All I know is people say I am influential

EVERY EVERYTHING: THE MUSIC, LIFE AND TIMES OF GRANT HART (2013)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

If you have zero knowledge of Grant Hart or the band Husker Du, it will not affect your viewing of the riveting new documentary by director Gorman Bechard, "Every Everything: The Music, Life and Times of Grant Hart." I have heard of both but in small increments, thanks to my wife who is a hardcore fan. This documentary takes the quasi-similar approach of Errol Morris's equally riveting, "The Fog of War," and gets as intimate with the subject as possible.

For the uninitiated, Grant Hart was the drummer and co-songwriter for the influential punk rock band from Minneapolis - Husker Du (how the band got their name is one of many surprises, for me anyway). The band itself was seen by Nirvana bassist Krist Noveselic as the inspiration for Nirvana. Husker Du began in 1979 and lasted till their demise in 1988 due to creative differences and intensified disagreements. Bob Mould was the guitarist/vocalist and Greg Norton was the bassist.

Director Bechard ("Color Me Obsessed") focuses on Grant Hart who occupies every minute of this documentary. Grant talks about his talent for making abstract collages (he also designed every one of the Husker Du album covers); his remembrance of where every object was in his old house that burned; his recollection of the band being discovered by Black Flag - the same night there was a bizarre splashing blue paint incident; the song "Diane" from the "Metal Circus" EP that focused on the murder of a 16-year-old waitress; his frank discussion on his heroin use; his close personal relationship with William S. Burroughs; how he plays drums and where the cymbals should be placed, etc. If you are a diehard fan of Grant Hart and the band Husker Du, there is plenty here to divulge from the man. Just listening to his every word is breathtaking - he is a skilled storyteller.

Greg Norton (mustache), Grant Hart (center), Bob Mould

Despite such frankness, Husker Du fans might be miffed that we do not hear Mould's or Norton's side of the story regarding the breakup of Husker Du (Hart suggests that all should be forgiven - "let's get over 1987"). Nevertheless, Hart also discusses another band he started called Nova Mob, a name he derived from the Burroughs novel "Nova Express," and his solo work in the intervening years that includes his latest, a reworking of Milton's "Paradise Lost" as a concept album called "The Argument." Bob Mould went on to be part of other bands, whereas Norton tried and failed and switched to the restaurant business.

Grant Hart is basically himself - he does not want to be anyone else (Husker Du was pressured to be more mainstream and "normal"). Mostly seen wearing a Columbo raincoat, pink shirt and red shoes, he might be confused for anyone other than a musician. And watching him parading around a field of grass where his house once stood can be sad to watch, but he is not too sad about it. Grant Hart refuses to sentimentalize anything or anyone.

Director Bechard doesn't exactly mimic the style of "The Fog of War"  where Errol Morris had his subject look directly at the camera and see Morris on a small monitor. Bechard uses the camera to reflect the man intently and his surroundings (the scene where Grant keeps the stuff he almost lost in a fire shows a man looking ahead rather than giving his belongings a new home. It is also interesting watching Grant in a closet surrounded by mikes and cables while darkness surrounds him). Darkness may follow Grant but he is too busy looking forward.