Bob breaks the old Mould for a healthier lifestyle

We speak to Bob Mould, former guitarist-singer of American 80s hardcore legend Husker Du (recently name-checked by Dave Grohl on the Foo Fighters' new album) and 90s outfit Sugar. He's now back touring as a sometimes acoustic singer-songwriter when he's not running his own music label. Musically, Mould's been dabbling in electronica, and he doesn't sound as loud or as emotionally tortured as he once did.

Q. With our diverse musical history, how does all that fit into your solo shows?

A. The songs that show up are just the ones that really connect well with just guitar and voice. I've been doing a lot of acoustic stuff since '91 - that was the first year I started doing these kind of shows. I always go back to them between records or when I am working out a lot of new stuff. It's a good way because it's a more spontaneous show. There are a couple of songs I still haven't finished the vocals for on the next record. It's a good way to work them out. That's what I did last month - okay, let's try this 15 different ways and see what worked the best.

Q. Why have you finally given up playing with a band?

A. In '98 I had grown tired of the electric rock band touring configuration. And being tired of it was probably [caused by] feeling I was writing records to be reproduced a certain way. And having done it for 20 years, hey, I'm running out of ideas here. If we go and make another record like this one, it's going to sound like I'm repeating myself horribly. I took my fondness for current electronic stuff and set out to try to learn that world a little bit, started writing and creating sound in a more non-linear fashion. As opposed to the the traditional linear way of write a song, rehearse, a band records a song on a tape that goes from one end to another. The electronic stuff is a lot more cutting and pasting and the arranging is a lot more flexible.

Q. The quieter solo shows probably suit those original Husker Du fans who, after all, aren't teenagers any more.

A. Yeah, and I've really had enough of the punk rock band. I know people think they love me in that state but we're all getting older. There are people who can do it much better. I enjoy the acoustic show. When I was touring in North America, I was doing a lot of multimedia with films that were created for the show and just trying to give people a different experience. Sometimes they love it. Sometimes they don't understand and sometimes I'm not sure at the end of it, but you have to do different things.

Q. Take it you appreciate the Foo Fighters's Husker Du reference [New Day Rising] and Dave Grohl's public appreciation of your early days?

A. Ah yes, Dave's kind words. He owns the rock club that is four blocks from my house in Washington DC. Dave's a good guy. I'm happy that he has had great success in the past few years with his thing. It is nice of him to do that, I appreciate that.

Q. You're sounding happy, not something fans might expect of you.

A. Yeah, been feeling really good the last four years after getting off the proverbial endless road. It's a lot more time to take care of myself, a lot more to just be healthy and yeah, I'm feeling good - much to the dismay of some, I'm sure, of those who like the depressing Bob. They probably wonder: why did he get himself all fit and healthy?

* Bob Mould, supported by Fang, Kings Arms, tomorrow night.