Minneapolis punks who turned raw-throated howls and self-deprecating wit into the blueprint for alternative rock.
MOODS · raw · heartfelt · ragged · melodic · punk-rooted · self-deprecating · working-class · anthemic · bittersweet · unpolished
BIOGRAPHY
The Replacements formed in Minneapolis in 1979, built around guitarist and vocalist Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bassist Tommy Stinson, and drummer Chris Mars. After two straightforward punk records, they became key pioneers of alternative rock with 1984's Let It Be and 1985's Tim, both earning rave critical notices for pairing punk intensity with melodic songwriting. Bob Stinson left the band in 1986, replaced by Slim Dunlap, and the group signed to Sire Records without translating acclaim into commercial success. They broke up in 1991 but reunited in 2014 to their largest audiences yet.
WHY THEY'RE COOL
The Replacements bridged late-1970s punk and late-1980s alternative rock by fusing Westerberg's raw-throated howl with heart-on-the-sleeve, self-deprecating lyrics, a combination that set them apart from more arty underground peers. Rolling Stone's Christian Hoard praised how few albums captured a young band's ragged glory as brilliantly as theirs, and their working-class aesthetic and legendary self-sabotage have made them a touchstone cult act often called one of the best bands to never make it.
GEORGE'S PLAYS
First time on the station.
PLAYED ON WOKE1
