The Replacements (band)

The Replacements
The Replacements in 1984; from left to right: Bob Stinson, Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars, Paul Westerberg
The Replacements in 1984; from left to right: Bob Stinson, Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars, Paul Westerberg
Background information
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1979–1991
  • 2006
  • 2012–2015
Labels
Spinoffs
Past members
Websitethereplacementsofficial.com

The Replacements were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979 after nineteen-year-old Bob Stinson gifted his eleven-year-old brother Tommy Stinson a bass guitar.[8] The band was composed of the guitarist and vocalist Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bass guitarist Tommy Stinson, and drummer Chris Mars for most of its existence. After two albums in the style of punk rock, they became one of the main pioneers of alternative rock with their acclaimed albums Let It Be and Tim. Bob Stinson was kicked out of the band in 1986, and Slim Dunlap joined as lead guitarist. Steve Foley replaced Mars in 1990. Towards the end of the band's career, Westerberg exerted more control over its creative output. The group disbanded in 1991 and the members eventually found various projects. A reunion was announced on October 3, 2012.[9] Fans affectionately refer to the band as the 'Mats, a nickname which originated as a truncation of "The Placemats".[10][11]

The Replacements' music was influenced by rock artists such as the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Faces, Big Star, Slade, Badfinger, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Bob Dylan as well as punk rock bands including the Ramones, the New York Dolls, Buzzcocks, the Damned, and the Sex Pistols. Unlike many of their underground contemporaries, the Replacements played "heart-on-the-sleeve"[12] rock songs which combined Westerberg's "raw-throated adolescent howl"[13] with self-deprecating lyrics. The Replacements were a notoriously wayward live act, often performing under the influence of alcohol and playing fragments of covers instead of their own material.

  1. ^ Tiller, Joe. "'LET IT BE': HOW THE REPLACEMENTS MADE THEIR MASTERPIECE ALBUM". This is Dig. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Goldberg, Michael (July 18, 1985). "Black Flag, Husker Du and the Replacements Lead Punk's New Wave". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "The Replacements - Bio". The Vogue. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Dolan, John. "The Replacements: The Greatest Band That Never Was". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  5. ^ Witmer, Scott (September 1, 2010). History of Rock Bands. ABDO. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-61714-390-8.
  6. ^ Janosik, MaryAnn (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: The Video Generation, 1981–1990. Greenwood Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-313-32943-2.
  7. ^ "10 Other '80s College Rock Bands You Should Know". consequence.net. March 15, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  8. ^ Azerrad 2001, pp. 198–9
  9. ^ Greenwald, David (October 3, 2012). "The Replacements Reuniting for Covers Set". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  10. ^ "The Current's Guide to The Replacements". Thecurrent.org. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  11. ^ Carr, David (June 20, 2006). "Memories of the Replacements, a Band That Could, but Didn't". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  12. ^ Azerrad 2001, p. 196
  13. ^ Azerrad 2001, p. 202