The band formed in 1978, initially as a four-piece, although keyboardist Charlie Pine was soon axed. The remaining three members – guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton and drummer Grant Hart – would remain together for nine years. In 1981, they took the unusual step of releasing a live debut album, Land Speed Record, recorded in their hometown, following it up with the mini-album Everything Falls Apart on New Alliance the following year. After signing to SST, the label run by Black Flag’s Greg Ginn, they released Metal Circus in 1983.

But the real breakthrough came with the release of their radical overhaul of The Byrds’ Eight Miles High in March 1984. While not a big commercial success, it brought them to the attention of the American press, with the Los Angeles Times including it in their round-up of the best 10 records of the year.

The band really pushed the envelope with their next album, 1984’s Zen Arcade. Not only was it spread over two discs, it was a concept album, which was practically unheard of in punk circles, culminating in a 13-minute feedback experiment, Reocurring Dreams, that owed more to jazz than to punk. The release of Zen Arcade marked the start of an astonishingly productive period, as the band released five albums, two of them doubles, in just three years, with each new LP heralding a change in direction.

New Day Rising and Flip Your Wig followed in 1985, the former full of three-minute shards of melodic punk; the latter unashamedly pop-influenced.

Such was the buzz around the band by now, a major-label deal was inevitable, and so in 1986 Candy Apple Grey became their first album on Warners. But despite boasting two stunning singles, Sorry Somehow and Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely, they failed to translate their critical acclaim in sales.

The follow-up, Warehouse: Songs And Stories, found them updating psychedelia and giving it a punk sheen. Again, despite the might of Warners’ marketing department, no hits followed, despite a surreal appearance on the Joan Rivers Show (which is viewable on YouTube).

By now the tensions between Mould and Hart had reached breaking point, with the latter’s heroin problem not helping matters. The end came when their tour manager, David Savoy Jr, killed himself on the eve of a US tour in 1988, and the band split. Both Mould and Hart embarked upon solo careers initially, before Mould formed Sugar in 1992 and finally found success. Hart, meanwhile, formed the less successful Nova Mob. Bassist Greg Norton gave it all up to go into the restaurant business.