“Zen Arcade is probably the closest hardcore will ever get to an opera,” Rolling Stone magazine said about the sophomore studio album by hardcore-punk pioneers Hüsker Dü.
Three guys from St. Paul made up the band, including guitarist-singer Macalester College student Bob Mould; drummer-vocalist Grant Hart, who was working at Cheapo Records when he met Mould; and bassist Greg Norton.
“Zen Arcade” didn’t crack any Top 40 charts — but influenced almost every college-radio and indie rock band that followed them.
If you’re up for a little dark, hardcore punk, go here for the track “Pink Turns to Blue” from “Zen Arcade.”
Actress Lindsay Price is 40. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” alumna graduated to “Eastwick,” “Lipstick Jungle” and “Hawaii Five-0.”
Actress Stefanie Scott of “Insidious: Chapter 3” and Disney’s “A.N.T. Farm” is 20.
Musician and actress Nora Kirkpatrick is 32. She’s an accordianist and founding member of the band Edwarde Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes bamd and has appeared on “The Office” (as Dwight’s neighbor/love interest) and on “Greek.”
Actress Ashley Madekwe of ABC’s “Revenge” is 35.
Model and actress K.D. Aubert of “Frankenfish” is 38.
For director Judd Apatow — who brought us “This is 40” — wait for it — this is 48. But he also brought us the movies “Anchorman,” “Bridesmaids” and “Superbad” and many others, and for TV, “Freaks and Geeks” and “Girls.”
Actress Janine Turner — “Friday Night Lights,” “Northern Exposure” — is 54. She’s shown speaking at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
Pixies drummer David Lovering is 55.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Nick Park — who brings us “Wallace and Gromit” Claymation joy — is 58.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Peter Buck of R.E.M. is 60.
Nurse Debbie Rowe, ex-wife of King of Pop Michael Jackson and mother of two of his children, is 58.
Drummer Rick Buckler of the British punk legends the Jam is 61.
Comedian Steven Wright is 61.
Soap star Kin Shriner is 63.
Coincidentally, director and talk-show host Wil Shriner, Kin’s twin, also is 63.
Actor Tom Hulce — “Amadeus,” “Animal House” — is 63. Actor Tom Hulce — “Amadeus,” “Animal House” — is 63.
Actress JoBeth Williams — “The Big Chill,” “Poltergeist” — is 68. She’s president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
Actor James Naughton — most recently of “Hostages”— is 71. He’s shown in the role of shyster lawyer Billy Flynn in “Chicago” on Broadway in 2006.
In honor of jazz great Dave Brubeck, born on this day in 1920, go here to hear his iconic “Take Five.” He died in 2012. He’s shown at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009.
Lester J. Gillis — better known as Baby Face Nelson — was born on this day in 1908. The Gangster Era John Dillinger associate was a bank robber and murderer and took occasional refuge in St. Paul. Hiring thugs in the Saintly City, he made his first big bank robbery in Brainerd. The onetime Public Enemy No. 1 died along with two FBI agents in a 1934 shootout.
