The creative partnership between the members of Hüsker Dü dissolved decades ago, but the often contentious bond between the trio never completely went away. While confirming the news of drummer Grant Hart's passing, frontman Bob Mould offered a heartfelt tribute to the musician he met as a young man — and underlined the deep respect he still feels for a "frighteningly talented" artist.

Looking back over his long relationship with Hart via Facebook post, Mould recalled their meeting in 1978 at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., saying he wandered into a nearby record store that was "blaring punk rock" and ended up in a conversation with the shop's only other customer — Hart.

"The next nine years of my life was spent side-by-side with Grant. We made amazing music together," wrote Mould. "We (almost) always agreed on how to present our collective work to the world. When we fought about the details, it was because we both cared. The band was our life. It was an amazing decade."

Although the band splintered in 1988, Mould said he and Hart never completely lost contact — "sometimes peaceful, sometimes difficult, sometimes through go-betweens." It was no secret that things went sour between the former members of Hüsker Dü, but over time, those conflicts seemed to mellow; now, Mould tactfully attributes their differences to the rancor that can arise when "people care deeply about everything they built together."

Without going into any details, Mould noted that the news of Hart's passing wasn't a surprise for him, and offered condolences to his former bandmate's "family, friends, and fans around the world" before closing his eulogy on a thoroughly personal note.

"Grant Hart was a gifted visual artist, a wonderful story teller, and a frighteningly talented musician. Everyone touched by his spirit will always remember," Mould wrote. "Godspeed, Grant. I miss you. Be with the angels."

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