___________________________________________________________________________ // // The \\kyway \\ // skyway@novia.net Issue #60 July 22nd, 1998 ___________________________________________________________________________ (c) 1998 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 ___________________________________________________________________________ All of the alt.music.replacements articles were echoed to the list by the kind work of Duncan DeGraffenreid. Hoo-rah! ___________________________________________________________________________ 0. SOMETHING TO DU (monthly self-indulgent rant via m@.) I. NEWS! Tony Buechler, Ron Egatz II. PLEASED TO MEET: Chris Hanzl, Matt Frid, Pope Nick, John Surge, J Steele, Cecilia Gin, Glen Sloan, Chad Conn, Scott, Andrew McEwen, Joe Boden, Jaime Schmid, Mike Brooks III. WILL TRADE FOR FOOD. Tom, Peter Kath, Bill McNie IV. PLEASED TO READ ME: THE REPLACEMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY. A.j. Michel ___________________________________________________________________________ 0. SOMETHING TO DU In case somehow anybody here forgot what the Southern Fried Summer could be like: 100+ degrees with unescapable Mid-Atlantic humidity, the kind whose description best comes not from Faulkner but Obi Wan Kenobi: "It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the universe together." And I've got four sticks of Old Spice laying around in my room, my office, my glove compartment, and my backpack to prove it. My favorite place to play and see bands in town, The Lizard and Snake, is closing. Cleverly masquerading as a Mexican restaurant by day, at night it's the most intimate rock experience in the Carolinas outside of somebody playing your living room. There's no parking, the acoustics are horrible, there's little advertising, the shows always start too late, and it's nothing short of home. Maybe these things are inevitable, as it seems like everybody's favorite joint closes eventually...how long can a club owner keep it going through the fluxing tides of each year's hip genre? Certainly better to burn out, than say, remodeled under new management into a metal bar or a gentrified coffee shop. But where will you run into the people that you always met there, the ones whose names you didn't know but were always at the same shows as you where you always exchanged knowing, familiar nods? Less than a month to find out people's names and tie up all the crushes and get the booking numbers of someplace else in town to play. Maybe I can keep a booth for the living room. Last week I went to a house show that was in the yard of an otherwise punk rock youth hostel a block off the main Chapel Hill drag, Franklin St. The summer sun was still bright warm and glowy at 7:30 and the yard was full of post-punk kids wandering around a meat-free (and vehmentently so, red-markered cardboard sign and all) barbeque grill and a half-filled plastic baby pool. Recognize this scene? You walk up and people hug, wave, nod, glare, stare hazily. You know everybody - you've seen them before at shows, they know you - they've seen you at all the shows, but you only know a handful of names. It's peculiar how it seems like you and everybody else in this crowd of otherwise seemingly creative, prolific people is at loss for something poignant to say. "Hey, where'd all this food come from?" "I think it's stolen . . . there's the guy from (insert band name here) works at Teeter's." "Are these hot dogs meatless?" "I heard that Italy is kick ass, even better than Barcelona." "Have you ever seen that guy before?" "I heard she's moving to Portland." "Who's playing anyway?" Yummy: sunshine + ennui + shoplifted veggie burgers for dinner. Some band full of glazed-over Middle American nineteen year olds that I've never heard of ("they're the best!") that looks like they've been on tour for three years straight finally sets up on the porch at 9. They play for fifteen intense, blazingly emotional minutes then throw their stuff in the van and their split 7"'s on the ground. "They rocked." "Wow." "Fuck yeah." "What were they called again?" My friend Andy stops by moments after their last song. "Oh, I missed it. What were they like?" "Uuuuuhm, huh. You know." I try unsuccessfully to remember the tune to any of their songs. Even after blowing the whole night wandering around a quarter of an acre with the same 25 people, sometimes you just get this feeling that you're not actually there. Somewhere along the line I forgot to show up. Sometimes I get that a lot. Aw well, it could be worse. It could be fucking snowing. - M@. Chapel Hill, NC (this month) ___________________________________________________________________________ I. NEWS! Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 18:08:43 -0500 From: Anonymous Subject: Paul is a daddy, I hear Of a boy. John Paul... Like the Pope? More likely, The Beatles. Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 22:16:01 -0500 From: Tony Buechler Subject: Paul Record News (more of a label story) This is likely bad news for Paul, if I remember right Gersh personally did Paul's deal, if he's gone the next record might be a lame duck out of the box... Capitol CEO Gersh Quits, Citing Philosophical Differences Ray Lott, EMI deputy president of North America, will take over for Gersh. Contributing Editor Colin Devenish reports: Saying he had different ideas for how to run Capitol Records, Gary Gersh resigned Monday as the company's CEO after a five-year tenure that saw bands such as Everclear, Foo Fighters, Marcy Playground and Meredith Brooks explode to stardom under his watch. "We just had a difference in philosophy in how to go forward," said the 43-year-old Gersh on Tuesday (June 23) afternoon. "My thinking was different than theirs. It's not like they're right and I'm wrong. Capitol is poised to have an incredible year. We spent five years as a team building it up ... They wanted to do other things with their label. It's a totally amicable split." "We just had a difference in philosophy in how to go forward." - Gary Gersh In a statement released Monday by EMI, Capitol's parent company, EMI President Ken Berry announced that Ray Lott, EMI deputy president of North America, would take over for Gersh, effective immediately. Berry offered a brief comment on Gersh's departure. "Gary has made excellent contributions to Capitol during his tenure as president. He was closely involved in key signings such as Foo Fighters and Everclear along with the Hope Floats and Romeo and Juliet soundtracks," Berry said. "We wish him well in all his future endeavors." During his career as a music-industry executive, Gersh has been widely praised for possessing a discriminating eye for talent, and prior to his stint at Capitol, he played a key role in signing the multi-platinum grunge pioneers Nirvana to Geffen Records. Gersh pointed to the strides taken by the Foo Fighters, Radiohead and Beastie Boys as the work he's proudest of at Capitol. "I'm really proud of the growth Dave Grohl has made in the Foo Fighters. I'm proud of the job we did with Radiohead," he said. "I'm proud of our growth in the marketplace with the Beastie Boys. I think building a powerful soundtrack division is something we're very proud of." Prior to his appointment as deputy president of EMI Recorded Music North America in March of this year, Lott served a 19-year tenure at Arista Records -- most recently as executive vice president -- and participated in the advancement of the careers of such multi-platinum artists as soul diva Whitney Houston, saxophonist Kenny G and Lilith Fair mastermind and neo-folkie Sarah McLachlan. Meanwhile, Lott promised to further Capitol's musical vision during his time at the helm. "Capitol is one of the all-time great music labels. My focus will be to build on the work Gary has done to revitalize the label and continue its outstanding tradition." Gersh declined to comment on any possible severance package he may have received and said that his immediate plans include golfing and spending time with his family. Despite indicating that he'll be spending some time relaxing, Gersh didn't rule out a return to the music business. "I think that's part of who you always are. When you do that, it's what you do," he said. "It's what Lenny Waronker does at DreamWorks. ...We're all talent people. It's what we do." Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 21:31:26 -0500 From: Tony Buechler http://duke.muzic.com/cgi-bin/news/59c81ccd-0-0/daily.html/25Jun1998#5 Westerberg Changes Names . . . Again "I was gonna call it Pet Sounds but some other band beat me to it." Old Replacement but new poppa Paul Westerberg has again changed the title of his forthcoming third solo LP. Still due September 8 on Capitol Records, the Don Was produced joint originally went by Casually Doomed before its first official title, It's A Wonderful Lie, a name that's since been canned and replaced with what we're told will be the record's final moniker, Self Defense. The first single off the album, Whatever Makes You Happy, is an unlikely collaboration with Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, unlikely given that following an ill-fated Replacements/Tom Petty tour in 1989, Paul (rightfully) accused Petty of "appropriating" (ahem) one of his lyrical lines, "a rebel without a clue," which originally appeared in the 'Mats song, "I'll Be You" from 1989's Don't Tell A Soul before subsequently surfacing in the title track of Petty's 1991 Into The Great Wide Open disc. During the Self Defense sessions at L.A.'s Ocean Way studios, Paul's old Twin Cities pal Dave Pirner (the Soul Asylum guy) dropped in and added harmonies to a few tunes, though it's not known if his no doubt priceless contributions will make the final cut. For his new one, Westerberg recruited some fine players including his longtime studio skinsman Josh Freese, session drumming legend Jim Keltner whose worked with like the likes of John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello and even Don Was himself played bass on a few tracks. Though said to be more of a rocker than 1996's Eventually, at least two the songs, "Born For Me" and "Actor In The Street," are described as near Leonard Cohen ballads. No reaction yet from Westerberg on the recent departure of Capitol President Gary Gersh, whose presence at the label was a major factor in Paul's decision to sign on last year. -Greg Heller Date: Tue, 9 Jun 98 13:56:16 -0500 From: Ron Egatz Sean Fitzgerald of Albany and Buffalo, NY, and the great East Coast "Eventually" roadtrip: Where are you? We're gearing up for more this summer. Contact me. Egatz, egatz@slingshot.com ___________________________________________________________________________ II. PLEASED TO MEET ... Subject: another story... From: chrishanzl@juno.com (chris r hanzl) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 11:19:37 EDT Just got my first issue of Skyway and enjoyed reading all of the fan's "stories", so I thought I'd give you mine... I was a freshman at a small state college in Nebraska when a group of new found friends (with a great taste in music) asked me to see the Replacements in Sioux Falls, SD. (By the way...if this show was recorded, someone please let me know!!) I was a huge Beatles fan so I was confused to hear that the Replacements had an album out called 'Let It Be'. A friend gave me a copy to listen to and I was hooked. Unsatisfied...Answering Machine...Androgynous...I was working at our college radio station and Pleased To Meet Me was just released and I got the promo cassette copy of it (more on this promo cassette later!) I was impressed with the mixture of loud fast songs/slow acoustic tunes...I think that I listened to Skyway 131 times in a row! A carload of friends pilled into a car and drove up to the show in South Dakota. They were playing in a small VFW club...or something along the line...I remember that the ceiling was very low. They all came out drunk as hell...a small plastic child's swimming pool was on the stage...or rather...the floor (no stage in this VFW!...and the pool was filled with ice and beer! I've been around a lot of drunk people but I couldn't believe that they could "function" in the state that they were in. I thought that Slim Dunlap looked like Tommy's Grandpa or something. He was very reserved and had a look on his face like he was waiting for Paul's head to explode or something...like an m-80 had been lit and thrown into his lap...very uncomfortable... Tommy was jumping around excited as hell...Paul was singing part of the time and the rest of the time he was wandering around near the audio board. He left halfway through Nightclub Jitters and Tommy had to take over singing It was loud as hell. I remember seeking refuge towards the back of the small room during "I Don't Know"...I can still hear the chorus being belted out in that small room...."I DON'T KNOW..." Another visual that stuck in my mind was that of some guy with a 4 year old child on his shoulders, standing right in front of the speaker system!!! My ears were hurtin'...I'd hate to have been that poor kid. Great concert. I saw them the next year on the "Don't Tell a Soul" tour in Omaha Nebraska...great show...they were still very drunk... I'm glad that they have since stopped drinking, but they haven't been the same live since that tour. Not a complaint...but things did change... The last time I saw the 'Mats play was during the "All Shook Down" tour at a now closed down amusement park [Peony Park in Omaha, NE]. As a friend of mine and I were driving into the parking lot, I recognized Tommy and the new drummer walking along the sidewalk that led into the parking lot... I quickly parked the car and grabbed the Please to Meet Me promo cassette from my college days and an ink pen that I found last minute under the car seat. I walked up to the two and asked Tommy for an autograph...I think that I surprised the two when I came up to them because they gave me a look like I just pulled a gun on them! Hey, it's just a cassette and an ink pen...relax!! Tommy took the pen and started to autograph the cassette cover...it was sooo embarrassing...have you ever tried to write with an ink pen that won't write? It's either dried up or out of ink. Well, who knows how long that stupid pen was under my car seat!!?? Finally, after what seemed to be 15 minutes of Tommy trying to get the stupid pen going he managed to scribble something on the front cover!! I don't know what the hell it says/is...but I still have it. It looks like a V or a W with a couple of small squiggly lines above and below it...Is it some type of code word or something?? Maybe it's Tommy's secret symbol like the Led Zeppelin guys used on their 4th album...If someone knows...please clue me in!!! The show was good, but restrained. Tommy kept asking the audience if there was anything that they wanted to hear...I also really liked the live versions of the songs when Tommy would scream out the backing vocals. The version of Anywhere Is Better Than Here, comes to mind. I saw Paul on the 14 Songs tour. I took some friends that were big Replacement fans along but who had never seen the Mats. I was thinking before the show, "Wow, these guys are going to be blown away by Westerberg!" But the show was great...maybe I'm being too nostalgic...but I don't think that anyone was blown away that night. He played my favorite 'Mats song, "Left of the Dial", but something was missing...I'd like to think it was the other members of the Replacements...they need to get back together! If anyone out there would be kind enough to burn me copies of their favorite 'Mats boots onto CDR, I would be forever grateful!! ChrisHanzl@juno.com From: "Frid, Matthew W." Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 11:32:53 -0500 Hi, my name is Matthew Frid. I wonder if anyone on this mailing list knows who I am. I live in St. Paul, Minnesota. There is something vaguely Replacements everywhere you look around here. I think it's funny when people transcribe songs and get the lyrics wrong because they don't know about little regional things in the TwinCities. Has anyone else discovered that, too? Well, I saw them on the "All Shook Down" tour with the Goo Goo Dolls at the Orpheum Theatre. I saw Paul on the "Eventually" tour at the State Theatre across the street. I thought it was sad when everyone sat down during "They're Blind". The whole place was rockin' with the usual standards... it just seemed like everyone there was blind. They missed the meaning behind the whole Mats / Westerberg thing.... I've got a copy of "Boink" which I bought used at Cheapo Records on Snelling Ave. many years ago. One time, I saw Chris Mars and his wife, Sally, at the Minnesota State Fair. Yeah! Someone I know almost hit Paul as he was crossing the street in Uptown Mpls. You know, your basic Twin Cities Mats stuff... I'm in a band and we sometimes play "Johnny's Gonna Die", "Can't Hardly Wait", "Color Me Impressed" and "Merry Go Round". Did anyone else see the thing on MTV News about Tommy Stinson being in the new Guns 'n Roses? Weird. So, I'm wondering if anyone has some Bash & Pop bootlegs? Or some Paul or Mats stuff from First Ave. or other Twin Cities clubs? Email to mwfrid@stthomas.edu. Thanks! Matt From: SunKing23@aol.com Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 14:46:19 EDT Subject: Left Off the Dial (sic), a.k.a., "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Piersons" My name is Nick, and I'm an almighty 'Mats fan. To cut *part* of a long and boring story short, I've been a Replacements follower since I saw the review of LET IT BE in ROLLING STONE (in which I've also had my writing published in 1995, about an article on the Flaming Lips). I always adored The Jam, the great PowerPunkPop band from England in the late 1970s and early '80s, but when Paul Weller pulled the plug on that unit in late 1982, another Paul W. and crew Replaced them as my favourite band of the '80s. I was intoxicated by their brash, direct, emotional, and LOUD style, as it cut through to my soul like an ax that fellow Minnesotan Paul Bunyan's would have, that not being too far off metaphorically from the dueling guitar slicings of Paul Westerberg and Bob Stinson that cut through all my layers of fronting, trying to keep up appearances, only to find myself listening to LET IT BE and TIM under headphones, crying dateless on endless Friday and Saturday nights with only a 12-pack of beer and that Twin/Tone and Sire vinyl as my only companions of that time. Back to more serious analyses in a moment, but first... I've got a question I hope that you can answer. @ the beginning of "Left Of the Dial," there is a very (w/a capital VERY) buried voice chanting something like, "We're in the hothouse, we're in the nuthouse, we're in the roadhouse." There is also some mysterious voice during the guitar solo. I'm baffled. All apologies if this is old news, but what is the story behind that? I *know* that I'm not imagining it, because I keep hearing it before Paul sings "Heard about your band..." What's the deal, Kenneth? The day has been so confusing that I have TIM on under headphones so high that the cones will blow out before my eardrums will. I got to see the 'mats six times between '87 and '91 (never with Bob, but then I've always been a late-bloomer), and Paul twice during the 14 SONGS tour in 1993, although a predicament with my then employer prevented me from seeing him in 1996 (D'OH!) in the metropolitan Detroit area before I moved to Chandler, Arizona in October 1996. Cut to more recent happenings. I met Slim Dunlap in Tempe, AZ (home to Arizona State University) @ the Long Wong's bar on 20 March 1998, where he ended up on the establishment's menu as a Slim Sandwich, co-billed with our great homeboys The Piersons (a great band that may now be defunct as a working ensemble, but I hope not), who went on first, and then finished up their set after Mr. Dunlap took his break. I wouldn't have gone, save for the COMMAND of my online friend Patty D. (thanks eternally, N-cubed!). If not for her, the evening's events wouldn't have transpired. She pushed me by saying, "What are you waiting for?!?! (I had awakened from a nap so late that night that I gave up, and figured that I would have missed Slim) GO!!!" I did, and it turned out so well that if I got hit by a bus on the way back to my jeep, it wouldn't have mattered, and I'd have died a happy boy...but I didn't :) Slim was so friendly, and he signed the big poster of PLEASED TO MEET ME that I brought w/me here to AZ, and we chatted quite extensively (for as long as I could w/out wanting to bother him), discussing said album. I told him that PTMM is the greatest album of the 80s, and he said he liked working on that one best. We also got to talking about-who else?--Paul (surprise, surprise), and he informed me about how he works under and handles being bipolar (we share the same affliction, PW-it ain't easy, that's for certain), and that Paul is about to become a father?!?! I was told that it might give him more responsibility and maturity, and that Slim was genuinely happy for Paul. I just hope that child will get all the attention necessary, if that is true. Anyhoo, he said that he liked our local wonders, too, and when I was leaving, I got a shot of Slim, Patti Pierson (Patrick Sedillo, a huge SIMPSONS fan, like myself) and their bass player, Scott Moore, together. Patti thanked me for getting the picture (I am a professional photographer trying to earn a living-or @ least I pretend to be sometimes), and when I was leaving, I overheard Slim and Patti trying to arrange things to hang out together that night, as it sounded like he wanted the former to have a memorable stay on tour while staying in Arizona. When Mr. D. returned to the stage for the second half of his set, he said, "Yes sir, I shurr do like those Piersons boys." High praise indeed! I agree. I am also a writer, and one of my Life's goals is to have a book of essays published with accompanying photographs. Hmmm, I may end up writing a chapter in my book about The Replacements, since I seem to have covered so much ground here already. I think that every one of the subscribers of THE SKYWAY would have adored The Piersons. They are three of the biggest worshippers of The 'Mats (but aren't we all?) that one could want in a band. I've seen them do a beautiful electric rendition of "Here Comes a Regular," which they rarely dropped from their set, and sometimes I've seen them drag out "Can't Hardly Wait," and "Things," and once all in the same night, to boot. Wowwww! They used to-and probably still do-get annoyed @ being compared to the 'Mats. It happened especially after the release of their first album, HUMBUCKER, and, being such a relative newbie here, I didn't know that. @ a recent show when they performed "Can't Hardly Wait," I stepped up to the mic and exclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, The Replacements!," to the bar patrons, trying to mimic Harry Dean Stanton introducing them on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in early 1986. Oops! Sorry, guys, I just didn't know, and I apologise deeply if you see this. But, c'mon, you cover so many 'mats songs and have Slim Dunlap on the same bill, that I can't hardly help but think of your appreciation of them. 'nuff said there. I got to photograph two of them after the show w/Slim. Singer and guitarist Patrick (Patti) Sedillo plays a black Gibson Les Paul (but gold-plated), just like uh, uh, Izzy Stradlin does. Yeah, that's the ticket! I've never seen Patti hit a bum note, and his playing reminds me of Paul's so much. I tried to get my friends from out of state to come and see them, but...see below. Their two albums are so grand that you should not ignore them before the record label undergoes major changes, if not folds altogether. The company's president died in early May, and worse yet, Patti told me @ their penultimate gig just before they went on, "This is our last show," and I was rendered utterly speechless. After talking with their drummer, Tony Chadwick, during the intermission, he said to me that they may merely be taking a hiatus until Autumn, but, of course it depends on how everybody feels. I hope that they will, because the new material that Patti has written is stunning, and certainly warrants a third album with the same lineup. Still, I think that everyone must evolve and grow in a manner that best suits one's self, and if there are others who selfishly cannot handle change, then they're going to be left in the Dust, spiritually. They actually did their final (?) performance @ the Brad Singer Memorial Tribute show on Sunday, 24 May in Tempe, and I thought that the whole event was a success. I photographed so much that my whole body was sore from bending, stooping, and crouching two days later. One aspect I never thought of about being a photographer is that i'd end up being a contortionist! Six great bands on his company's label (Epiphany! Records) turned out to be the party of the year, I'll think. And even if they do split permanently, I will still have a preservation in a my pictures (of which I have hundreds of several bands-and yes, I *am* a professional. I just don't get recognised and paid for it). I'm proud to have photographed some now-extinct bands that have earned themselves a place in Phoenix music history, even if they feel that they never achieved the success they thought they may have wanted, but having fun and enjoying making music is what the whole aspect should be about-not merely wanting to make a cheap cash-in on trends. Integrity is something that should not be taken lightly. Good night for now. That's Entertainment. Yours, etc., +<:-P <-Pope Nick, Executive Secular Consultant to the Swiss Navy Pee Ess: If you would like to learn a little bit more about The Piersons, click here if your e-mail supports hyperlinks. Welcome to the Piersons' Page Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 13:14:31 +0000 From: John Surge I had read a review of "Let It Be" while in college at Humboldt State (Nor. Cal.) and went down to the local record store where you could actually "rent" records for a dollar a day -- much to the chagrin of record labels and distributors. From the photo on the roof to the catchiness of "I Will Dare," irreverence of "Gary's Got a Boner" and the sheer beauty (with tongue in cheek ) of "Androgynous" I was hooked. At the time, I was also into X, REM, the Dead Kennedys, DOA, the Clash, the whole '60s retro LA thing (Dream Syndicate, Green on Red), Rank and File. There was a lot going on at the time, but the Replacements where, to me, the ideal of a great band--great songwriting, literate, funny, power pop, good looking but not fake, unpredictable. I got to see them live on the Tim tour at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Funny thing was, a drummer I was in a band with at the time was a cocaine hookup for the boys. I got to meet Tommy and Chris but they were pretty anti-social. As it turned out, the band--all coked up--resorted to one of their 30-seconds-snippets-worth-of-covers-type sets. This, on top of a rather boring Orange County crowd and some overzealous bouncers, made for a rather bad show. I was never one who got into all that drunken hype. I wanted to see the band rock. I had to wait until the Pleased to Meet Me tour, after Bob got kicked out. They played a cool theater in downtown LA called the Variety Arts and the show was beyond words. My favorite part was when Paul ripped into the solo from The Ledge. Slim seemed pretty non-descript but it was a taught, no bullshit rockin show that was, ahem, pure Nirvana to me. And the Young Fresh Fellows opened, which was pretty cool too. Later on I saw them open for Tom Petty and self destruct in the process from sheer crowd indifference. The chip on their shoulders actually bummed me out, because they could have shown the MOR crowd what was up. Alas, they turned the other way with the big time staring in the face and staring them down. Later on, the band I was in (Trouble Dolls) and the one I'm in know (Pinwheel) opened shows for both Bash N Pop and Perfect, Tommy's bands. I got to meet Tommy a couple of times at these shows, Perfect's record release party and a birthday party for some mutual friends. He always seemed cordial but a little standoff-ish. But, then again, the poor guy has to deal with every blathering Replacements freak like myself reliving the glory days. I would love to participate in one of those tape deals. I can't say a Replacements tune changed my life but the records are the ones I put on when I'm amped up and in a rockin' mood or when I'm down and need a lift. For my brother, it was Mott the Hoople, for me it's the Replacements. Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 00:41:49 -0400 From: J Subject: ashtray floors, dirty clothes and filthy jokes Hey, how's it goin' everyone, I'm on the net, drinkin' and smokin', figured it was as good a time as any to actually subscribe to The Skyway and give my story on how I got into the Replacements and my favorite Replacement moment since I love hearing everyone else's stories. Well, here it goes... I was a senior in high school in '89, the Replacements were on the verge of being the next big thing (which never happened, which was good and bad, ya know) and MTV had "I'll Be You" in the rotation, and the song definitely struck me, but what I enjoyed more was Paul's drunken attempt to climb the drum-set which led to his flying header off the raised platform, it had me howlin' every time I saw it, they were so drunk in that video. Anyways, my friend bought the tape, which I borrowed, and I was hooked. I got "Don't Tell a Soul", then started buying older Mats stuff, got Pleased To Meet Me (my favorite album of all time - I remember in college any time having to go take a test I would listen to Alex Chilton a few times in a row in my dorm room beforehand to settle my nerves, god I love that song) also got Let it Be (Unsatisfied crytalizes my mindset at the moment), and Tim (God, what a mess, on the ladder of success, well you take one step and miss the whole first rung). I remember in college gettting All Shook Down and on a depressed night drinking shot per song with it, man did I puke (in a life so unstable you're so easily amused). Ironically "Don't Tell A Soul", the album that got me into the Mats is probably my least favorite now, it seems too polished or something. I love the Mats though, and Paul's solo stuff is a little different, I guess everyone's got to mature, but it's great (wisdom is ignorance, stupidity I call freedom). And now for the Replacements favorite memory... I was in college, I think it was '91 and me and my friend (also a major Mats fan) were gonna see the Mats at the Tower in Philly for the All Shook Down tour, which turned out to be the last Mats tour, I'm so glad I saw them. Anyhow, Chris had just left the band and Paul was on the wagon, there was a feeling this was the end, considering all the press that Paul wanted to go it alone. On the drive up, we were discussing what we thought they'd play, I was hoping obviously for "Alex Chilton" (which they played at the end) and something old like "Fuck School" (they didn't play that, dammit). We screamed for Alex Chilton the whole show (for those that were there, yes, that was us.) The guy in front of us was the one yelling for Gary's Got A Boner... Also, I wanted to hear "I Don't Know" to which my friend said "They definitely won't play that." I said why not. "Well, Paul's a bit more mature now, he's on the wagon, I just can't imagine him ever uttering the line "Can I use your hairspray?" again. I kinda agreed. Fast forward to the concert, they come out, first song, everyone goes crazy, they start playing 100 miles an hour, there was an brief odd silence that overtook the crowd, nobody recognized the song they were playing, then Paul starts singing "DO WE GIVE IT UP!" the whole crowd realized at the same time what the song was, there's a roaring cheer, me and my friend briefly look at each other and start laughing - as you know by now it was I Don't Know, it was TOO FUCKIN COOL - the whole crowd did the wheeeeww-oooo's at the end of the song, it was just amazing, and the concert was incredible. Anyhow, that's my story, I love the title of Westerberg's new album "It's a Wonderful Lie." The Mats are the best band that ever was. Bacon and cigarettes, a lousy dinner. Later -J jsteele@iglou.com for general insanity visit http://members.iglou.com/jsteele Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 07:35:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Cecilia Populus My name is Cecilia Gin, and I've been running a local fanzine called "From Ears and Mouth" for almost a decade now. I'm a big 'Mats fan, and have ran stuff on the boys on occasion. Anyway I really dig what you're doing so I decided to subscribe and contribute my Replacements story: When It Began: I can't remember the first time I saw the Replacements play, I mean I remember several of their gigs, but in what order they took place in my life, my gawd I couldn't tell you. I was introduced to them by my good friend Ross who had been listening to them since the beginning. Ross had moved from the East Coast to Los Angeles, and we immediately swapped favorite bands. One night we ventured to this dive called Al's Bar, which was situated in this neighborhood where coming back to you car and actually finding it in one piece was a miracle. The Replacements were scheduled to play here, and we were blown away because this place could only hold about 75 people (legally), there were maybe 100 folx there the night of the show. Before they went onstage, Tommy was actually playing pool in the other little room while a friend of mine snapped away on her camera. While onstage, one of the members from the Circle Jerks who was sitting on the stage, was pounding on Tommy's foot with his fist (?), occasionally Tommy would look down and say "Ow!", it was so insane, I mean there I was at Al's Bar sweating bullets with everyone there (the walls would be covered in condensation, literally sweating too!), the stage was like 3 feet off the ground digging into me because I was right up front, and Paul Westerberg close enough to touch! At one point the guys changed instruments, Paul's on drums going rather mental, Tommy and Bob are just busting up during the whole time, and Chris is just having a blast! Of course the crowd of 100 were going wild too, the energy was just unbelievable. The Replacements played fast, they played furious, it was head swimmingly fun to experience them at such a small venue! Thank you Ross! After that, we ALMOST saw them play at yet another divey joint called Ronnie's, this place was in the middle of nowhere (still L.A. County mind you) with an interior that could rival any Las Vegas stripper bar (not that I've ever been to one!), complete with blood red carpet on the walls, glittery silver stands hanging from floor to ceiling and a big mean club owner. This guy was such a crank that he wouldn't let Tommy drink outside of the dressing room because he was still under age! I remember seeing Tommy at the bar asking for some aspirin because he had a really bad headache. Paul came out and I told him we had seen them play at Al's and that we had really good photos, I told him we would send him some copies. He kind of laughed and said "Everybody tells us that, but they never do!" I told him we would for sure. (we did) Then he started saying stuff to me in my left ear, and his lips were touching my ear, and I was losing it because only gawd knows what the hell he was saying since I was concentrating on how his lips felt on my ear!! (since that day I've wanted to be Paul's microphone - just kidding) Anyway, I just nodded and smiled when he stood back, gawd, I was hoping I didn't look like a moron just standing there nodding and smiling seeing as I had no clue if a response was needed! He went on to fill me in on why Tommy was so angry. We talked about the gig they had done earlier in the week (in San Diego), during which set Bob came out in high top sneakers, a sheet tied around his neck like a cape, underwear, and nothing else! By the second song, he lost the cape and the underwear! Paul was really pissed off, and would shove Bob away from him, Tommy would just shake his head and laugh. At the end of that show, the boys played RUMP and spelled the word out with their bodies!!}, Paul stated he hoped Bob would keep his clothes on for this show, I agreed. The gig at Ronnie's never happened because Tommy brought a drink into the main room, the big, mean club owner went ballistic, the rest of the band came to the defense, a big ruckus ensued and the Replacements walked out! Tell me I wasn't angry! The stupid big, mean club owner sarcastically came on the P.A. and said we could have our money back if we "wanted" to. You better believe we all stood in line for our five bucks!! Ronnie's doesn't exist any longer, surprised? Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 16:40:42 -0400 From: Glen Sloan hey everybody after 6 months of reading the skyway i'm finally writing to it! my name's glen, i'm 24 from canada. matt says you guys like reading about everything, so i'll share a bit of stuff. i got into the replacements, sadly, just last year. they had woven their way in and out of my life for the 5 years before, but i'd never really paid attention. i had a tape with some stuff on it, talent show was the only mats song - it was the first song on the tape. a friend of mine left it in my car so i put it on a few years back. i loved the sound of talent show - it was the kind of sound i'd always been trying to find - you know how the drums come in after a few lines? i love that, among other things about them. anyways, so i listened to it over and over for a year, never asked anyone if they knew who it was. then i was looking through an ex-girlfriends old tapes one day and say don't tell a soul. checked out the song listing and took note, but didn't listen to the whole tape. (she also had tim, i listened once, didn't find the sound quality satisfying enough. different story now of course.) then there was the time i was driving down through southern ontario, listening to cfny (a modern rock station) and they played love untold. i loved it first listen, but never bought the cd. anyways i could go on with times i heard them and never did anything about it. how could i think i was being musically or emotionally satisfied before i'd heard the replacements? as sad as it may sound, it is a similar feeling to meeting (and marrying) my wife! obviously there are different feelings you need to experience to live a full life, the replacements music creates one of them for me. it seems there is a mats song for everyday and everything. i know some of you must feel the same way. i picked up the bash & pop album a couple months ago. i love that album too. i know tommy wasn't very satisfied with the band, but i could handle another 10 albums like that. i haven't heard perfect yet. anyways, i'll stop. i could go on forever about nothing here. favourite album is probably dont tell a soul, just cause it was really the first one i got into. i like the sound. favourite song is probably the all for nothing disc 2 version of cant hardly wait. that cd is worth the $ for even just that song alone. other favourite bands: huskers/sugar/bob, beatles, descendents/all, julian cope, killjoys, matthew sweet, sloan, wonderstuff. bye From: "Chad Conn" Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 02:09:51 -0400 hey man, i am very happy to have read your replacements pages. i live in s.c. and have been listening to the mats since 1984-85(?). a good friend of mine made me a copy of 'let it be' but he rearranged the order of the songs and even left some songs off. but the minute i heard 'androgynous' i knew i had finally found my band. i grew up listening to a lot of cool stuff cause my old man jams on the piano and what not. later that day i got my dad to learn androgynous (he looked at me a little funny... at the time i didn't even know what it meant... hell i didn't care cause it was paul's voice not the words that hit me. anyway years later i saw the mats in athens ga. and i meet paul after the show and he carves his initials into a gibson (reissue) melody maker of mine reluctantly (surprisingly). i don't have it anymore but a good friend of mine has it and i think i'm going to get it back. i need to take a picture of it and send it to you. it's kinda in pieces now (another story... i could kill the mf..long story) but it is still a rock-n-roll relic in my opinion. i'm not bullshitting at all, there is a lot more to this story. maybe one day i will find someone to help me document the whole day of driving from cola., s.c. to athens and getting my/our minds completely blown by the mats. your truly, chad conn cadet@flosc.net Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998 00:27:59 -0700 From: Scott Subject: Re: "mats of course Well, my best story is the "Don't Tell a Soul" tour. They played at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. We hung out after the show to try and meet the guys, but missed them by that much. We knew what hotel they were staying in, but again we missed them. We were walking toward downtown when behind us someone asked directions to the Vogue, a bar on first street. It was Paul, Tommy and Slim. We told them how to get there but when they found out it was 16 or so blocks away, they said forget it, let's go drink on the bus. We felt, well, heartbroken when this happened. As they walked away, Paul turned back and asked us if we wanted to join them. Of course we went. The rest of the night (Literally!) was spent listening to promo tapes the record company gave them, drinking and great conversation. Paul was a blast. Tommy and I argued about the Clash's Sandinista, and Slim turned out to be the most down to earth musician I have ever met. He remembered us the next tour ad put us on the guest list for Vancouver BC. That's about it. There are probably a thousand stories like that. That's just the kinda guys they are. Scott From: "Andrew McEwen" Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998 04:34:40 PDT The first time I heard my American college friend's Replacements tape, I thought they sounded just awful. In a really special, kind of atrocious way. It intrigued me, a vaguely engaging punkiness was hidden in there somewhere. And wait...was that a melody I could hear buried in that over-the-top ax work? So I listened some more, and finally I liked just one song: "Take Me to the Hospital." It was an anarchic, fucked-up kind of ditty that grew on me. My friend never really listened to the tape so I liberated it, played it when I was doing dishes. I don't even like 'Hospital' so much now of course. Bit gimmicky. My exchange year finished and I went back to Plymouth, England armed with 'Pleased To Meet Me' and the rest. I brought back REM and theViolent Femmes etc., and all the same old college shit with me to England, but the most compelling by far for both me and very soon, most of my friends, was the Mats. I had no idea who was in the band really, where they were from. I don't read music papers. The writers bore me even when they like the bands because it's impossible to write about music satisfactorily. You had to be there, you know? And of course gossip is even more boring. The fact that nobody I knew had heard of them at all didn't really matter. I'm no indie music follower, reader, gig-goer, whatever. I get to the odd gig, but usually (probably because I don't read the papers) by word of mouth and way too late, when the band is groupie-bored and on the verge of breaking up. I did catch the Mats twice -- very late -- in London, once politely tapping my feet at the back of the Marquee with my girlfriend, the second time jumping up and down like a man possessed, extra happy when they played 'Answering Machine' as I had requested Tommy when I saw him waiting around near the stage before the gig. I think he was a little surprised I was English. Nobody else there was, as far as I could make out. It's so simple. I don't care especially if Paul does this or Paul does that, if Tommy gets his tonsils out. I admit to a vague interest in their by-and-large disappointing after-careers. Face it fans. They've lost it. I hope they never re-form, either. Slim Dunlap's album was excrutiating. Maybe some huge slice of misery or angst-ridden personal crisis would teach Paul how to rock like he means it again, but basically, they're done, all played out. I wouldn't want them to fake it and I wouldn't wish any personal angst on any of them. Well, if it would get another "Answering Machine," then maybe...no...no...of course not. They never, ever came close to making it. MTV might mutter the name in hushed tones, but the radio hasn't played "A Little Mascara" out into airdeath the way you can inconceivably tire of a song as pure as, say, Teen Spirit. I'm so grateful. I gather their gigs were usually appalling, by all accounts. So what's left for us 80's fossil fans like me? It's the songs, the songs, always the songs. I can go back to them over and over again. I wish I had more bootlegs, but never mind. Sometimes even now when I hear the contrived composition and cardboardy guitar strings on "Nowhere is My Home," they sound as fresh as the first time. I find I'm walking, driving too fast. Everyone has a different favourite. I'll read some idiot pay homage to "I Hate Music" or whatever and I'll think, well, I like it, but it's not THAT great. So I listen to it again and it's amazing. I must have missed something. There's so many great, great songs, it's almost like being a Beatles fan. It's taken me more than a decade to decipher most of the more important lyrics, appreciate the obvious hits, but even the weaker melodies somehow have me hooked. At the moment, I'm hooked on "Sixteen Blue" on whatever famous bootleg it's called because the way Paul sings is so passionate and utterly nonsensical compared to the rest of this lousy gig. Like he really, really means it. Not that I can make out a word. Probably just as well. I know of the three people who read this, I'll probably alienate two by suggesting the Mats are all washed up and let me apologise in advance for any offence I might cause. Just my two cents. I'm sure you know better. I like some of the later stuff too, even the first song on 'Eventually.' 'Crocodile Rock' kicks ass. It's just they don't really cook anymore. It's more of a microwave experience: hot and cold. So be it. I'm not complaining. The work speaks for itself. From: "Joseph M. Boden" Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 13:53:18 BST My name is Joe Boden, I'm 31 years old (12/20/66) and for work reasons I am exiled here in the UK though I am originally from Pittsfield MA. I have a PhD in Psychology and I am employed as a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Plymouth, England. As inspiration for sitting here (avoiding work!) and writing about the 'Mats I've put on All For Nothing and I am currently bouncing up and down to 'Kiss Me on the Bus'. I discovered the 'Mats via my friend Chris the summer before my senior year at BU (1987)... he had bought Tim, and he played it for me. I liked it immediately (not as much as I did later!) and when Pleased to Meet Me came out a short time later I went out and got that. Soon after that, the 'Mats came to Boston and had a 'record signing' at the Strawberries in Kenmore Square. Chris and I went along, not to get records signed, but just to catch a glimpse of the boys. We avoided the lines and got within maybe twenty yards of the table they were sitting at... my only memory is mussed tangly hair and a pile of beer bottles! I don't know how it evolved or happened but at some point along the way the 'Mats became my absolute favorites. I had purchased a cassette copy of Let It Be and I starting playing it on my walkman during my hour commute back and forth to work everyday, it was compulsive listening. Although I don't have a car now, when I did that same cassette copy of Let It Be got played pretty much continuously. The first time that my partner Karen ever rode in the car with me I was playing 'I Will Dare' which was kind of appropriate but I won't say too much about that... ;-) Regrets? I never saw them play. I had tickets to the show at the Boston Orpheum theatre on the last tour, but I had to sell them because of a prior commitment. My roommate went and said it was wonderful, I was devastated. A couple of years later though, when I lived in Cleveland (doing my PhD) Paul came by on tour for 14 Songs, and I went. It was without a doubt the best show I've ever seen, about half Paul tunes and half 'Mats, and he closed the show with 'Alex Chilton' and dived head-first into the audience. Heaven (plus Dave Minehan of Boston-faves The Neighborhoods played guitar on that tour, great moment!). I remember several years ago, right about the time that All Shook Down came out, I was in my apartment listening to Hootenanny when my roommate came in (he is also a fan) and commented that since I was 24 I probably wouldn't be listening to 'Color me impressed' much longer (some sort of commentary on getting older and having different musical tastes or something, I don't know....) Whenever I put on Hootenanny and listen to it I remember that, and I wonder just what he was thinking... 'I'm in love... with that song' cheers joe ------------------------ Dr. Joe Boden Department of Psychology University of Plymouth Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA England email: jboden@plymouth.ac.uk phone 01752233150 From: "jaime schmid" Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 23:48:49 PDT skyway: i just tonight signed onto the skyway and have to admit that i was a bit leery about the whole thing, introduction and that. mostly due to the fact that i don't feel like a 'proper' 'mats fan, having never seen them at any tiny bar, drunk, raucous and indifferent as to whether they were all even playing the same song or not... :) the truth is, i didn't even HEAR of them until after they had broken up, thus ruining any chance i could have to see one of their (now-) famed performances. my name is jaime, i am 18 years old, and i live in milwaukee, wi. the first time i saw anything 'mats-related was in.. it must have been '92, when the movie "singles" came out. i have vague memories of a video of some cute rocker singing about a dyslexic heart.. and, funny enough, the only real thing i remember about the video was that it was that the singer had a guitar and looked like he had braces.. not until a few years later did i actually and consciously hear the replacements. a boy from my freshman (we're talking high school here) health class, whom i respected greatly and maybe had a teeny bit of a crush on, recommended them to me. (and i'd like to take a moment to publicly thank him, jeremy dunn, for this enlightenment.) i was later able to tag them as the band behind "i'll be you," a song that seemed to always give me happy little goosebumps when i caught it played on the retro lunch program on the radio. i bought (okay, ordered, and my father paid for it) "tim" through some mail order music club, and it still stands, to this day, to be one of my 5 favourite cds in the world. yes, the ENTIRE WORLD. ;) it's odd how, during my freshman year, i acquired/discovered all five of my favourite bands--perhaps it has something to do with influence at such a young age, i don't know. anyway. i now have every album besides "--stink" simply because it's been one of those "well, i can get that some other time.." situations, and i procrastinate, and i'm dumb. so, thassit. i had the incredible pleasure of seeing paul on 21 july, 1996, in milwaukee at the modjeska theatre. (note: i am fully convinced that i was the youngest person at that show.) i was so excited, scared, anxious that i was practically in tears before the show.. and, literally, during a few songs. i suppose it's almost impossible to explain to anyone but a fellow replacements/westerberg fan how--awestruck i was that PAUL WESTERBERG was actually standing before me, one of the greatest musicians i have ever been exposed to, the only person i have come close to calling my 'idol'--singing the songs that i had deemed immortal and almost unreal. i don't mean to sound obsessive, but after 3 years of learning everything i could about the band and the musicians separately, i had grown quite fond of not only their work, but them, as people, as well. i went to minneapolis the first time about a month ago, and when i got back, i realised that i had traversed the entire city without seeking out a single landmark 'mats location. boo to me. and here's a bit of a story.. when i finally got to meet jeff dimpsey, the bassist for another one of my favourite bands, HUM, the first question out of my mouth (after, of course, "can i sit here?") was this: "do you like the replacements?" and then: "have you ever seen them?" ..in case you're wondering, the answer was yes, and four times. now i've gone off and rambled a whole lot of unimportant jabber at you, and i'm afraid i haven't really said much at all. oh well. :) i'm glad to be a member of the skyway. *jaime. Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 18:03:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Mike Brooks Subject: My introduction to a great band, the Replacements It was a dark and stormy night... With that out of the way, I first came across the Replacements when I worked for a catering company at the Fox Theater in Detroit in 1985. We did the food and beverage for a lot of shows in the area. At the time, I was a big REM fan, and the 'Mats were sandwiched on a triple bill show between trippy The Three O'Clock and R.E.M. I had heard the name, but never heard the music. They were extremely intoxicated by the time they were to do the set. They had made a general mess of their area, but were fairly well-behaved backstage. They took to the stage with a really bad version of a LedZep tune (I think it was "Black Dog") for about 60 seconds, then fell over laughing... I didn't know what to make of them at first. They were VERY funny, but SERIOUSLY wasted. The art-alt R.E.M. crowd was not getting the joke, and the tripsters there to see Three O'Clock weren't either. After about a 45 minute set of assorted hijinks, they left the stage. They proceeded to TRASH the little buffet area and hung out watching R.E.M. for a while. Being the catering guy, I was kept busy getting stuff, and I had the pleasure of getting more beer for Paul (though I knew him not at the time - remember, I was still unfamiliar with them.) He was very considerate and thanked me in a grand manner for the beverage procurement. Fast forward to 1986. I hadn't much thought about the 'Mats for many months. I'm listening to this new "alternative" station from Canada (CJOM...now 89-X), and this catchy, witty song jumps out of the radio at me ("Kiss Me on the Bus") I'm digging it, and then the DJ tells me it's the Replacements. I'm quite impressed, and I run out and buy the Tim LP (this is a vinyl record, for those too young to remember!) I didn't get a CD player until 1988 or so. I am blown away by the mix of intensity, angst, power, and perceptiveness pouring from the record. From that point on, I was hooked. I've seen them 3 times, and own all the studio albums, plus a couple of bootleg tapes (crappy quality). I've been enjoying All For Nothing/ Nothing For All for many months. The 2nd version of "I Can't Hardly Wait" is very cool. I like the snarling guitars on this version. They add a much different take on the mood. I've enjoyed the band for over twelve years now, and I've made it my mission in life to spread this great music to everyone I come in contact with. I've learned many of their songs on guitar, and I must add that, as a guitarist, their stuff is some of the hardest I've ever learned. Very intricate chordings and tunings for a "mere" rock band. I have great appreciation for Paul's songwriting skills. Anyways, a big THANK YOU to Paul, Chris, Tommy, Slim, Bob (RIP) for some great music. Sincerely, Mike Brooks ___________________________________________________________________________ III. MY FIFTH GENERATION COPY FOR YOURS From: keragatz@mpls.k12.mn.us Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 13:09:12 +0000 for sale: - out-of-print 'Mats boot, "Shit, Shower and Shave", on KTS, approx. 72 minutes, 23 songs recorded in 1989, includes covers of 'Round and 'Round and September Gurls, as well as Within Your Reach, Don't Ask Why, etc. Excellent sound quality. - Paul Westerberg World Class Fad CD single, includes Men Without Ties and Seein' Her. e-mail if interested. Tom keragatz@mpls.k12.mn.us P.S. Anyone found the new boot Puttin' on the Ritz for sale? From: Peter_Kath@notes.mdor.state.mn.us Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 08:10:45 -0500 Subject: Replacements, Paul, Tommy boots In issue #59, there was mention of a new Mats CD boot, "Putting On the Ritz." I was wondering if there was anybody out there who could tell me how I can get my hands on this. I would also be interested in knowing if anybody has any other CD boots by Tommy, Paul, or the Mats that I don't have. The following is a list of what I currently have: 1. Live At Lingerie 2. The Shit Hits The Fans 3. Shit, Shower, and Shave 4. It Ain't Over Till the Fat Roadies Play 5. Hangin' It Up 6. Goodbye Bozos 7. Beat Girl 8. The Replacements with Mr. Liquor (homemade) 9. Gravel Pit 10. Lucky's Revenge 11. Paul Westerberg and His Paid Companions (homemade) I would really appreciate any help locating the "Putting On the Ritz" CD. Does it exist? If anyone has an extra copy to sell, PLEASE contact me. Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 01:28:04 -0700 From: BILL MCNIE Subject: Mats merchandise Greetings from Scotland! I've just subscribed to the Skyway, and was wondering if anyone's aware of any stores that stock Mats / Westerberg T-shirts? I guess there aren't too many fans of the band on this side of the Pond, and I'm keen to fly the flag for them at gigs or whatever as much as possible. Please e-mail me direct if you know of any such stores. All the best, Bill ___________________________________________________________________________ IV. A MUST FOR ANYBODY WRITING THEIR DOCTORATE ON THE 'MATS From: matsbiblio@my-dejanews.com Subject: Pleased to READ Me: the Replacments Bibliography Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 01:50:03 GMT "Read about your band, in some local page... Introducing: PLEASED TO READ ME: the Replacements Bibliography PLEASED TO READ ME is a bibliography of articles, reviews, interviews, and other assorted print materials about the Replacements and the individual members: Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, Bob Stinson, Slim Dunlap, and Chris Mars. (Sorry, no articles found about Steve Foley, the drummer on the last Replacements tour after Chris Mars quit, and member of Bash and Pop.) This bibliography is an ever growing work in progress. Depending on how many additional citations are unearthed and submitted, new editions should appear every six months or so. This bibliography grew out of research I did for a graduate school paper about the Replacements about four years ago. (It was a cultural studies program.) When the company I worked for went bankrupt about six months ago, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. While I was doing some cleaning, I found the original bibliography for the paper, as well as a bunch of additional articles I didn't use. I started digging around in newspaper databases, the Newslibrary service, and other CD-ROM resources for more citations. It's really surprising to see the amount of print dedicated to the Replacements and its members. I decided to put my research in 'zine form and offer it to other 'Mats fans who might just be interested in a reference tool like this. Currently, "Pleased to Read Me" has about 350 entries. The zine is 32 pages, digest sized (8.5 x 5.5), and costs $2 to cover xeroxing and postage. To get your copy, send $2 CASH ONLY, well concealed, to: A.j. Michel Station A P.O. Box 2574 Champaign, IL 61825-2574 I've also set up a freemail account to receive submissions and questions. It's matsbiblio@hotmail.com. I didn't want to use my work account. Also, the university server doesn't carry a.m.r., so I have to post using DejaNews. But, please email using the HotMail address, please. Hope to hear from some of you soon! A.j. Michel (Publisher of PLEASED TO READ ME and LOW HUG) fin. ___________________________________________________________________________ The //Skyway\\: The Replacements Mailing List (digest only) http://www.novia.net/~matt/sky/skyway.html Matt Tomich | 117 Green Street | Chapel Hill NC 27516 | USA ___________________________________________________________________________ "Greece is the place where when you are here you long to leave, and the minute you leave, you yearn uncontrollably to come back..." - Patricia Storace, _Dinner with Persephone_ (...not unlike college.)