Soul Asylum

Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum performing in Rochester, Minnesota, 2016
Background information
Origin	Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Genres	Alternative rock
Years active	1981–present
Labels	A&M, Columbia, Legacy, Twin/Tone, 429 Records
Website	www.soulasylum.com
Members	Dave Pirner Michael Bland Winston Roye Ryan Smith
Past members	Dan Murphy Karl Mueller Pat Morley Grant Young Sterling Campbell Joey Huffman Ian Mussington Tommy Stinson George Scot McKelvey Pete Donnelly Justin Sharbono

Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band began using their official name in 1983.

The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with a lineup consisting of Dave Pirner, Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller, and Pat Morley. Morley was replaced by Grant Young in 1984. The band recorded three albums with Twin/Tone Records and two with A&M Records, with little commercial success. In 1992, they released the triple-platinum album Grave Dancers Union, featuring their Grammy Award–winning single "Runaway Train". The band played at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton early the next year. They also scored a platinum record with the album Let Your Dim Light Shine three years later.

In 1998 they recorded Candy from a Stranger. Mueller was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, and the band organized a benefit concert on his behalf. Mueller died a year later.

In 2006 the band released The Silver Lining. Their most recent effort is Change of Fortune, released on March 18, 2016.

The group was an outgrowth of a previous band, Loud Fast Rules, formed in 1981 by drummer Dave Pirner, guitarist and backing vocalist Dan Murphy, and bassist Karl Mueller. Pirner was moved to lead vocalist, and Pat Morley took his place. As Loud Fast Rules, two of their songs were released on the 1982 Reflex Records cassette compilation Barefoot and Pregnant. On the following Reflex compilation, Kitten (recorded live at Goofy's Upper Deck), they were billed as Proud Crass Fools. Soul Asylum began performing around the Minneapolis–St. Paul area (including the nightclub First Avenue) and quickly developed a core following while becoming known for their powerful, dynamic stage shows.