"Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" is a song by

Hüsker Dü Hüsker Dü () was an American punk rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist/vocalist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart. They first gained notabili ...

from their album ''

Candy Apple Grey ''Candy Apple Grey'' is the fifth album by the alternative rock band Hüsker Dü, released in 1986. It was their first major label album, though Warner Bros. had initially lobbied to release ''Flip Your Wig'' until the band decided to let SST have ...

''. The song was written by

Grant Hart Grantzberg Vernon Hart (March 18, 1961 – September 13, 2017) was an American musician, best known as the drummer and co-songwriter for the punk rock band Hüsker Dü. After the band's breakup in 1988, he released his first solo album '' ...

. It was released both as an EP in the United States and as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

in the United Kingdom in March 1986. Hüsker Dü filmed a promotional video for the song, which garnered the band some play on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

. The song, dubbed a "tuneful blast of

Buzzcocks Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto. They are regarded as a seminal influence on the Manchester music scene, the independen ...

-style

pop-punk Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...

," was labeled the high point of ''Grey'' by

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's Stewart Mason. The song is featured in the 2009

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movie, '' Adventureland''.

Track listing

EP track listing

Side One #"Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" (Hart) Side Two #"All Work and No Play" (Long Mix) (Mould) #" Helter Skelter" ( Lennon-McCartney) "Helter Skelter" was recorded live on January 30, 1985 at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesot

UK single track listing

Side One #"Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" (Hart) Side Two #"All Work and No Play" (Mould

Side by Side: Record Store Day 2011

Record Store Day Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...

, 2011, Warner Bros. Records released an exclusive limited edition print of a "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" split single. The split single features the original version of "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" performed by Hüsker Dü on one side, and a cover version by the band

Green Day Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a powe ...

on the other. The Green Day version had previously appeared on the single for their song, Warning. Side A # "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" (as performed by Hüsker Dü) Side B # "I Don't Wanna Know If You Are Lonely" (as performed by Green Day)

Cover versions

"Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" has been covered by several different artists, including

, who recorded it for an MTV show titled "Influences". The UK band

Catherine Wheel Catherine wheel may refer to: * wheel or breaking wheel, an instrument of torturous execution originally associated with Saint Catherine of Alexandria * Catherine wheel (firework), a firework that rotates when lit Arts and entertainment * Cather ...

recorded a version of the song on their 1992 "30th Century Man" EP. Also in 1992,

Mega City Four Mega City Four were an English indie rock band formed in Farnborough, Hampshire, who obtained popularity throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. Mega City Four consisted of guitarist and vocalist Wiz, his brother and rhythm guitarist Danny Brown, ...

covered it on their LP "Inspiringly Titled: The Live Album" and its advance EP "Shivering Sand - Live". The Swedish rockband Fireside has also recorded a version of the song on the "Hello kids" album. In 2013, Il Cattivo, a Denver-based heavy rock band released a guitar dueling rendition on their second record How To Assess Your Damages. The song was also covered by Australian musician

Paul Dempsey Paul Anthony Dempsey (born 25 May 1976) is an Australian musician. He is best known as the lead singer, guitarist and principal lyricist of rock group Something for Kate. Dempsey released his debut solo album, '' Everything Is True'', on 20 Au ...

. Another notable cover version has been made by the German-based band The Richies in 1993.

References

{{Authority control 1986 singles 1986 EPs Hüsker Dü songs Songs written by Bob Mould Songs written by Grant Hart