Within an eight-year period, the veteran rockers of Soul Asylum have basked in a long-deserving break from life on the road, bid farewell to their drummer, grieved the death of one of its founding members and recorded a new album, appropriately titled “Silver Lining.”
Of Soul Asylum's remaining originators - guitarist Dan Murphy and singer Dave Pirner - the return to the studio - this time in Minneapolis - came with the blessing of bassist Karl Mueller, who died of throat cancer in 2005, but actually played on about half the tracks on “Silver Lining” released on Legacy Records last week.
Michael Bland took over on drums for Sterling Campbell who left the band to play on David Bowie's tour while bassist Tommy Stinson (the only friend of the band that Mueller could endorse for his replacement) rounded out the group for its studio sessions. “Silver Lining” marks Soul Asylum's ninth full-length album.
The Beach Reporter spoke with Murphy about the group's sabbatical, the new work and recording in Minneapolis.
