Soul Asylum Dave Pirner sat down with Pop Matters Greg M. Schwartz to discuss their new studio album The Silver Lining and the tragic loss of bassist Karl Mueller, who lost his life to throat cancer during the recording process. After deciding to do a new album and booking the studio, Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer. Pirner says Mueller kept an optimistic attitude during the recordings. Listeners will be able to hear that in Stand Up and Be Strong. Soul Asylum band members have dedicated the new album to their bandmate Mueller.
Mueller was a Soul Asylum founding member and played in the group for over twenty years, along with singer/guitarists Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner.
In 2004, Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer. Mueller's cancer went into remission only to return a short time later, and he died at home the following year. He was 42.
