Karl Mueller of Soul Asylum passed away Friday due to complications from esophageal cancer. He was 41.

Mueller, along with his bandmates in Soul Asylum rose to prominence in the 1980s with Twin Cities bands the Replacements and Hüsker Dü. They released a series of albums on Minneapolis-based indie, Twin/Tone Records before signing to A&M and then Columbia to release the first of three platinum albums with Grave Dancers Union. The band went on to perform at the MTV-sponsored inaugural ball for Bill Clinton.

While the band had been on a lengthy hiatus, they had begun working on new material when Karl was diagnosed with a tumour on his throat last May. After the disease went into remission, Paul Westerberg of the Replacements and Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü joined Karl and Soul Asylum for a benefit concert last October, but the illness soon returned and Mueller spent his final days at his home in Minneapolis.

Our deepest condolences go out to Karl's friends and family.