Copper And Silver

As he sets about celebrating two career highlights from two decades apart, Bob Mould is musing on a couple of years which have raised his already respected standing to new levels. “It has got kind of crazy,” he admits, before getting a little more philosophical. “Just the fact I've survived might be a big part of it – and the book certainly galvanised people to delve back into what's gone before.”

Said book, See A Little Light, has become almost as revered as his musical history, as it unblinkingly covers not only Mould's music and the messy and drug-wracked implosion of Hüsker Dü, but also his struggle and eventual acceptance of his sexuality, among other things.

Did the book set out to be as candid and revealing? The answer is quick and emphatic: “No!” “I absolutely did not expect it to go that way,” he says. “I thought, 'Yeah, biography – tell some funny stories, look back, rewrite the bad times a little bit to make yourself look good'. But [co-writer] Michael Azerrad was a great coach, great editor. He saw a different picture, and encouraged and dragged a whole other perspective out of me.” Azerrad, responsible for the definitive Nirvana book, Come As You Are, gave Mould a layer of trust.

The honesty of the book saw it reach beyond his musical audience, and reignited a wider interest through his latest album, Silver Age (an album work often compared with Sugar's classic Copper Blue of the early '90s; itself name-checked by both grunge and rock enthusiasts). These two albums centre his current touring. “I love playing those records – they're fun, easy to play.” He adds a kicker, “Then we go deeper into the back catalogue – and it will be loud.” 

Mould's answer is less definite and more self-effacing when questioned on whether he recognises his own standing and reputation: “Umm, yeah. Okay, maybe. I'm still a big music fan – so I know that bands like Japandroids and The Men mention me,” he says, sounding genuinely pleased that they know who he is. “But I only really think about it when I have to talk about it. I don't often sit in my yard and look up at my place among the stars,” he chuckles.

“I'm grateful, surprised. A level of recognition always amazes me. Maybe even more that I can be sitting in my neighbourhood having a coffee, someone walks by, does a double take, then comes up to show me they have 20 or 30 of my songs in their iPod. Like, how that does happen? You have to love that – unless you're Morrissey, of course.”

Some other friends were happy to back Bob up when Los Angeles' Disney Concert Hall organised a tribute to the man and his music. He even downplays that a bit. “I'd played a handful of tribute shows at [legendary New York venue] Carnegie Hall – Dylan, REM, The Who. I think the Disney wants to be that for the West Coast. It's a Frank Gehry-designed, perfectly tuned orchestral venue. They gave me gravity, I gave them some credibility. Maybe.

“They asked, and I just like getting people together to play. Okay, it got a bit bigger than I thought.” Among those at the 'get-together': Dave Grohl, Ryan Adams, and Craig Finn of The Hold Steady. Mr Mould is matter-of-fact: “Well, Dave I've known forever, way back to last century. Craig and I share a guitar teacher. Ryan? We've just run into each other. It probably just comes down to being around long enough to have met about everybody.”

Bob Mould will be playing the following dates:

Friday 8 March - The Zoo, Brisbane QLD
Saturday 9 March - Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW
Sunday 10 March - Annandale Hotel, Sydney NSW
Wednesday 13 & Thursday 14 March - Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 16 March - The Rosemount, Perth WA