Hüsker Dü. Live. 1985. Need we say more? Witness the transcendent Minneapolis punk trio tearing into the most incendiary year of its existence, captured live on stage at First Avenue in perhaps the highest fidelity recordings of the band’s lauded SST era.
This 4-LP edition includes Beau Sorenson’s restoration of an entire January 30 1985 set, 20 extra live tracks from the year’s touring schedule, and a deluxe 36-page book detailing twelve months of history-making Hüsker Dü. What is the sound of a legend being written?
Looking at 1985 through the dynamic lens of independent DIY music, mid-decade, there was a year-long succession of leaps by Hüsker Dü, each building on the powerful and undeniable sprint from the scrappy punk institution SSTto the artistic empathy of Warner Bros. As observers began to catch on, testimonials came from many quarters, including the New York Times, which recognized the band as “the best to have emerged from the hardcore scene.” Consistent with such praise, Hüsker Dü revealed a heightened creative pace rarely, if ever, seen in any musical era. Before or since. After blowing the doors off the burgeoning alt-rock movement with Zen Arcadethe previous July, the band dropped New Day Rising just six months later on January 14, 1985, and then never stopped chasing the Hidden Beach sunrise that adorned that album’s cover.
On January 30, 1985, Minneapolis reached -11° at show time, marking 19 points of mercilessly dropped mercury from the day’s 8° apex. The 1500 attendees inside First Avenue, however, wouldn’t be needing so much as a T-shirt, let alone the nearest fiberfill parka: from the first blinding moments of “New Day Rising,” it was clear that Bob Mould, Grant Hart, and Greg Norton had arrived intent on setting every molecule in the room alight. Their setlist displayed a night-long cascade of fireballs chosen from Everything Falls Apart, Metal Circus, Zen Arcade, and New Day Rising, and five new songs that would reappear later on Flip Your Wig. They also made several nods to the band’s rock forbears, with a ballistic take on The Byrds’ “Eight Miles High,” a turbulent spin on The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” featuring Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner, a pop-punk remake of “Ticket To Ride, ” and closing with their signature cover of Sonny Curtis’s Mary Tyler Moore theme “Love Is All Around.”
Considering the late-January 2011 house fire that consumed a precious portion of the Hüsker Dü archive, it has to be reckoned as a kind of subordinate miracle that the 1985 First Avenue tapes survived at all. They deliver peak Dü at full gallop through already beloved material, still years shy of fully cementing their status as a blueprint for the alternative rock skyscraper to come. This box set celebrates these tapes, strikingly perhaps the highest fidelity Hüsker Dü recordings ever produced during the band’s lauded SST years. “When I think of that time,” Greg comments, “it was three guys doing what they loved, having fun, and basically showing other people that you can be true to yourself, true to your music, and not have to bow down to fashion or expectations to make something really great.”
Will my shirt fit me?
Probably yes! But if you want to be sure then just consult our size chart below.
How can I Pay?
We currently accept payment by credit card or Paypal. Our store is operated in Euros but you can also pay in a variety of different currencies such as GBP or USD. Just select your local currency from the dropdown menu at the top of the page and all prices will be updated and the checkout will be processed in your currency of choice. Please note that the exchange rate is calculated automatically on the day of the transaction and therefore, in the case of a refund, the amount returned may be slightly more/less than the original amount.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping costs vary depending on what you're ordering and where it's going. For a t-shirt, prices start at just 3.75 Euros for shipping within Germany. Outside of Germany we offer fully tracked shipping with Fed-Ex, prices start at 9.90 Euros to the rest of Europe and 19.90 Euros Worldwide. You can always check exactly how much shipping will cost on the cart page before you head to the checkout though.
Will I be charged customs on my order?
Please note for all non EU orders any customs & duties owed on a shipment are entirely the customers responsibility. Please ensure that you provide all information required to ship by your local authorities and take care to inform yourself of local customs requirements. More information on local customs thresholds can be found here.
Will I get a tracking number?
We always give you the option of tracked shipping. Just be sure to select the DHL or Fed Ex option at checkout and you will be sent your tracking number so you can check the status of your item. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours after your order is shipping for your tracking number to be generated.
How long will my order take to reach me?
Please note these are only approximate delivery times. As soon as your order ships you'll receive a tracking number where you can monitor your orders progress and see all the latest delivery updates and information.
Within Germany: 2-3 business days
Within the EU: 5-7 business days
Outside EU: 5-12 business days
Can I return or exchange an item?
Of course you can! We will refund your purchase with no questions asked if...
1. The goods are returned to us within 30 days of you having received them.
2. We receive the goods back in exactly the same condition they were when they were shipped, i.e.: unwashed and unworn, free of odours from pets or perfume, no make up stains.
3. Where applicable (including when sending from the UK) provide all relevant customs information and pay any duties in advance. Please note your return may not reach us without this!
Please write your name clearly on the outside of the return envelope. Please also include the original packing slip or your order number when sending anything back as well as a short note detailing whether you would like a refund or a replacement (i.e. other size). The later is subject to availability so we recommend checking whether the desired exchange item is in stock before initiating a return.
Shipping and handling expenses will be applied to the re-shipment. Shipping will not be refunded for returned items. Please take care that all customs and duties are pre-paid to ensure your return reaches us safely. We are not liable for items that do not reach us due to unpaid customs fees.
Please send your return to:
Bingo Merch GmbH
Webshop Returns
Naumburgerstr. 4
12057 Berlin
Germany
Help, I haven't received my order!
Unfortunately, even the fine, qualified postal system loses a package now and again. If you have not received your package, we kindly ask you to let us know within 30 days (60 days for customers outside the EU) of your order date and we will credit your account or reship the item. Notices about undelivered goods received after the above time frames will not be considered for store credit or reshipment!
If your stuff does not arrive at your door within the delivery times listed above, please drop us an Email and we will look into it for you right away.
Information on Pre-orders
First off, we do everything in our power to ensure that you will! However with pre-orders we are reliant on external suppliers and labels sending all the stock to us in time. Rest assured though that as soon as we have items here, we will be working on shipping them out as fast as we can. Our aim is to ship them prior to release day so that you will have that record in your hands on the day it comes out! Also just be aware that if you include other items together with pre-order we will ship everything together when the pre-order is ready.
Please note that certain pre-order items are limited to a certain number of copies/items per person, we reserve the right to cancel any orders that exceed these limits.
Any other questions?
Please feel free to drop us an Email.
Responsible Person
Bingo Merch GmbH
Naumburger Str. 4, 12057 Berlin
shop(at)bingomerch.com