Hüsker Dü was a punk band from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, active from… Read Full Bio ↴Hüsker Dü was a punk band from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, active from 1979 to 1987. The band consisted of Bob Mould (guitars, vocals), Greg Norton (bass) and Grant Hart (1961 – 2017) (drums, vocals). Mould and Hart split the song-writing duties. The band was never widely popular, but had an impact much larger than sales might indicate. "Husker Du" is Danish/Norwegian for "Do You Remember" (also a popular children's game as Hūsker Dū?). Hüsker Dü first gained notice as a hardcore band, with thrashing tempos & screamed vocals, but also with a melodic, soulful edge that became more pronounced in the band's mid-career, as they drifted away from their early sound. They were also a striking trio on stage — far different from the typical hardcore band of the time — with Mould's hulking, doughy presence shouting angrily at stage left, offset by the generally unkempt, long-haired Hart flailing on the drums, and the lanky, good-natured Norton, who sported a waxed handlebar moustache for most of the band's career.

Hüsker Dü broke with the anti-traditionalist ethos of most early hardcore bands. Their early songwriting shows the influence of folk, 1960s pop music, blues, and other forms (although often buried under a thick layer of angst and aggression), and has a strong melodic sense. The lyrics made astute, sharp, personal and social commentary, showing a great deal of vulnerability and sympathy for their subjects. Hüsker Dü's songwriting was widely admired, and their live shows were often a venue for brilliant improvisational playing. (A feedback-laden solo guitar performance from an early-'80s soundcheck tape merited release via the avant-garde Telus Magazine.) Hüsker Dü were also, however, widely regarded as somewhat unusual-sounding in their early prime, due to the instruments' non-standard tones: Mould's guitar is described below, while Hart's drums were considered 'thumpy' (and he consistently played slightly behind the beat); Norton played bass fairly laconically even at fast tempos, using his fingers rather than a pick. The band's sound can be considered an organic synthesis of these elements -- a unit that was quite powerful in combination, yet perhaps difficult to parse singly.

A particular strength of the group was the two powerhouse singer/songwriters, Mould and Hart. The tension between their musical styles (Mould was generally the angrier songwriter, Hart the more melodic one), and their willingness to collaborate, made the sum of their contributions greater than their parts. Another strength was Mould's unique, resonant guitar sound, described by a critic at the time as "molten metal pouring from the speakers." Mid-period Hüsker Dü songs are immediately recognizable via Mould's incandescent guitar tone, achieved by splitting the signal in the studio between amplified and direct tones and adding a light stereo chorus effect. Mould's technique involved playing resonant drone notes on the high strings. Although a trio, Hüsker Dü generally sounded extremely large on record and live.

The group is also notable as one of the first 1980s American underground rock bands to contract with a major record label, a move that blazed the trail for the rise of alternative rock a few years later. Another key Minneapolis band who served as an alternative rock icebreaker was The Replacements, who had a friendly rivalry with Hüsker Dü.

Mould has gone on to release other albums, including a recent solo double album release called Body of Song. Prior to that he took a stint as a writer for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) scripting scenarios and fights.

Grant Hart died from cancer on September 14, 2017.

Flip Your Wig
Hüsker Dü Lyrics

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Welcome to this world that we live in
Normal people going for a spin
And we don't realize
That it changes all our lives

Every day somebody's asking questions
Someone wants to know if I know
All the answers, or am I just guessing?

Guess we'll never really know

Sunday section gave us a mention
Grandma's freaking out over the attention
Now my friends abound
They're coming back around

Long distance on the other end
Says I need them for a friend
No matter what I choose
I'm the one they want to use

Flip your wig
Flip your wig
Flip your wig
Flip your wig
Flip your wig
Flip your wig
Flip your wig
Flip your wig

Do I really know
And do I really care
Do we really know
And do we really care
And do I really know
And do I really care

Do we really know
And do we really care

Overall Meaning

The opening verse of Hüsker Dü’s “Flip Your Wig” is a commentary on the state of the world and how we as normal people seem to just go along with it without realizing the effects it has on our lives. The second verse touches on the societal pressure to have all the answers and how we are often left questioning if we truly know or are just guessing. The mention in the Sunday section and the attention it brought causes a sense of excitement and validation in the singer, and their friends begin to come back around. However, with this newfound attention comes the burden of being relied on and used by others.

The chorus, “Flip your wig,” is a phrase that has two meanings. The literal meaning is to go crazy, and the figurative meaning is to lose one’s temper. The song suggests that we need to do one of those two things in order to see the world for what it really is, to not just go along with it blindly. The repetition of the line emphasizes the need for change and action.

The repeated lines in the final verse questions whether we truly know what is going on in the world, and whether we truly care enough to take action to change it. The song encourages listeners to think critically about their role in the world and to not be content with simply going along with things as they are.

Overall, “Flip Your Wig” is a commentary on the state of society and the need for critical thinking and action. It highlights the pressure to have all the answers and the burden of being relied on by others. The chorus emphasizes the need for change and action, while the final verse questions whether we truly know and care about the world around us.

Line by Line Meaning

Welcome to this world that we live in
Greetings to this reality that we exist in

Normal people going for a spin
Ordinary individuals enjoying life's ups and downs

And we don't realize
We're unaware

That it changes all our lives
It alters our existence, for better or for worse

Every day somebody's asking questions
Questioning is a daily occurrence

Someone wants to know if I know
Someone is curious if I possess knowledge on the matter

All the answers, or am I just guessing?
Whether I have all the solutions or am merely guessing

Guess we'll never really know
Perhaps we'll never truly comprehend

Sunday section gave us a mention
We were acknowledged in the Sunday section

Grandma's freaking out over the attention
Grandma is overly excited about the spotlight

Now my friends abound
Presently, my friends are plentiful