23B: The Replacements
The Replacements were formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979. Their members were Paul Westerberg (vocals and guitar); Bob Stinson (guitar); Bob’s little brother, Tommy (bass; he was 14 when they formed); and Chris Mars (drums).
“The Mats,” as they were known to their fans, were a post-punk band. That’s a style of music influenced by 1970s punk, but was more melodic. (Question 1 – What’s “melodic”?) Fun fact: Tommy Ramone of the Ramones produced one of their albums.
Here’s some of the earliest video footage of the Replacements. This is at a small venue in downtown Minneapolis. It’s pretty rowdy!
The Replacements were a living contradiction. (Question 2 – What’s a “contradiction”?) They played loud and fast, but also had a big heart. They wanted to be famous, but they were scared of success. If you went to their concerts, you might see the best show of your life – or the worst. You never knew.
Here are some people talking about that contradiction. One guy calls them “a glorious mess.”
With the 1984 album Let It Be, they were finally getting noticed. The song “I Will Dare” showed a different side of the band. How does this song sound different than the earlier song?
The Replacements were very influential to several bands that made it big in the 1990s. The band is loved – some would say worshipped – by their fans. Here’s Brian Fallon of the band Gaslight Anthem. Listen to about the first five to seven minutes.
In the late 1980s, it seemed fame and success were within reach. Their manager wanted the band to make a fancy video. But in typical Replacements fashion, they refused to cooperate. They went out for cheeseburgers, came back, and the video cameras came on. Here’s what they filmed. (This song is about their idol, Alex Chilton.)
Near the end of their career, they played a big awards show in London. At the beginning, you’ll hear Paul say, “What are we doing here?”
They never made it big. But in 2015, twenty-five years after they broke up, Paul and Tommy teamed up for a reunion tour. By that time, they were more famous than they ever were when they were together. The author Bob Mehr wrote their biography – appropriately titled Trouble Boys. Here’s a short video that looks at their legacy and career.
Answers:
1 — “Melodic” refers to a song’s melody, usually a pleasant-sounding tune. The Replacements were more melodic than punk rock.
2 — A “contradiction” means something has two opposing traits. For instance, “this coffee is hot, but it’s cold.”
Bonus video!
After the Replacements broke up, they all went their separate ways. Paul made some albums on his own, and wrote soundtracks. Tommy formed another band, and also played bass with the band Guns N’ Roses. Chris pursued his passion for painting. Check out his creepy-cool work in this short video.