burun wrote:

Ace wrote:Also, is it just me or does he not even LOOK like the same person he was then? I mean, aside the weight/hair loss... I can't even see his old self in there...

Maybe his old self was all confused (sexually, intellectually, emotionally) and he's sorted that all out now.

Yes, but you usually see traces of that old self in there. I don't.

whatever, I don't know the man. All I know is his whole being seemed to change in the course of 20 years, which will inevitably happen, but often not to the extent which it seems Mould actually went through.

Don't all the body's cells change completely every 7 years anyways?

His physical transformation is indeed amazing. I'm wondering what he did, what exercise/diet combination got that much weight off?

In high school, I saw Huskers play one of their last ten shows. Even with Grant Hart junk-sick behind the kit, I was blown away by them.


Bob was an amazing guitarist and frontperson. The pissed off, emoting wounded bear, hangry lumberjack comparisons are spot on.

His guitar sound live was something to behold. Like how people talk about the legendary volume of MBV, or of TJL's live shows, the wall of sound that this man produced was jawdroppingly great.

I saw the Bob Mould band tour right after Workbook was released when he had finally ditched the super clean overproduced sound and was once again playing through cranked amps. He made the otherwise college rock/10,000 Maniacs sounding production on Workbook translate into extremely loud, powerful and kick ass (not like "slayed face kick ass", like "this dude has some shit to get off his chest, wounded bear on methamphetamines" kind of kick ass.) Extra points for covering Cheap Trick and Neil Young live too.

He played a solo acoustic show on my 20th birthday that had me literally in tears. Vic Chestnutt opened for him.

I was a brief minor-fan of Sugar. Live, they always picked great opening bands (Come, Jack O'Nuts, Johnboy, etc) but they were a total letdown for the most part. The guitar sound was still there. They were always tight. However, it was like Mould was paying homage to those bands that were influenced by Husker Du, more than it being something that was interesting and challenging. Hearing Sugar rip off the Pixies was enough for me.

A few more records were released, I listened to them once.

I pretty much gave up after that.

Heard some newer electronic-ish stuff a few years ago and it was just awful. Reason™ 101 with shit topping of auto-tune. Fuck!

Saw Bob in the Apple Store in Arlington, DC about three years ago. He looks completely different than he did in Huskers or Sugar. Kudos to him for taking care of himself. I just can't imagine he could release something now I would give a shit about. It's sad.

I can't vote.

etch wrote:His physical transformation is indeed amazing. I'm wondering what he did, what exercise/diet combination got that much weight off?

Don't know many details, but I read somewhere that he works out pretty much every day.

He looks good. Revamped in a good way.

tmidgett wrote:

etch wrote:His physical transformation is indeed amazing. I'm wondering what he did, what exercise/diet combination got that much weight off?

Don't know many details, but I read somewhere that he works out pretty much every day.

He looks good. Revamped in a good way.

- He works out a lot (and has adjusted his diet accordingly). You can tell by his blog over at http://modulate.blogspot.com/.

- Yes, he looks like he's not to be messed with . Ten years ago (Last Dog And Pony Show tour) he looked disheveled compared to his current look. Thankfully he has since ditched his vegetarian diet and the baggy clothes.

certainly Not Crap for everything up to [/i]Last Dog And Pony Show[/i].

but "DanceHouse Bob" (quote Mr. Chimp)... ugh... i just pretend it's not there...

so so disappointed when Modulate came out years back. and all since.

still, NC.

mr.arrison wrote:Heard some newer electronic-ish stuff a few years ago and it was just awful. Reason™ 101 with shit topping of auto-tune. Fuck!

I guess...this is odd to say about someone I do not know, but I'm just glad he's so obviously comfortable in his own skin.

I've revisited those HD records a bit in recent years--the high period is still pretty great, and it's transparently the product of guys with...'issues.'

I figure, OK, I get those records out of it. Awesome. But good he didn't end up stuck there. I doubt we'd be getting Metal Circus or New Day Rising out of him in 2008 if he had--that kind of thing cannot be maintained endlessly.

burun wrote:

Ace wrote:Also, is it just me or does he not even LOOK like the same person he was then? I mean, aside the weight/hair loss... I can't even see his old self in there...

Maybe his old self was all confused (sexually, intellectually, emotionally) and he's sorted that all out now.

That's pretty much the case. As a fellow human being, I'd *MUCH* rather see the guy enjoy many future happy, healthy years of contentment than stay the same tortured soul he was at 23 and run himself into the ground for our entertainment.

I will say, however, that his last two tours with Brendan on drums kicked all kinds of ass. Jon Wurster is going to be on his next record, so I anticipate a very rockin' Bob in the near future.

I once asked him if his new-found happiness would dampen his creativity, he replied by saying 'only miserabalist creativty'. I tend to love everything he does but his solo work has no real longevity to it. I play it four or five times when it comes out and then have no urge to ever play it again. He played New Day Rising and Divide and Conquer on his recent band tour....but not in Scotland. Bastard.