Dave Pirner is an American musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the alternative rock band Soul Asylum. Born on April 16, 1964, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he co-founded the band in 1981. Soul Asylum gained fame in the 1990s with hits like "Runaway Train" and "Black Gold," earning a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1994. In addition to his work with Soul Asylum, Pirner has collaborated with various artists and contributed to soundtracks. He is recognized for his distinctive voice and songwriting skills, which have influenced the alternative rock genre.