The Replacements
Biography
The Replacements initially formed in 1979, when Paul Westerberg joined a garage punk band formed by brothers Bob (guitar) and Tommy Stinson (bass) and drummer Chris Mars. Originally called the Impediments, the Minnesota residents changed their name to the Replacements after being banned from a local club for disorderly behavior. In their early days, they sounded quite similar to Hüsker Dü, the leaders of the Minneapolis punk scene. However, the Replacements were wilder and looser than the Hüskers and quickly became notorious for their drunken, chaotic gigs. After they built up a sizable local following the Minneapolis label Twin/Tone signed them.
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash, a sloppy hardcore collection, was released in 1981 but failed to make much of an impact on the national scene. It was followed the next year by the Stink EP, which followed the same pattern as the debut. It was the band's second album, 1983's Hootenanny, that first garnered the band attention and helped build their fan base. On Hootenanny, the group started playing around with other genres, adding elements of pop, straightforward rock & roll, country, and folk, although sometimes the eclecticism was ironic.
Hootenanny set the stage for Let It Be, the band's critical and artistic breakthrough. Released in 1984, Let It Be showed that the band had successfully expanded their musical reach and that Westerberg had grown considerably as a songwriter; he was now capable of pop like "I Will Dare," full-throttle rock & roll, and introspective ballads like "Answering Machine." Critics and fellow musicians were quick to praise the band, and they developed a large underground following. The buzz was large enough to convince Sire to sign the band in 1985.
The Replacements' first major-label album, Tim, was scheduled to be produced by Westerberg's idol, Alex Chilton, but the sessions fell through; the album was produced by former Ramone Tommy Erdelyi. Upon its release in 1985, Tim garnered rave reviews that equalled those for Let It Be. Though the band was poised for a popular breakthrough, they were unsure about making the leap into the mainstream. As a result, they never let themselves live up to their full potential. The Replacements landed a spot on Saturday Night Live, but they were roaring drunk throughout their performances and Westerberg said "f*ck" on the air. Their concerts had became notorious for such drunken, sloppy behavior. Frequently, the band was barely able to stand up, let alone play, and when they did play, they often didn't finish their songs. The Replacements also refused to make accessible videos -- the video for "Bastards of Young" featured nothing but a stereo system, playing the song -- thereby cutting themselves off from the mass exposure MTV could have granted them.
After the tour for Tim, Bob Stinson was fired from the band, allegedly for his drug and alcohol addictions. The Replacements recorded their next album as a trio in Memphis, TN, with former Big Star producer Jim Dickinson. The resulting album, Pleased to Meet Me, was more streamlined than their previous recordings. Again, the reviews were uniformly excellent upon its spring 1987 release, but the band didn't earn many new fans. During the tour for Pleased to Meet Me, guitarist Slim Dunlap filled the vacant lead guitarist spot and he became a full-time member after the tour.
Two years later, the band returned in the spring of 1989 with Don't Tell a Soul, the Replacements' last bid for a mainstream audience. The bandmembers had cleaned up, admitting that their years of drug and alcohol abuse were behind them, and were now willing to play the promotional game. Don't Tell a Soul boasted a polished, radio-ready production and the group shot MTV-friendly videos, beginning with the single "I'll Be You." Initially, the approach worked -- "I'll Be You" became a number one album rock track, crossing over to number 51 on the pop charts. However, Don't Tell a Soul never really took off and failed to establish the band as a major commercial force.
Defeated from the lackluster performance of Don't Tell a Soul, Paul Westerberg planned on recording a solo album, but Sire rejected the idea. Consequently, the next Replacements album, All Shook Down, was a solo Westerberg record in all but name. Recorded with a cast of session musicians as well as the band, All Shook Down was a stripped-down, largely acoustic affair that hinted at the turmoil within the band. Chris Mars left shortly after its fall 1990 release, claiming that Westerberg had assumed control of the band; he would launch a solo career two years later. The Replacements toured in support of All Shook Down, with Steve Foley, formerly of the Minneapolis-based Things Fall Down, as their new drummer. Neither the tour nor the album were successful, and the Replacements quietly disbanded in the summer of 1991.
Tommy Stinson formed Bash & Pop the following year; in 1995, he formed a new band called Perfect. Dunlap released a solo album in 1993. Bob Stinson died February 15, 1995, from a drug overdose. Westerberg began a solo career slowly, releasing two songs on the Singles ("Dyslexic Heart," "Waiting for Somebody") soundtrack in 1992; he also scored the film. He released his debut solo album, 14 Songs, in the summer of 1993 to mixed reviews. Paul Westerberg's second solo album, Eventually, was released in the spring of 1996. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

All Shook Down
2008

Don't Tell A Soul
2008

Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?
2006

All For Nothing - Nothing For All
1997

Pleased To Meet Me
1987
whoever talks sh#t about the replacememts do not have a clue about music and should be ignored
just for future notice |
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it turns out we tore our ligments because we each flew into the sky and landed on parked cars.we had tickets to replacements that nite and there were riots on market street-we gave the taxi driver an extra twenty to drive right thru them and we saw the show,the next morning we flew to hawaii and nursed our wounds by lying in the warm pacific.the mats were hot that nite...
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here is a true story-in a bar watching the first gulf war start on tv-i was a republican at the time-anarchi s t s have the right to switch loyalties from time to time-got on my friends motorcycle-w e got hit by a car full of travestites- w a l k e d the bike to my place a hooker in my apt. house gave us a six pack to share which we downed in minutes-we were hurt...
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That is the "cool" thing to say Scott, Just because they beat you up, does not mean after that, they "suck". They made some great music till the end. College boy music reviews by guys in their 20's are almost the most pointless reviews of all. As it has been said "Critics criticze, Artists make Art."
Seems Pandora is full of college dork guys all trying to be the next Lester Bangs. Sorry it ain't gonna happen. You know who you are. Deal with it. |
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scott spawn that is an awesome story but the replacements still are insanly talented musicians. and who hasnt gotten drunk and started a fight.
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Group of KLSU staff drove to Lafayette in a freak snow storm to see them, one of the "SH&T it's the fans" shows. They were so drunk they never finished one song. I was conducting a post show interview with Paul W. that quickly deteriorated into a shoving match, then the fists started flying. That tape is somewhere in my collection. That was the end of my replacement fanboying. Post 1985 they suck
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An analogy: The Replacements were to REM as The Kinks were to The Rolling Stones.
The Replacements are the most famous unfamous band in the world. My faith in humanity was permanently shattered when REM got more airplay. Replacements songs surreptitiou s l y grab you with their heart-wrench i n g vocals and lyrics. I knew Paul was a genius the second I heard him sing the phrase 'another tear-ful lie' in Unsatisfied. The influence they had on subsequent bands is unheralded. I am not bitter about thei |
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The Mats are 8!!!
Listen to the albums in order and hear the soundtrack to the evolution of boy to man. |
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The Mats and R.E.M. were the most influential bands when we were in school. They, along with early U2, put alternative into mainstream.
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because they are an american punk band. why would the sex pistols need a longer column? to be able to say that british punk is derived from american punk?
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Well they were around longer than 18 months maybe. and released more than one album.
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how does MN create the best musicians. I have been there and it's really cold in the winter, really, really, REALLY cold. Maybe thats it. HMMM. Anyway,
the replacements were great, really, really, REALLY great. Hootenany rules. O.K.? |
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I have one more question. Why do people like sucky music just because it inspired better music?
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I loved the Replacements when I was in college. They were one of those bands that could either be excellent live or just terrible. I saw them at George Washington U. in 1988 or 89 (terrible) and in 1989 in London at the old Marquee Club (brilliant). I was sorry when they broke up, although I liked a lot of Paul Westerberg's solo stuff too.
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I came to maturity in the early '80s in Duluth. I remember a cold night in January '80 or '81 and the Mats blowing the doors off the headline band at Grandmas. They were shooting stars that burned too bright but embodied the emotions of everyone who followed them. At that time they were us and they made us feel like part of the band. It was a magical time that I will always remember fondly!
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sorry ma can't be played loud enough. they started to slip when westerberg considered himself an "artist" and not a punk.
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love em. loved em since middle school. guess i'm dating myself a little, hu?
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What a great band! Who woulda thunk it when they were stumbling around drunk while playing Minneapolis bars in the early 80's?
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These guys knew how to have a good time! I saw them perform in Washington D.C. and twice in Chicago. The second time I saw them in Chicago, they broke up on stage while performing at a free Fourth of July concert in Grant Park. Too bad. I have been a fan since 1985 and I still love the Westerberg melodies!
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check out YouTube videos of an early showcase concert they did with Husker Du - its amazing. YouTube search "1981 The Replacements "
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without the replacements . . . . t h e r e would be no bands like Green Day, Foo Fighters etc...
They are one of the most often cited influences to many of todays music icons! |
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Most important band to come out of Minneapolis in the last 30 years, maybe the most important band to come out of the US, period.
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