Soul Asylum is a Minneapolis-based band that started out as Loud Fast Rules back in 1981. It appeared they might have had their first big break with A&M Records in 1988. Just after signing, however, their old record company released their Clam Dip & Other Delights. It was a parody of A&M's co-founder Herb Alpert's album Whipped Cream & Other Delights. The timing may have been a problem...but never-the-less, the group managed to sign with Columbia Records in 1992, and release their most popular album, Grave Dancers Union.
A song from this album, Runaway Train, won a Grammy in 1993. It was the video for this hit, however, that grabbed my attention. The song is about running away from home, so scattered throughout are names and photos of real missing children. At the end of the video, vocalist David Pimer appears with this message: "If you've seen one of these kids, or you are one of them, please call this number". I thought this a poignant moment for a commercial music video - and it worked. Children were re-united with their parents. As well, video releases outside of the US were re-edited to help locate children in each respective country.
Makes you wonder if this Rock & Roll isn't that evil, after all.
