: Today we're just starting, Butch and I left early,about 7 yesterday...

DAVE PIRNER: I left about 9 am this morning.

BUTCH VIG, producer: It's been a lot more intense than I thought it would be.

MURPHY: Butch thought he was working with a more talented band.

VIG: No, that's not true. We've had a lot of songs, we came in with over thirty songs and we actually trashed about 22 or 23.

And then we kind of put all those together and see'd what worked, and narrowed it down to 14 which we're finishing right now.

MTV: During our visit to the studio we had the chance to talk with all of Soul Asylum, including the new edition and one band member who had already finished his work.

PIRNER: We've replaced Karl with a black box (telephone), and he's here for the interview. Say hi Karl.

KARL MUELLER, Soul Asylum, at home in Minneapolis: Hi everyone.

PIRNER: This is Sterling Campbell, one of the greatest drummers in the whole wide world. Making "Grave Dancers Union" we needed a drummer, and we called up Sterling and he showed up and we were spoiled to death, just changed everything in all the right ways and nothing sounded right without him.

MTV: Although they are 3 months behind schedule, Soul Asylum and producer Butch Vig say they will meet the spring deadline for the record's release. And why did the band choose Vig who's best known for his work with Sonic Youth and Nirvana.

MURPHY: Because he's not an as%$#=&@, you can say that on TV right?

MUELLER: He's like a normal guy.

PIRNER: There ya go.

Soul Asylum's album will be out in June. And, since this is South-By-Southwest week in Austin, Texas -- possibly the single wildest music festival in the country -- not only will Soul Asylum be playing there on Thursday night, but guitarist Dan Murphy's side band -- Golden Smog -- will be putting in an appearance, too -- at the 'electric Lounge," on Friday. If you're anywhere near Texas, do try to make it.

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