______________________________________________________________________________ // // The \\kyway \\ // skyway@novia.net Issue #49 April 14th, 1997 ______________________________________________________________________________ (c) 1997 Bastards of Young (BOY/BetaOmegaYamma) Productions list manager: Matthew Tomich (matt@novia.net) technical consultant and thanks to: Bob Fulkerson of Novia Networking ______________________________________________________________________________ SKYWAY SUBSCRIPTION/LISTSERVER INFORMATION Send all listserver commands in the body of a letter to "majordomo@novia.net" To subscribe to the //Skyway\\: subscribe skyway To unsubscribe from the //Skyway\\: unsubscribe skyway THE //SKYWAY\\ WEB PAGE Check here for back issues, lyrics, discography, and other files. http://www.novia.net/~matt/sky/skyway.html ______________________________________________________________________________ Send submissions to: skyway@novia.net ______________________________________________________________________________ 0. Intro: Sleep and Car Troubles I. Hellos from first-time writers II. Stolen articles III. Rumors IV. Perfect news V. Billboard for bootlegs VI. Everything else Miscellaneous echoes from alt.music.replacements thanks to Duncan DeGraffenreid. ______________________________________________________________________________ 0. TAKIN' A RIDE The 'real' life and the real job. I don't know what everybody's hang up about employment is! You go and spend 40 hours a week at some joint, and then at the end of the week you go to a party and people ask you where you work and what you do there. And from those two pieces of information, people nod and go "aaahhh!" and think they've got you all figured out. But employment can be such a short and shallow part of our lives. For example: if you get a six hours of snooze time a night, you SLEEP more than 40 hours a week. (And nobody's ever asked me if I've got a Serta Perfect Sleeper.) So next time somebody asks 'what you do', tell them you sleep alot. And for those who have been following the Skyway for quite a while, you're familiar with yours truly's perennial car problems. Since the last issue, it's been a grand slammer! Here's the summary: one (1) rebuilt transmission one (1) flat tire thanks to a nail in a parking lot one (1) windshield chip courtesy of some big ass truck on the interstate one (1) rock through one (1) right rear passenger window at the hands of some unknown punk ass assailant I love my bike, Matt P.S. You can now check out the new chords to "Favorite Thing" and "I Don't Know" and some Perfect lyrics on the //Skyway\\'s web site. (http://www.novia.net/~matt/sky/skyway.html) P.P.S. The two bands that I play (sic) bass for, The Scaries and Raygun Theater, will be playing in Harrisonburg, VA at James Madison University's WXJM's MACRock festival with Superchunk, Tsunami, etc. Those big boys are playing Friday; we're playing this Saturday, April 19th. If yah thinkin' of checking out the event, peep the event's website at: http://www.jmu.edu/wxjm/macrock/network.html If you're already planning on going, let me know and we'll meet up! ______________________________________________________________________________ I. PLEASED TO MEET ME From: TELE73@aol.com Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 09:31:38 -0500 (EST) Subject: Meeting the band I am a long time Replacements fan. I saw them in Detroit, Columbus, and Chicago. I had the wonderful experience of being a roadie at a St. Andrews Hall show many years ago. It all started while I was wandering around "being cool" like all the other kids. I found a place to sit on a table blocking the stairway to where the band was. It just so happens there was a guy sitting on the table next to me that worked for St. Andrews. We started talking and hit it off pretty good (later I would find out that he was gay, but I am not and never have been.) The road manager came down the stairs and asked if we were leading the band up to the stage. The guy next to me said yes and the manager went back up stairs. I asked if I could go too, and he said "just act like you know what you're doing." Next thing I know I'm handing guitars to Paul and Tommy. At one point, Paul made a gesture with his hands in the shape of a "W" and the road manager yelled at me to go get Paul some whiskey. Off I went to get some. A fantastic experience for a young fan. More meetings to follow. Dennis S. Cassiday AKA Tele73@AOL.COM Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 13:55:00 -0600 From: Mike Mayville My name is Christian Mayville. I play in a band called racecar from Windsor, Ontario and am also involved in a side project with my brother Joel and friends Paul Sylvestre and Christian Bonk (all of us are involved in other original band projects). This "side project" however, is a Replacements tribute band. This tribute band is not going to be billed as such on the count that we'd never get any shows around here, but all we're going to play is Replacements, Westerberg, Bash & Pop, Perfect and songs like 'Another Girl, Another Planet'. We have been rehearsing for a while (when we can) and we have quite a set list already spanning their whole career. The only thing we haven't settled on is a name...got any ideas? Also, do you know of any other Replacements tribute bands? Thanks. CRM Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 16:36:14 -0500 From: cambium@interlog.com Subject: 'mats stuff and thanks I have to say that you're one hell of a fan. I'm very new to The Skyway (but read ALL the issues over the past 2 months). Thanks for keeping the spirit alive for all these years! It must take up a lot of time, and after reading all the back issues, I have to say your dedication is appreciated by fans like me. Keep it up, PLEASE! I've seen Paul Westerberg once (in August '93 - absolutely tore the place apart for more than 2 hours - covered Daydream Believer and Another Girl, Another Planet), Bash & Pop that same July (Tommy in his best Alfred Hitchcock voice, introduced himself "Goood eeevenning, my name iiss Toommy" - very funny and spooky), and the 'Mats once in Feb.'91 at a club called The Concert Hall (Goo Goo Dolls opened). The show was completely surreal - I sort of knew it'd be the last time to see them but it didn't matter 'cause a great time was had by all. I still miss them, though. They seemed relaxed and funny (I wish I remembered the set list and more details), and played everything old and new: began, I think, with I.O.U., I Will Dare, and Color Me Impressed. Other gems included Alex Chilton, Waitress in the Sky, Answering Machine, and Left of the Dial. The venue was actually moved at the last minute from The Opera House to The Concert Hall to accommodate more people! It was truly a show I'll never forget, since it was the only time I saw them. I've been a fan since '88 - kinda late, but better late than never. Anyway, I'm desperately looking for audio/video bootlegs. Any leads as to where I can get some boots - I'm dying here! The only thing I have is an Italian CD import of "Hangin' it Up", released on Kaleidoscopic Records. What's interesting are the pictures they chose to put inside: a woman's ass and her foot tied to a chair, and an Arab guy leading a camel carrying straw - ironic for the last show, huh ("the straw that broke the camel's back" ), and the fact that the show date was listed as July 4th 1992, Madison Wisconsin! Does your copy also have this mistake? Any other 'Mats fans on the Skyway from Toronto? I haven't come across any from the back-issues. Looking forward to hearing from you, Steve Marinelli Date: Tue, 14 Jan 97 09:28:41 UT From: "Jon Culp" Subject: okay, I'll try this out Hi there, My name's Jon and I guess I am a fairly new Replacements fan. I got Tim around three years ago (has it been that long? I'm getting old) when I saw the "Bastards of Young" video on Beavis and Butthead. The video's minimalist style caught my attention more than the song (I could barely hear it over their babbling anyway), but it was still enough to make me buy the album. Over the last few months I realized that I loved the album so much that it was time to buy some other ones. I'd say that "Here Comes a Regular" is my favorite song of theirs, although some others come close. "Regular" still captures for me the mood most essential to me in the Replacements' repetoir: melancholy. Their mix of great and stupid lyrics eventually produced songs that give a great amount of respect and dignity (don't hear those words in a discussion of the Replacements very often, do you?) to the condition of being a fucked-up kid that, despite his or her greatest attempts, still has emotions that can't be controlled. Gosh, that's sounds really cheesy, doesn't it? Oh well, it's true. Very few bands produce songs like "Sixteen Blue" or "Never Mind," much less "Here Comes a Regular" or "Achin' To Be." As for myself, I'm 19 as of a few months ago and I've been playing in punk bands since I was about 14, most notably--though probably only in the Seattle-Olympia-Berkeley areas--the Rickets and Pud. Pud recently broke up and I'm in a new band, but who knows how long that'll last. Pud will have an album--vinyl and CD--out eventually. We have a 7"ep on Recess Records. I'd definitely say that Paul Westerberg is becoming a major influence on me, although in the frustrating sense that I'll never write songs that measure up to his. I can dream, though. My other favorite bands are as follows: Fugazi, REM, Rolling Stones, Tom Waits (not a band, I know), The Smiths, Elvis Costello and the Clash. I used to listen to a lot more punk than I do now (and have the record collection to prove it), but lately "smart pop," as a friend of mine calls it, has become my preference. Does this happen to everyone when they go to college? Damn... Okay, this is the first time I've written to anything like this; I hope I did it right. Signing off, Jon Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 06:51:15 -0800 From: tlee@logicon.com (Taejoo J. Lee) Subject: Hi All. I'm back. I figure now that I'm at a new address for the Skyway, I could send another letter in. I remember about 5 years ago, I was one of the earlier subscribers to the Skyway, and of course I have the familiar stories of how when I was in high school, they were my most important band, and 'Careless' was my theme song. Now I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and work for the Department of Defense. It's funny looking back. I never saw myself as a white collar tool, but here I am. I still love the Mats, and in my heart I always will. Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 02:00:51 -0500 (EST) From: John Kelvie I applied to this list a while ago and here is my own story with the 'Mats... Don't Tell A Soul was the first album I bought. I heard the song I'll be you on MTV and I thought it was great much better than the other shit that was played. It was probably one of five albums I owned as a freshman in high school. I eventually decided I didn't like it and put it away for a long time. My Freshman year in college I was encouraged by some critical guides and friends to buy Let It Be. It immediately became my favorite album and I listened to it to non-stop. I went out and bought all the other albums slowly, and enjoyed all of them, especially Tim, though Let It Be remains my favorite. It's hard for me to say what the mats have meant to me. Their albums have always been some of my favorites, and have expressed things I wish I could have expressed myself. I am a fan who found the loss of Bob to be great, and I find all the pre-Pleased to Meet Me material to be superior, because of the raw ragged edge of it. Paul is undeniable as a songwriter but Bob added something, spontaneous, beautiful and fucked up which is irreplaceable. Rock music to me that I love has always been about collaboration and the tension created by it - the loss of this is one that is seen in Pleased to Meet Me - there's no fucking awesome guitar solos - just weak horn shit. I wonder how much better this album might have been with Bob's creativity on guitar but... Anyway, the Mats are the shit. They are the greatest band of the eighties, my decade, at least half of it (21 years old), and they still have a place in my CD player. Sorry I never got into them early enough to see them live. Oh well. John Kelvie Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 00:44:14 -0500 (EST) From: "Darin D. Miller" It is so cool to discover that there is a whole new way to enjoy the 'Mats! I'll attempt the customary first post plunge. I first learned of the Replacements through Rolling Stone. I believe it was back around '89 or '90 when the annual issue of the readers', critics', and artists' picks came out. The critics had picked Paul as the best songwriter. In fact, I believe he was selected 2 years in a row. Around that time, I had heard "I'll Be You" on the radio. In Indiana, radio is so predictable, so the fact that the 'Mats made it on was rare. I was captured by everything about the song. The guitar tone, great groove, crafty lyrics, and of course the voice. I eventually found the CD "Don't Tell a Soul" in the cut-out bin for like $3.00!! I was not expecting much. I mean no airplay, no big sales, couldn't be great right? I was totally blown away. In actuality, how many times have any of us ever been so captured by an artist or band. I personally have only experienced that maybe 1 or 2 other times. There are a lot of great bands, but these guys are in a different class. Anyway, I have since bought the whole 'Mats collection, as well as, each of their solo efforts. Unlike most of what I've read from the other entries, my fav album is "Don't Tell a Soul". I love all of them. Even the very early stuff. For those of us who hack around with an instrument, the early stuff allows you to believe you don't have to be overly gifted to give it a shot. It is fun to see their progress and development in each album. I never saw the band and have only seen Paul when he toured for "14 Songs". Of course he was great. I would love to get a hold of some the videos that are out there of the band. Any suggestions? Looking forward to the next issue of Skyway and some more great reading and links!! This is great!!! Thanks, D. Miller Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 04:03:36 -0500 (EST) From: Robert J Douglas I'm only 19 so I missed the mats while they were still together. When I was 15, I started hanging around this guy who lived down the street from me. I had always wanted to buy a guitar and this guy played. After a while he became like a mentor to me. At the time, I was really into stuff like Zeppelin, Alice in Chains, Metallica and the usual adolescent guy stuff. But this guy had an awesome record collection and he started turning me on to really cool stuff. His favorite band was the mats and one day he let me borrow "Let It Be". I know this sounds corny, but the moment I heard "Answering Machine", I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to make music that was that powerful. In today's music scene I try not to be one of those guys who thinks everything sucks. But, I get bombarded every day by No Doubt and Bush and Dave and Hootie and Phish by people that live in my dorm. I get really discouraged because so few bands write songs that really matter or even mean anything. I put so much into the music that I write and I feel that, except for unfortunately few dedicated bands, the "alternative" bands of today don't. But the 'Mats make me want to believe in Rock 'n' Roll. I consider myself one of an entire generation of musicians who listen to "Bastards of Young" or "Valentine" or "Unsatisfied" and pick up their instruments with only the hope that, if they try hard enough, they just might be part of something that perfect. How DO you say I miss you to an answering machine? Date: Sun, 23 Mar 97 10:32:49 -0500 From: E My name is E. I'm 29 (for a little while) and originally from suburban St. Paul. I'm back in Minneapolis for the time being. Who knows what the future holds. My earliest memories of the Mats begin at about the Hootenanny/Let it Be period. I was lucky enough to see the Mats play many times in many places. My favorite shows were the Friday and Saturday night gigs they did in the 7th Street Entry after Tim was released. It was the concert I'd been waiting to attend my whole life. I have never seen and heard anything so incredible. Those shows seem pretty much a cliche now, but the Mats really brought the circus to town in those days. Even today, when you bump into a Mats fan from this area that was at one of these Entry shows, there's a mutual understanding that these shows were pure and unsurpassed: It just didn't get any better. In any case, those years (1983-1986) really defined my musical universe. After Bob Stinson left the band in '87, I was hanging around with some guys who happened to know Bob pretty well. Through a series of accidents, this wide-eyed kid became the bass player in a band fronted by a guy named Sonny Vincent (who has long fled these shores) with Bob on lead guitar. I guess I spent about six months practicing with them in a basement storeroom in downtown St. Paul. After a lot of gigging (Entry, Uptown et al.) and a little touring (Chicago, Milwaukee, etc.), college was really starting to suffer. Alas, sensibility overcame my rock and roll ambitions. In retrospect, I suppose I made my mother happy, but I'm not sure I should have put the brakes on music so early. Anyway, we weren't a very good band. But we had our moments. One time during practice, I was returning from the bathroom when I heard what sounded like a loud stereo coming from our practice spot. But it wasn't a stereo at all, but rather the three other guys in the band strumming an ad libbed (and eerily good) version of Cream's 'Crossroads.' I'm not an Eric Clapton fan or anything, but when I heard Sonny singing and playing rhythm to Bob's crunchy blues guitar fills, it was haunting. One time after a gig in Milwaukee, Bob, Sonny and I dropped an illicit chemical compound. I fell asleep on the stuff, but remember Bob stroking his Adam's Apple and expressing concern that it was becoming too large for his throat to contain. I don't know if anyone - to this day - really appreciates what profoundly eclectic/awful (depending on your perspective) musical taste Bob had. Many times, he'd reel off his list of favorite guitar players: "Captain Sensible, Prince, Steve Howe, Jeff Beck and myself - not necessarily in that order" he'd say chomping on a fingernail. For anyone who knows the Twin Cities, St. Paul was not the hip place to be if you were a musician (esp. in the bad old days). For instance, there was this heavy metal bar butted up against our practice spot. Sometimes after practice, we'd go in there for a few beers and check out the Dokken/Poison/Ratt cover band that was playing. All the big hairs in their colored leather would eye us suspiciously. But Bob and Sonny would go completely unnoticed. Pretty amazing since on the other side of the Mississippi River (less than a few miles away) the Mats were superstars. I'm pretty pooped out when it comes to drugs and crazy drinking. I sold my music gear a long time ago, but I still get the itch to play with other people every now and then. I think if I can commit to living in one city long enough, maybe I will hook up with some other people and their instruments. For now, I'm a salaried full timer with a lot of memories. From: kenrose@ix.netcom.com (Fyodor Gutman) Newsgroups: alt.music.replacements Subject: Westerberg's Rilkean Tendencies Date: 31 Mar 1997 03:46:49 GMT Am I alone in perceiving the existential longings of the great German poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, within the lyrics of MR Westerberg's best songs? Check out the 5th of the Duino Elegies and compare that to the missed connections in LOTD or Skyway. As precocious as STink was, think of it as PHW's _Book of Hours_, an honest coming-to-terms with the state of postmodern fragmentation, with a sharp eye turned toward redemption and transcendence. No deconstructionist, young Paul, eh? And close your eyes and turn up the volume during the instrumental fadeout in The Ledge, and you can almost see the panther searching... searching. Of course, the imagery in Paul's earthier songs--think Treatment bound or We're comin' out--bring to mind no one so much as the redoubtable Irishman, Seamus Heaney, Nobel Laureate and all. One can almost draw a correlation between Westerberg's salesman father peddling Cadillacs and Heaney's agrarian pater nicking spuds. By God, that's the real thing. Now, as to the oft-suggested structuralist reading of "They're Blind," I say that's utterly mundane and hyper-surrealist. The tropes and synedoches of verse three aren't anything that the great Saussure would have raised much of a fuss over. Or am I being over-analytical? Good to see so much serious discussion of the Mats ouevre in here lately, instead of all that insufferable spam and other guff. kr Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 15:36:22 -0400 From: matt Subject: hold my life after visiting your web page many times i had to write and say thanks. i became a 'mats devotee 7 years ago. i first discovered them in high school and all shook down became the sound track for my life in 12 grade (it was that bad). ever since i could never get enough. i now play guitar write my own songs and cover 'mats songs along the way (open mics, parties). at first i knew nothing about them. the only way i even knew what the band looked like was from the album photos. i fell in love with all the albums without knowing a thing about them. no cover shots on rolling stone mags, no video rotation on mtv, and i knew nobody who liked the band. i think thats why i love them so, it was only about the music and nothing else was there to taint it. eventually bits and pieces presented itself and paul put out a solo album, now a days info is more readily available, and your page helps alot. so thanks. one time last year i was in boston for a music conference (cmj type thing) and i met a fellow who at one time was gary hart's (from husker du's) boyfriend. he lived and played in a band in the early '80's in minn. he had some cool stories. i'm sure fans write these letters all the time so i won't bore you anymore. i just wanted to say thanks. matt Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 03:05:37 -0800 From: Peter Rosenzweig Subject: open the floodgates... Okay, no one disputes that the Replacements and now Paul Westerberg were/are at the top of their stinkin' heaps. The fact is that there are a lot of other bands (new and not-so-new) that have been struck with the same inspired muse that fueled our anti-heroes. I.E., they're carrying the torch and they need our help! I've made a list of an assortment of bands and their albums that leave me feeling much the same way a good mats album does. Take it from a fellow fan, buy these albums if you ain't done it already. Hey, if you've got a list, let me know yours... No particular order: Redd Kross, "Phaseshifter"; Buffalo Tom "Let Me Come Over", Freakwater "Feels Like the Third Time", Supersuckers "La Mano Cornuda"; Old 97's "Wreck Your Life", Dickies "Stukas Over Disneyland"; Southern Culture on the Skids "Dirt Track Date"; The Crumbs "The Crumbs"; The Meices "Dirty Bird", Lemonheads "It's a Shame about Ray" (find the version w/out Mrs. Robinson -- that song bites); The Muffs "Blonder and Blonder"; Rocket from the Crypt, "Scream Dracula Scream", Gillian Welch "Revival"; Walt Mink, "Miss Happiness"; The Posies "Frosting on the Beater". Happy hunting. Viva Skyway... Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 04:45:06 -0500 From: Brett Hellinga Subject: I hear you can't get pregnant the first time... God bless The Skyway! FIRST OFF, let me say this. 1.) I am dying to get a hold of any and all Replacements/Westerberg's B-sides, outtakes, GOOD cover songs, and the like. I NEED YOUR HELP! I'm willing to compensate. HELP MAKE A YOUNG FELLA HAPPY. DON'T HESITATE! CALL NOW! 2.) I'm dying to get VHS copies/recordings of significant/legendary 'Mats/Westerberg performances...especially, the SNL ones. IF NOTHING ELSE I NEED Paul's SNL performance of "Can't Hardly Wait". WILL COMPENSATE AND/OR BEG! I ALSO SEEK ALL 'MATS VIDEOS! (Hey, just because they hate videos, doesn't mean I have to...Anyone have a full collection?) Anyway, I've been listening to the Replacements steadily since 1989 and it wasn't 'til last week that I actually met an actual Replacements fan in my regular day-to-day dealings. Recently hooked to the Internet, I've been extremely interested in using in discovering other 'Mats fans, what they're like, what they think, and how they stumbled across the greatest American band in modern history (no hyperbole). Here's my contribution... WHEN IT BEGAN... An innocent, pubescent 15 year-old--me--heard "I'll Be You" on a mainstream Chi-town station in the fateful Summer of '89. It was the most vibrant, catchy, unpretentious rock song that year. I was dumbfounded when it didn't soar up the charts. Not much later Rolling Stone ranked the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s. The Replacements "Let It Be" was ranked at #15 and became the perfect excuse to make my initial purchase. I soon owned every album. "SO YOU'RE HIGH AND LONESOME/ TRY & TRY & TRY..." It was a lonely existence as a high school 'Mats fan in the far South Suburbs of Chicago. Motley Crue, Guns'n'Roses, and Metallica T-shirts were the major components of our unofficial dress code. With the exception of the creepy, colorfully-coiffed, wrist-scarred cadre of individuals who wore a single pair of black jeans and 38 Cure and/or Depeche Mode concert T-shirts, there were few people with unusual musical tastes. Little changed when I went to a small, rural private college in a small, rural, private town in Iowa. (Or now that I live in Southern Indiana). "STRAP 'EM DOWN, WE'RE OUT OF GAS/ STOP YOUR BAWLING, YOU LITTLE BRAT..." Not that I'm complaining! I strongly believe the secret, solitary pleasure derived from cherishing--in virtual isolation--the greatest, saddest repository of unheralded rock songs only intensified the appreciation I have for the 'Mats. Wouldn't "Bastards of Young" be, personally, less meaningful if the Homecoming Queen knew all the words? Or if you'd grown up with entire gymnasiums slow-dancing to "Skyway"? The anonymity of the Replacements--for better of for worse--allowed isolated (but not alienated) fans such as myself internalize the Replacements as much more than a couple Minnesotans who made records. "YOU GET BURNED BY THE SUN, YOU GET WET IN THE RAIN..." I know it's trendy to knock Paul's most recent stuff, but it's unfair to compare him to his own past. True, it took him 3 years to turn out "Eventually", but I suspect P.W. is just a mid-life crisis and/or personal epiphany away from a "comeback". Let's keep some faith and--to borrow a phrase--not hold him to close to the light, what do you say? Viva Le Westerberg! ______________________________________________________________________________ II. ARTICLES Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 00:05:15 +0000 (GMT) From: Pakman Subject: Pleased to Re-Meet me ... The GUITAR article The latest issue of GUITAR magazine has a almost full page article on our boys. Thought y'all might wanna read it so am taking the time to transcribe it...say thank you MAQ :) Has three pretty kool pics of our heroes too: Paul and Tommy drenched in sweat, Paul and Slim looking suitably smashed, and one of Chris. This is from the March 1997, MTV on cover issue...and the mag seems to have a thing for MATS. They keep running blurbs about the MATS or Paul every once in a while. They never say a lot, but mention 'em in mini-articles.. Here goes the article... Pleased To Re-Meet Me: Keeping Tabs on Ex-Replacements It's been over 5 years since that cult-followed, commercially shunned band of imbibers known as the Replacements unceremoniously departed, leaving behind a catalog containing - at its high points - some of the most vibrant and influential rock in recent times. Though drummer Chris Mars, bassist Tommy Stinson, guitarist Slim Dunlap, and writer/ guitarist/frontman Paul Westerberg have been heard from on several occasions since that Independence Day farewell gig of '91, it's been Westerberg who has garnered the most attention, though not all of it flattering. Many of the same legions who once hailed the now-36-year old Westerberg as the champion of all things young, rowdy, and loud sneered at his considerably softer-sounding Eventually, released last May. Strangely though, no such misfortune has hampered Westerberg's sidekicks, who within months of each other hit the streets with new works. Stinson followed the demise of his previous outfit, Bash and Pop, with yet another band, Perfect, and its EP When Squirrels Play Chicken (Restless) is a collection of ragged rockers that are throwback to mid-'80s 'MATS. {The nickname 'Mats stems from Westerberg's old joke of referring to the band as The Placemats.} Also on Restless comes Dunlap's second post-Mats offering TIMES LIKE THIS, an instantly likable collection of past-leaning pop. And most recently, Chris Mars is out with another self-made batch of exotic pop on his Bar/None release ANONYMOUS BOTCH. 'Maybe its an age thing,' says Mars, who is also an accomplished visual artist, 'but it's a sort of natural progression for me to move away from the traditional rock thing - I did that for so long with the Replacements. I feel like I am drifting off and being less concerned with that formula. Plus I'm listening to jazz more. Maybe I'm just getting a little bored with rock'n'roll.' No such problem for the 29-year old Stinson, who switched over to guitar - and not just any guitar. 'Paul was getting Les Paul juniors from an old Gibson endorsement, and when we broke up he let me have a bunch of this stuff that he really didn't want anymore. He actually gave me a '68 SG that I used, but I think he really wanted it, 'cause later he took it back.' In a self-deprecating quote (so characteristic of the Replacements alumni), Dunlap says of his new project, 'TIMES LIKE THIS was done at a leisurely pace, because I am getting so damn old.' (MAQ:anyone know how old?) Slim says he plays an old Les Paul, in addition to 'whatever works.' As for his old troupe he notes 'It would be ridiculous to say none of that has rubbed off on me. I mean, Paul's always been one of my favorite songwriters - and a big influence.' He acknowledges the undeservedly shabby treatment Westerberg (who makes an appearance on Dunlap's record) gets by critics and observes, 'I get good reviews, but if he'd written my record, they would have said WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT.' Despite their years employed at the same musical factory, Chris, Tommy and Slim have each produced remarkably different sounding works, something that comes as no surprise to drummer Mars. 'Time does change things,' he notes, 'and if we were to re-form, we wouldn't be able to do the same things that we did then. It's one of those locked-in-time sort of things. We were more like-minded then. And now our directions are taking a life of their own.' DS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohammad Ahmad Qayyum Mailing address: TW 8/8 St. John's College, Phone:044-1865-728-677 Oxford, OX1 3JP, UK. E-mail addresses: sjoh0559@sable.ox.ac.uk (checked on the hour) qayyum@xserver.sjc.ox.ac.uk (rarely checked) Web Page: http://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/users/qayyum --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________________________________ III. RELEASES AND RUMORS Date: Fri, 07 Mar 1997 20:54:46 +0000 From: Christy-Ann Marie Neal Subject: Austin, TX tribute to the 'Mats Austin, TX: "So What" a recorded hootenanny of Austin bands performing 'Mats songs A wedding reception at the Caswell House in Austin on February 25, 1995 turned into a wake for Replacement's guitarist and founder Bob Stinson, whose death a week before stemmed from a lifetime of self-abuse. Turned out there were several 'Mats fans at the reception who huddled around the keg shivering and telling Replacements stories. More often than not, Bobby Stories. Stories about Bobby changing into his 'gig' pants onstage while the band waited, or diving into the audience with his guitar on and toppling his amp, or throwing full bottles of whiskey at enraged clubowner's feet, or... which made it a little more sad that all that craziness led to his leaving the band and, eventually, his death. So the idea was born that evening of making a tribute album to the best American band ever and dedicating it to Bob Stinson thanking him for matching his guitar with the kid who peeked in the window's songwriting. We asked the bands to come up with any Stinson era song they wanted and recorded them live (mostly) during the off hours of Austin's Electric Lounge during May and June of that same year. Members from all over Austin's musical community recorded, sometimes with their band, sometimes combining to form supergroups to hoot songs from Sorry Ma, Stink, Hootenanny, Let It Be, and Tim. Some of the bands/artists involved were Ed Hamell of Hamell on Trial, Pork, Alejandro Escovado toppled by Glen Benavidez and Buick MacKane, Fastball, the Damnations and the Gourds. There's been many a hoot in Austin, but never one so inspired, well rehearsed, or released for the masses as a record album. So What is our eulogy for Bob. For further information on So What contact: Archie at rche@hotmail.com, or (512)477-2537. Rob Gaines at (512)416-7268 manufactured and marketed by wretched wrecords 2934 Higgins Austin, TX 78722 Artists and the songs they perform on So What: 1 Novellas Kiss Me on the Bus 2 Blind Willie's Johnson White and Lazy 3 Asylum St. Spankers Treatment Bound 4 Paul Minor Left of the Dial 5 Pork with Hamell on Trial Bastards of Young 6 CHK with the Damnations Trouble 7 Fastball Androgynous 8 Beaver Nelson Can't Hardly Wait 9 Dizzy Within Your Reach 10 the Gourds Favorite Thing 11 Smokin' Bozo If Only You Were Lonely 12 the Chandeliers Sixteen Blue 13 Clown Meat Shiftless When Idle 14 Beggar's X-mas Johnny's Gonna Die 15 Prescott Curlywolf Stuck in the Middle 16 Buick MacKane I Hate Music 17 Dis Twins Answering Machine [+ according to Charles Ford, a bonus track, Slim Dunlap's "Ballad of the Opening Band" by an unknown performer.] "So What" 2934 Higgins Austin, TX 78722 Thanks - Archie tape's rollin' so what Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 14:57:26 -0600 (CST) From: "Tony R. Buechler" Subject: Mats News!!!! http://www.allstarmag.com/news/database/Archive/9703/19/news-cont.html#story1a Replacements Inspire Compilation, Tribute LP Five years after going their separate ways, post-punk pioneers the Replacements continue to inspire interest in everyone from big-label execs to fledgling garage bands. Currently, Reprise Records is stirring around its vaults in search of material suitable for a retrospective compilation. Of special concern is the label's lack of rights to the 'Mats Twin/Tone material, which includes a treasure trove of seldom- heard outtakes and rarities. And speaking of the band's early days, a host of Austin bands contribute their services to a just-released indie CD that features 17 Bob Stinson-era Replacements songs. Billed as a tribute to the late guitarist, the CD boasts a few big Austin names (among them, Fastball and Buick MacKane), but it's the relative unknowns who really shine. Jim Archuleta, who along with his friend Rob Gaines did most of the legwork, explains how the idea came about: "A bunch of us were at a wedding reception the week after Bob Stinson died, and everyone was telling stories about him. Some of the people there were in bands that had opened for the 'Mats at various times. The more we drank, the more we thought it would be a good idea to record some songs in tribute to Bob. We thought it would be a nice way to show how many of us were influenced by him." Only 500 copies of the CD were pressed, of which 150 were sold at Austin's South By Southwest conference last week. Anyone wanting more information can contact Archuleta at rche@hotmail.com. - Russell Hall Rock over London, Rock over Chicago - Henry Rollins - I'm A Liar --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Tony Buechler tb8@evansville.edu |Owner of the fan run WWW site: | | Education Major@Univ. of Evansville IN|www.john-mellencamp.com | | |and operator of the mellencamp | | School Address: |internet mailinglist | | 1700 E Walnut St. Schroder Hall Rm105 | | | Evansville IN 47714 |Live Audio/Video tape collector | | http://spruce.evansville.edu/~tb8 |for list email w/Sub. of GET LIST| --------------------------------------------------------------------------= Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 08:58:00 -0500 From: NPVP03E@prodigy.com (James Mccarthy) Newsgroups: alt.music.replacements Subject: Re: new old mats and westerberg kenrose@ix.netcom.com (Fyodor Gutman) wrote: >i've been out of the loop recently and i was wondering if there are any >boxed sets coming out in the near future to help sum up the Mats >turbulent career. any undiscovered chestnuts lurking in boonies? any >golden saws and aphorisms ready to be uncovered and dusted off. A couple months ago, Howie Klein, president of Reprise, posted a note in the Paul Westerberg AOL file requesting fan input on a new collection. He asked "Should it be a Best-Of, or something more comprehensive? I'd like to hear what fans who really care think". By the following week, he had received over 200 replies, and he was telling people that the project could be out by December. Personally, I sent them a 20-track list that was a mix of hits of some of the better outtakes. I think you can still send in input to HowieRep@aol.com Apparently, Reprise is willing to include Twin/Tone era material, so your list can be from all eras of the band. Whether related or not, a month later, a fellow poster to alt.music. replacements reported that he had bumped in Peter Jesperson (former 'Mats producer) at a show and learned that Jesperson was in the process of transferring old Paul demos to DAT, though this endeavor may be completely unrelated to the Reprise project. And a person interviewing Tommy reported that Tommy was not thrilled with the Reprise package, but Paul was happy with it. What configuration this package will finally have is unknown - 1 disc, or 2, or a set... I do not have access to AOL so I never saw half the discussion that went on. I'd imagine it will be easier to get a 1 or 2 disc package out first, and see how it sells... But we'll see. ______________________________________________________________________________ IV. TOMMY STINSON AND PERFECT From: "Spealman, Dan" Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 11:08:55 EST Subject: Hi and Perfect Hey, kids, Been reading this thing for awhile and I thought it was time to say "hi." First off, I hope this is new and exciting information for everybody here, but if not then just ignore me: While surfing I ran across not one, but two Perfect concerts on the Internet. If you're like me, and live in a place Perfect isn't likely to come to anytime soon, this is especially keen. Here are the URL's (you need the RealAudio plug-in): Perfect, Live At Tramps (I'm pretty sure that's NYC) November 16,1996 http://www.sonicnet.com/cybercasts/ram/perfect2.ram Perfect CD release party, live from the Dragonfly (LA?) July 9, 1996 Note: there's a bit of an interview with Tommy and then the hosts talk amongst themselves for a half hour or so before the music starts. Go ahead and skip that, it ain't too exciting. http://www.lalive.com/perfect/ramfiles/perfect.ram So, me? 23; Grad student at GWU in DC in Economic Development and Science and Technology Policy; into sports, music, computers, movies, graphic fiction. In high school I was a member of the Classic Rock cult that pervades small New England towns. It took college and the advice of a few good friends to deprogram me. Unfortunately, by then it was too late. The 'Mats had already broken up. I did finally get to see Paul at the new 9:30 Club (the old "basement" space is still missed, sniff, sniff) here in DC last time he came. Great show, made all the more great by the fact that the opening band cancelled, and one of my favorite bands showed up in their place as an extra special surprise bonus: the Gigolo Aunts (check 'em out if you're so inclined.) Well, that's me, my (hopefully) neato news and my blurb. If anyone is still reading at this point, I'd love to do some trading. I've got some 'Mats stuff (live and/or rare) as well as some DMB, Tori Amos, and Dambuilders. I'm especially interested in expanding my collection of Mats demos. Anyone's welcome to e-mail me if they're interested. ________________________ Dan Spealman speal@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 01:36:53 -0800 From: "J. Pepper Berry" Subject: noiZe and PERFECT Hey Guys, My name is Pepper Berry and I'm the editor of noiZe Magazine which some of you have been to enter our contest. I just subbed on real quick because I saw all these entries with Skyway on them and was wondering what it was about. Now I know...it's the home of all the 'Mats fans! :-) I told Tommy about you guys and he got a kick out of it. If you guys want to see some pictures of what Tommy's been up to, you can go to the magazine at http://www.noize.com/ and this month's cover story is on Tommy's new band Perfect. There's some photos in the article plus some Real Audio clips of Tommy. Also, take a look at the Table of Contents and there's a section called noiZe Magazine's Party Pocket Cam. There's a few pictures of him in there you guys might enjoy. Some of him playing, some at our Magazine party, I think there's one of him and me playing a gig at Jack's Sugar Shack here in L.A. Also, if you go into the archives, take a look at the first issue and go to the same Party Pocket CAM section and there's more photos in there of him. Tommy's kind of part of the family here at noiZe so he shows up just about everywhere. One of these days we'll have an issue without Tommy in it. :-) Although he is getting ready to interview Redd Kross for me. That'll be a cool conversation. Anyway, I was just checking on where all the entries were coming at me from. If you don't know about the contest, you can go to noiZe magazine and enter to win an autographed copy of Perfect's EP "When Squirrels Play Chicken" which is sitting right here in front of me on my desk waiting to be mailed to the lucky winner. See you guys around and thanks for checking out the magazine! Pepper Berry Editor-in-Chief noiZe Magazine www.noiZe.com editor@noiZe.com Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 22:53:20 -0800 From: "J. Pepper Berry" Subject: ON LINE CHAT WITH TOMMY STINSON Tommy has spoken about going on-line and talking with Mats fans about the Mats and his band Perfect. We were thinking about setting it up through noiZe Magazine, but I wanted to throw the idea out here first and see if everyone would truly be interested in a Q&A of that type. Tommy hasn't done an on-line discussion in a while, and he was thinking it was about time to go back on. Would the preferred method be us setting it up through an IRC channel of our own, or to set up a room on an on-line service like AOL, or maybe even a Java chat room on our web site? Any thoughts? Pepper Berry Editor-in-Chief noiZe Magazine www.noiZe.com editor@noiZe.com From: cford@vnet.ibm.com (Charles Ford) Newsgroups: alt.music.replacements Subject: Perfect SXSW - 3/15/97 Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 16:33:45 GMT I caught Perfect Saturday night in Austin for SXSW. This is the second year in a row they have played SXSW. This time there was almost no advance local press coverage, but the place was still packed, regardless. They played this weird club called "Bob Popular" which is labyrinth of separate rooms--upstairs, downstairs, and even outside. The room where the band plays is long and narrow, and the band plays directly to a rock wall. We got there early so we would be sure to get in for Perfect's midnight show. By 10:30 p.m. we spotted Tommy roaming the club. We didn't recognize him at first because he has changed his hair. Gone is the spiky look that I remembered and he now sports a rather straight, limp, hairdo. We engaged him in conversation a couple of times. He was in a fine, schmoozing mood, encouraging us to "stick around for the set," as if we were going anywhere. After suffering through three or four crappy Restless Records bands, Perfect finally came on and put on an energetic show. In 45 minutes they covered a lot of ground by playing much of the "When Squirrels Play Chicken" EP, and some new stuff. It's hard to understand Tommy, but I would have sworn one of the new songs was called "Mommy It Stings." Maybe my ears weren't working... Tommy's guitarist, Marc Solomon, is from Austin and seemed to be having the time of his life. He introduced his Dad, and joked that the band was going to change their name to "Tommy Stinson and the All Jew Review." Tommy wasn't laughing. The new bass player seems to be a fine addition. His machine gun playing style, and lean, hungry looks give the band more of a punk edge. He seems to fit right in--laughing and joking with the rest of the band. Tommy still likes to do covers, so I figured we would have to sit through "Crocodile Rock" again. I was always puzzled why a rockin band like Perfect would want to do a cheesy Elton John song. So I was pleased to find that "Crocodile Rock" was replaced as the grand finale for something more appropriate. I had to smile when Perfect knocked out a rousing version of AC/DC's "Have a Drink on Me" for the last song... Perfect! Charles ______________________________________________________________________________ V. DON'T BUY OR SELL Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 13:59:53 -0330 (NST) From: "Carol A. Barton" i'm new to this mailing list and trying to start a replacements boot collection. i was wondering if there was anyone out there willing to do some 2 for 1 trades with me. i am especially looking for "the shit hits to screen" video boot but anything will be appreciated. thanks carla Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 17:26:34 -0800 (PST) From: dumyhead@millennianet.com (Adam Gimbel) Subject: requesterberg....... I'm looking for the 1/16/91 SF 'Mats show. I saw it on a list somewhere, so I know it exists. I'm always swamped with trades, but anyone willing to wait a little bit can check out stuff on my site at http://millennianet.com/dumyhead/ The only Mats junk I gots is Fat Roadies, Shit Hits..., vids for I'll BU, When It Began, Talent Show from the International Rock Awards & the PTMM promo vids/interview. But, I have a big and diverse collection. Thanks! Adam ||||| (rear view) The Artist Formerly Known As Dumyass ||||| ||||| Visit: _\------|------/_ "Adam & Summer Are Dumyheads" | home of the coolest almost graphic free sites on the | net for: Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, Beatles Anthology, | producer John Leckie and tape trading galore. CENSORED / \ CD for the day (I bring one to work everyday, / \ alphabetically, starting November 95) _/ \_ My CD-ROM player's broke, so I ain't gonna bother. (much rejoicing on the lists) Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 12:06:13 +0000 From: Siena Esposito Subject: Article?? I've been subscribing to the Skyway for over a year, and let just say that you're doing a great job. I was wondering if you knew of any place that would have a collection of Replacement articles from the '80's. I'm specifically looking for a PW interview done with the LA Times 1.6.86, and although I reached them on their website, it seems that it will cost $14 to get this one article, which is a bit much. Do you know where I can locate this, and perhaps other articles of similar vintage? Any help would be appreciated. Please send any e-mail to the below address, since I reaching you from another server. Thanks! Rene' Greblo Greblo@aol.com Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 22:07:36 -0600 From: "A'yin Da'ath" A while back (a LONG while back) Sebadoh was playing at First Ave., and a band called 'Steve Westfield and the Burnouts' opened. Well, Steve had a really damn good kick-ass little ditty, called 'Burned and Melted Next to Paul Westerberg.' I just got the CD, and so was wondering if anyone might want a tape with the song (I can't distribute them for free, so you'll have to send money or a tape of your own to me). Write: or Christian de Ocejo 2012 Sugar Woods Dr. Long Lake, MN 55356-9339 Only superficial people know themselves. -Oscar Wilde Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 21:49:45 -0600 (CST) From: ndamjano@acs.uwa.edu.au >Per the Rock on TV website, Paul Westerberg will be appearing on The Larry >Sanders Show tomorrow night (2/26) at 10 PM. Could somebody please fill me in on what is on this episode, and whether it is worth taping? We had the Larry Sanders show in Australia, and I don't know if it's on anymore. But if so I need some details, as if it comes back I will know which episode to look out for - especially since we are about 6 months behind in Australia, as far as episodes of American series go. Thanks, Natalie _____________________________________ Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon Admissions Assistant "I can die without your touch if I can live within your reach" Prospective Students Office -Paul Westerberg The University of Western Australia NEDLANDS WA 6907 AUSTRALIA Ph: (09) 380 3185 Fax: (09) 380 1226 Email: ndamjano@acs.uwa.edu.au _____________________________________ Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 17:11:27 -0800 From: Peter Rosenzweig When I was 15, I sent away to the address on the inside of "Shit Hits the Fans" and received two issues of the relentlessly funny "The Bob" Replacements fanzine. Those bit the dust long ago unfortunately, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any copies intact that they'd consider at least copying for me. I know that's a lot to ask! Long live Senor Video. By the way, I'm living in L.A. now and I get to see Tommy's band every so often -- he lives here too I think. They're pretty good, but not as good as Bash/Pop. Check out the Meices' new one "Dirty Bird". [Peter - Are you sure that you're not talking about "Willpower"? - M@] ______________________________________________________________________________ VI. SPECIAL NOTICES From: TR Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 12:10:13 -0600 It's a sad day in Minneapolis. REV 105, the station that played the most 'Mats and Westerberg, went off the air, replaced by a heavy metal station. I've lived in Madison, San Francisco, LA, DC and Boston, and the REV was the best station I ever heard; its playlist was incredibly diverse, its DJ's genuinely interesting and intelligent. Alas. If any kind soul has a high quality copy of a show from the Eventually tour, and would be willing to dub it for me, I'd be eternally grateful-- and will gladly compensate you for your time and effort. I'm also interested in a tape of the Lucky's Revenge boot. Thanks, Tom Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 18:31:05 EST From: LAURA WEISLO Subject: HEY! Just say NO! Dear 'Mats fans... I got a really strange phone call this week from a woman who reads this list and who wants to get in touch with our beloved Mr. Westerberg for some reason or another. You see, as M@ mentioned in the last issue, I did play in a band with one of Paul's former acquaintances. However, there is no contact between this former band-mate and Mr. Westerberg at the present time or foreseeable future. For that matter, I hardly ever see my former band mate! Therefore, I have absolutely no way of contacting Mr. Westerberg, and even if I did, I'd leave the guy alone! Really. He's just a guy who's music is really great. Be content with listening to the records. It's painful enough to watch interviews of Paul, because it is really obvious that he's pretty uncomfortable in the public eye - maybe he's shy, maybe he is just very private. All the more reason not to track the man down. Unless you're carrying the man's baby or have a terminally ill child who's last dying wish is to meet Paul Westerberg, I can see no real reason to try to contact him personally. I am sure the record label or management company can forward fan mail to him. Which brings me to another topic. I don't mind e-mail from random people wanting to chat or get information. E-mail I can read and answer on my own time at my own pace. I don't feel like that is an intrusion on my privacy. However, phone calls from complete strangers *are* an intrusion on my privacy. I really hate to talk on the phone anyhow; I get super steamed over calls from salespeople, but I really freak when people look up my number in directory assistance and call me up (unless they are people I have already met and I like)! COME ON! It's COMMON DECENCY! You don't just look someone up on the internet and call them at home without corresponding via e-mail or something FIRST! Miss Manners would be shocked! JUST SAY NO! Exercise self control. Leave Paul alone. Listen to the records. Talk to other fans via this mailing list. Read interviews. Watch videos. Do anything to satisfy your Westerberg fixations that you can in the privacy of your own home. Just don't call random people whom you have heard about on the internet at their homes. It is just not cool. Sincerely, Laura Weislo [However, you are all invited to call my house just for the hell of it. - M@] fin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The //Skyway\\: The Replacements Mailing List (digest only) To subscribe, send a letter saying "subscribe skyway" to "majordomo@novia.net" http://www.novia.net/~matt/sky/skyway.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I went to a party last night. What sick things I saw. Makeout sessions and bicycle messengers, punks and art school dropouts. I ran into this guy I knew but hadn't seen in years. We went into the neon kitchen and stole a couple beers. He said his girl had dumped him but was there with another guy. He said that he still liked her. All I could say was, 'Why, why, oh why, oh why, why is it always like this? Either you're too mean or you're too nice.' He said, 'I even cooked her breakfast.' So we went into the living room. Someone was blasting Zeppelin. It sounded good. I felt ashamed. I knew every drum fill. Anyway, there she sat, totally kissing this guy. They looked good, I mean like in love. Then I remembered my friend. He said, 'How could you do this? You said that you needed your space. He's wearing the shirt that I gave you.' Then she said, 'Why, why, oh why, oh why, why are you always like this? If I'm having fun then it's breaking your heart. Besides, you said I could have it.' Then the cops showed up." -- Jawbreaker, 'Bad Scene, Everybody's Fault'