Almost a year ago I was so excited to get my hands on Jim Walsh’s Replacements Biography, I even bought one for a friend. In my mind I had already heard conversations we might have concerning the one book that would capture all of The Replacements reckless magic to the page. Furthermore I was hoping that perhaps some light would be shed on lead ‘Mat Paul Westerberg’s experience of being a member of the notorious four. Since all I had read in interviews portrayed him as guarded and sharing few details, I simply knew this would be my new favorite rock and roll read. Sadly, the book attempts to explore an elusive, electric topic by tackling one of rock’s more interesting bands in the last thirty years and what results is actually mediocre, quite unlike the rapturous enthusiasm the Replacements instilled in even the most jaded music listener.
Jim Walsh’s rock bio The Replacements: All Over But The Shouting: An Oral History will have to do until Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson decide to open up and bleed. The book is not without its charms, but ultimately comes off as more of a ‘little brother’s journal’ ratting on his big brother’s pot smoking, drag racing, and dirty magazines albeit in glowing admiration.
Walsh’s book succeeds best in its affection for guitarist Bob Stinson and attention to his importance to what made The Replacements a band impossible to ignore. The young bassist Tommy was the punk, Bob - the classic rock dude with Paul bouncing between with Chris Mars keeping furious time.
Walsh writes of a time when Paul Westerberg would stroll into Peter Jesperson’s (Founder of Replacements’ label Twin Tone Records) record store only to snag the Replacements vinyl in the bins, haul it to the basement and proceed to break the record albums. Something in Westerberg’s mischieviousness saw this as a funny joke - but it also illustrates the attraction and repulsion the band had with fame. One step forward, two steps back was the band’s attack for years, which alienated the curious and only endeared themselves more to those that already loved them.
I first discovered The Replacements on a scrappy little cassette tape thanks to Yreka, California’s 1980’s High School Basketball Star Kirk Wulf. Besides turning me onto The Meat Puppets, Husker Du, and Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians; Kirk had recorded me a copy of Let it Be. “Favorite Thing” hooked me, made me a fan for life…Months later I drove three hours to see them at Chico, CA’s Ping Pong Palace (which later became a Gold’s Gym) and was not disappointed. Despite Paul reportedly being ‘under the weather’ the band pored through originals with a few of their ‘legendary’ covers tossed in (U2’s “I Will Follow”!?!) with enviable energy and flair.
It’s Not Over!
Atlanta’s Black Lips and San Diego’s Muslims (now called The Soft Pack) continue to flaunt the same genius songcraft and impetuousness that surely would register with anyone and everyone that fell in love with The Replacements.
I like to play the game - “Which band would sound best in a tiny local barroom?” and answer it myself - lately it is always comes up Black Lips. The Atlanta quartet is releasing its fifth album at the end of February, and by the sound of its first song available to the public; we may be in for a, dare I say, more reflective Black Lips?? “Starting Over” is about the sweetest jingle jangle pop song I have heard in years, with vocals that sound barely pulled from the morning pillow.
San Diego’s Muslims (recently renamed The Soft Pack) will be opening shows for The Black Lips in Europe this spring. The pairing makes perfect sense, as The Muslims pull from the same sixties psych puddle as Black Lips and yet add their own aggressive VU twist to things
As much as I miss the Replacements, their spirit is alive and well.
The Replacements - Favorite Thing
Muslims (The Soft Pack) - Beside Myself
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