___________________________________________________________________________ // // The \\kyway \\ // skyway@novia.net Issue #61 September 17th, 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. Takin' a Ride (m@.) I. Here Comes a Regular (Annie, Peter, Ryan Nelson, Lincoln Hirschi, Wcmts, Zee Rohauer, Craig, John Ellis, Steve, Pete Jungwirth, XeveNoirXx, Linda Moroney, Jeff Leven, Gilbert Davila, Bryce) II. Grandpa Boy appearance and Minneapolis `Barefoot and Pregnant' comp re-release (Phil Clayton, John Anderson, Mark Janovec, Ralph Bryant, Chad Werner) III. Tommy (Stephanie Frank, Paul Sorce/Tyler Andersen) IV. Those illegal bootleg tapes that we all live for (Tom, Jason) _______________________________________________________________________________ 0. TAKIN' A RIDE Okay, this is gonna be short. I'm kinda blown out of my shoes exhausted after a weekend tour with two bands, five shows, a broken lawn chair, and ringing ears. Being in a band touring is turning out to be alot like Saturday night in college without the guilt of homework in the morning. Don't get me wrong...every ten hours of band practice and four hours of driving still equals about one thirty minute show. But it doesn't mean that you can't be a lunatic afterwards. Reality: who the hell would've believed it? If somebody had told you in 1988 that in ten years, Paul would have a kid, Chris would be an artist, Tommy would be in Guns n' Roses, and Bob would be dead, how long would you have suffered the foolish predictions? Okay, some people confessed that that they guessed that anybody as lovingly crazy as Bob wasn't long for this world, but Gn'R employing the NIN guitarist, grabbing Tommy and Westerberg's touring drummer (Josh Freese) and turning techno? Meanwhile, rumors abound of Westerberg's album being pushed into the first quarter of 2000. Aside from that, Converse started making One Stars again! So hey, sometimes life can be grand! ~ m@. ________________________________________________________________________________ Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 14:17:15 -0500 (CDT) From: Emmie Schaibly Subject: A slightly belated thank you. So, I'm cleaning out my car yesterday, and under the fast food bags, ATM receipts, and other miscellaneous junk that gets stuck under the seats, I found something kinda cool. My "Sekrit Skywayer" tape. And folded up inside of the case, the letter that came with it. My "Skywayer" decided to be totally anonymous, so I never had any way to get in touch with her. (I use the feminine pronoun, because the handwriting looked female) It took me until now to realize, maybe I did have one channel of communication. So, if my "Sekrit" person is reading this; Thanks. -- Emmie Schaibly ees01@gnofn.org "He who laughs first didn't get the joke." -Paul Westerberg ________________________________________________________________________________ I. REGULARS (NEW + OLD) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 05:53:51 -0700 From: "Banana" Well, I'm Annie, I'm 26, from Liverpool but living in Sweden. I've liked the Replacements for years but haven't listened to them much recently. The other night I was at a club and around 3.30 am the DJ played 'Answering Machine' and I realised all over again how great they are and ran home and have been playing my old LPs ever since. And that's how come I found this page. An old boyfriend introduced me to the 'Mats when I was about 18. A year later I found myself au-pairing for the world's most hideous children and generally having a crap time. All I had was my 'Mats tapes for comfort and the fact that the All Shook Down tour was coming to town. Of course the band were sober by then but it was still one of the best gigs I've ever seen, plus REALLY LOUD! I insisted on standing at the front and couldn't hear for the next 3 days but what the hell. Not wanting to go home after the gig, I joined all the people asking for autographs. I said something to Paul Westerberg (I don't remember what but it was probably stupid) and he asked me if I was Irish - it's the Liverpool accent I guess - and we got talking and he invited me backstage to meet the others... but that's another story... I've babbled enough here, I need to save something for next time! Anyhow I've just bought the All For Nothing CD and was impressed by the videos, and I'm hoping that Paul Westerberg won't cancel the only gig near me on his next tour. Bye from Annie the Nanny banana@eudoramail.com Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 14:03:54 -0500 From: Peter K I've had a thought running around my head for awhile now, and it rather pisses me off. My generation does not have a defining song. I was born in '64 and consider the 80's "my decade," the span of years during which I had all my meaningful fun. Try and think of a song that defines that decade. Hell, the 40's had Mack the Knife. The 50's had Hound Dog or Rock Around the Clock. The 60s? Satisfaction. The 70's was Free Bird and Stairway to Heaven. Even the 90's has a song -- Smells Like Teen Spirit. But what about the fucking 80's? Working For The Weekend? Shake It Up? This is a testament of the lameness of my peer group, and partially explains why the 'Mats were never huge. So screw my generation. Long ago I identified Left of the Dial as my SONG. I remember the first time I heard it. It must have been 1985, I was a senior in college at Fredonia N.Y., and spent a considerable amount of time in a very cool bar called the Old Main. The DJ was a friend of mine, and used to embarrass me by dedicating Too Drunk To Fuck (Dead Kennedys) whenever he saw me chatting up a cute girl ("LISTEN UP EVERYONE! I'D LIKE TO SEND OUT THE NEXT SONG TO PETER K., WHO IS STANDING AT THE END OF THE BAR WITH THE CUTE BRUNETTE IN PINK STRETCH PANTS. EVERYONE GO OVER AND WISH HIM LUCK"). Fortunately, the guy always hooked me up with free drinks, so I endured the attention. Also, he knew music. He was always on the cutting edge. He was the one who pulled me aside one day to play me Left of the Dial. He described it as sounding like a really fucked up Bruce Springsteen tune. And he was right, it did sound like Bruce after a few dozen beers and a pack of Lucky Strikes. I spent much of the remainder of my senior year mumbling and slurring the following line: "hey Tom, play that fucked up Springsteen song, Growing Old In The Bar." Toward the end of my senior year, I scraped up enough left over beer money to actually purchase a copy of Tim. I liked the songs, but it was a little too clean. The following year, I stumbled off to grad school and shared a house with a guy from Minneapolis. Lucky bastard. He grew up in a musical mecca, while my college town could only boast the 10,000 Maniacs. He quickly caught me up, and soon I owned a copy of Let It Be. Even today, I involuntarily stop breathing during Answering Machine. Does anyone know what I mean? When I'm listening to a real meaningful song, I actually forget to breathe. I really liked Let It Be and the prior records, but I found them a little too ragged. So finally the band put out the perfect combination of ragged and smooth -- Pleased to Meet Me. I remember the spring day it was released. It was the perfect record. Rough loud guitars, screaming heartfelt vocals, clean but not slick production, tight rhythm section, meaningful fun dark sad optimistic lyrics. I had listened to it twice by the time my roommate got home. We listened to it a few more times before the night was over. I saw the 'Mats for the first time on that tour. I think it was late July, and they were playing the Bayou in Washington, DC. Tommy Keene mentions being at this show in the liner notes to All For Nothing. I was so excited to see them that I started drinking bourbon at 11:00am. Twelve hours later, I stuffed two airplane bottles of Jack in my socks and made it past the bouncers despite being frisked. The place was packed, my head was spinning, I remember the night in brief glimpses: throwing punches during Color Me Impressed, Paul bagging the vocals to Never Mind, screaming Fuck School and being told by Paul that they forgot the words, Paul bagging the vocals to Skyway. After the set, I could barely walk, and I remember staggering up 33rd Street with my buddies. Somehow I got it into my head that if I climbed over a 10 foot chain link fence, I could get to the back door of the Bayou and hang with the band. My friends tried to talk me out of it, and I don't even really remember climbing the fence. I only remember being at the top, hearing my friends give up their protests, and falling on my ass on the other side. Somehow, I managed to cut up my arms pretty good. When I looked down, I had huge gashes from my wrists to my elbows, and was covered in blood. So I did what any drunk 'Mats fan would do -- I ran as fast as my impaired legs would carry me to the back door of the nightclub to hang with the band. I guess I didn't realize that the Bayou is build into the side of a hill, and there WAS NO BACKDOOR! But there was a jeep parked at the top of a steep embankment, and I was certain it was Paul's jeep. So I hopped in, pushed in the clutch, and tried to start it. Luckily, there were no keys, and perhaps even more fortunately, I realized the Jeep was rolling forward and very close to going straight over the embankment. I think God himself stepped on the brake, and then punished me for being such a worthless drunk by throwing me head first down the embankment. I have no other explanation for how I ended up at the bottom of the 30 ft. hill, arms covered with matted blood, dirt, and little pebbles. It took an American Gladiator-like effort to climb back up the hill, but I did, turned the corner, and found myself at the front door of the bar just as Tommy came out with a nasty blonde on each arm. (Even in my blind drunk state I recognized the blondes as "nasty"). Tommy looked at me like I was a rotting corpse, which I was very close to being, and said "hey." I said, "Tommy, why didn't you play any fast songs." He said, "we were tired, man." That was good enough for me. For the record, I don't know why I asked him that question. I seem to recall their set was played at the speed of light. With nothing left to prove, I staggered up Wisconsin Ave., found my house, opened a beer and turned on the TV. Another roommate, a straight laced 18 year old wide-eyed innocent came into the room and asked what the hell happened to me. I'm told (I don't personally recall this) that without looking up from the TV, I informed him that I'd been "in search of rock and roll." You can bet your ass I found it that night. So now I'm 34. Got two kids, a responsible job. Almost never drink. But I still listen to rock and roll, and measure every CD I purchase against the 'Mats. They are the yardstick by which I measure greatness. Over the years, I saw them a bunch more times. Some good shows, some boring shows. I enjoyed Bash & Pop with a dozen other people one night in Baltimore, drink shots with Tommy. Never got into Paul's solo stuff. It seems to me he stopped writing from the heart and started writing from the head. But every time I hear the opening chords to Left of the Dial, I am reminded of the old days, when it took two months to scrape together enough cash to buy a record, and every night was an adventure. Peter K. From: "Nelson" Subject: a little Replacements story Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 19:41:53 -0500 I always tell myself whenever I'm listening to a Replacements song, "if I knew there was no God I'd worshiped the 'Mats", although I probably already have broken that commandment. Bless me father for I have sinned. I've gotten four or five Skyways so I thought I should finally give everyone my two cents, if there even worth that because I'm a young un in terms of a 'Mats fan. I'm darn near 20 and live in a little town about two hours south of the Twin Cities where polka, beer and anything German is considered holy. The 'Mats caught my ear because they could create a song that rocked but still be humable. The songs moved and invoked familiar settings, when I listen I can see Minneapolis, St. Paul and the alley behind my house. Also like many others The Replacements got me through high school without feeling horrible and "different". I feel little like Bryan Adams singing about the summer of '69 but it's the truth. I'm also a writer (so to speak). If my stuff could have the same emotional punch of one of Mr. Westerberg's songs I'd feel satisfied. It's Westerberg over Dostoyevsky, or maybe it's a tie, who holds mirror up to human pain. The reason it's taken me awhile to finally introduce myself to the Skyway is because I've been busy on a trip that one could say the 'Mats kicked off. I was lying around the house one evening enjoying the ergonomic comfort of my remote control as I channel surfed when I flipped by our local announcement channel where local businesses and charities etc. can advertise. The cable company pipes in different radio stations so it won't be dead air as the viewer find out about the upcoming Boy Scout pancake breakfast, I noticed I recognized the song: it was the Replacements. So I kept listening and discovered our local college radio station which broadcast out of a nearby college which I previously had thought was the Institute of higher learning where locals went if they were accepted no where else and where middle-aged parents of older children could go to finish their degree. I ended up going there for short time until I had to drop out because of health reasons, but if it wouldn't have been for Paul, the Stinson Brothers, Slim, and Chris my fate would have been different. Besides that I have nothing really interesting to say, I've never seen the 'Mats of course nor Paul for that matter and I don't have any tapes to trade and have no idea how to even go about starting that hobby, if anybody has any tips you can email me. Thanks Ryan Nelson Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 14:40:54 -0600 From: Lincoln Hirschi <1hirscli@slcc.edu> Subject: color me impressed Hello all fellow 'Mat-heads! I just stumbled onto this site yesterday and boy am I glad I did. This is the best music site I've seen. It's nice to see that seven years after their demise the Replacements have such a devoted following. Of course, why shouldn't they, right?! My own little 'Mats story started way back in the mid 80's when I was an introverted, alienated teen who spent his days reading about and listening to music. Sound familiar? It was through the late, great, lamented CREEM magazine that I first read of our heroes. I bought "Sorry Ma..." soon thereafter and then Hootenanny. Although I liked both albums a whole lot it wasn't until Let It Be that I was thoroughly blown away by them. To this day that is my fave by them and one of the all time greatest albums ever. However my fave song would be Left of the Dial. I was pleased to see that Rolling Stone agreed in their Paul Westerberg story a few years back. One of the few worthwhile things that sorry rag has done for sometime. I guess the only time they ever made it to Salt Lake City was the final tour. It was a great show. They played everyone's personal greatest hits plus this cool country tune that I've never heard before or since. I still remember it, a line about "somewhere there's a smile waiting for me." Paul even wrecked an amp that they rented from a music store that all the locals hated, so that was fun. As we filed out I overheard a kid no more than 17 turn to his buddy glowing about how they played Left of the Dial. That itself was worth the ticket price. What a band. I guess I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said better than I could about how much they meant to their fans. Much more than most bands, I daresay. Anyway, thanx for doing the Skyway. I read every entry today. Hopefully mine will be read as well. Oh, by the way... on a guitar junkie note... Bob and Paul's leads on "Johnny's Gonna Die" are the best... ever!! 'Bye-bye [That awesome tune was "If Only You Were Lonely". ~ m@] From: Wcmts@aol.com Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 09:52:00 EDT Subject: Skyway Note (or epic) I hope that one man's loss is truly another's gain. Within the past year my ENTIRE record collection was sold by my parents for $25 in a yard sale in Chemung County (upstate NY). When I asked my folks to "get rid of everything" in my room, I was referring to things like my high school years books...stuff I don't want my 6 year old son ever to see because all my pals wrote the "f"-word somewhere in their soyanaras. Anyway, the record collection included things like an early copy of The Beatles White Album, whatever was left of my Kiss records, the best & worst of metal circa '72-82, some great classic rock & a boatload of punk records. Everything from rare classics, like a live Dead Boys record on white vinyl, to at least a hundred LP's from the pre-Nirvana era. Bands like Bad Brains, Descendents, Fishbone, Government Issue, Naked Raygun & on & on. It also included every piece of vinyl I had ever seen by The Replacements, from Sorry Ma through at least Pleased, including the I Will Dare single (Twin Tone wants $25 for it today!), Boink, a very warped but playable Pleased promo interview album & a bunch of vinyl live boots. I heard the dude that forked over $25 for this stuff was ecstatic. I hope he ends up at least appreciating the 'Mats because I'm damn near positive nobody's ever heard of them in ole Chemung County before this guy recently stumbled into my old neighborhood. Going back to the mid 80's: a few of us were in my dorm-room in Pittsburgh & ready to head out to Primanti Brothers for some sandwiches. One guy, a hardcore punk, wanted to hang in my room as we left. Since I had no food or anything of value stashed away, I didn't mind. The Replacements Stink was playing on my turntable as we were leaving. When we came back about 3- 4 hours later, the guy's still sitting there listing to Stink like he hadn't moved. Since Stink is 20 minutes or less in its entirety, the rest of us were like, "what they hell are ya doing?" and he, the hardcore purist, says "I think these guys think they're punk or somethin'", but then he refused to admit he dug the 'Mats at all. Today I bet he'd still say they sucked. That's the funny thing about The Replacements, a lot of people couldn't figure out if they we're just a big scam or not. And when they were joking most people didn't get it. I saw the 'Mats several times, mostly on the East Coast. One memorable show was at The Bayou in DC in '87. The press was pissed because the previous DC show in '86 never happened as the tour was cut short after Paul fell off the stage at the Ritz in NY- so the pre-show line was that the band was finally getting serious and that we shouldn't expect anymore Kiss covers or screwing around on stage. Well, the boys took the stage clearly wrecked that night, Paul's ad-libbing was in high gear and very inappropriate, he played Bastards flat on his back following a short wrestling match with Tommy & they even played Black Diamond. At one point it took about 10 minutes for their roadie to restring Paul's guitar. Paul just stood up at the mic cracking jokes, daring us to throw beer at him and fielding questions- even about Bob's departure. The 'Mats proved the critics wrong again, and they didn't win anyone over in the process. Of all of the bands I've ever been into, the 'Mats were definitely the most unprofessional live. Yet they were the funniest traveling circus ever to come to town and somehow they mixed this with nights or maybe just moments of brilliance. Plus, they wrote the best & most meaningful rock'n'roll songs in a decade that offered very little else for us to cling to. Except for a handful of very hip radio stations and some college radio, there was "no mass appeal" for bands like The Replacements. Thanks to Matt for shedding some well deserved light on them now. Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 18:43:22 -0500 From: Jeffery Sitz / Zee Evelsizer I am a longtime Replacements fan & it was my great good fortune to see them live several times (3 or 4 I think) starting in 1985, in the wilds of Alabama. Just got the All for Nothing/Nothing for All CD and it reminded me once again of just how much I love this band, and how much their music did for me. It was also my great good fortune to meet all the guys except Bob, and hang out with them a bit. Have been following them since the breakup, but nobody much comes to Kentucky... if any of them ever play Nashville I will certainly be there. I was wondering if you had contact information for any of the guys... I hate to send stuff c/o a record company 'cos you never know what happens to it. I am especially interested in finding out what Chris has been up to with all his art stuff.... Thanks for any help you can give & maybe I'll see ya on the Skyway.... Later Zee Rohauer Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 22:32:37 -0500 From: ccruse here's my story. Almost eight years ago, I was madly in love with a beautiful woman. I was at the end of a loveless marriage, and she was involved in a losing relationship, too. I think we both knew we were in love with each other, but sometimes these things are harder to do than you expect. I really needed to tell her how I felt, so I decided to make her a tape. It was a compilation of some great songs by different artists, like Elvis Costello, Roxy Music, and of course the 'Mats. I told her to listen to the first song on that tape, and she would know how I felt. How much I was in love with her. She did, and told me later she knew I loved her, and needed her, and wanted to be with her. She cried because the song was so moving, and because I had told her how I felt through such a wonderful song. We have been together ever since, and I love her more today than I did all those years ago, if that is possible. So thank you, Paul Westerberg. Only you could have written "Sadly Beautiful". craig Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 21:30:48 -0100 From: John Ellis Subject: How I became a 'Mats fan Talk about missing the boat. I didn't get into The Replacements until only a few weeks before they broke up. It was the summer of '91. My then girlfriend, whom I had started dating recently was a big 'Mats fan. I was into punk and metal and some classic bands like the Stones and Led Zep. My girlfriend was into the alternative scene: The Cure, Depeche Mode, The 'Mats, et al. One night I came across "Tim". She played it for me and I couldn't turn it off. I must have listened to it about 5 times that night. And I thought, "Why wasn't I into this band before?" A few months later I would lose a girlfriend, but I gained a newly found appreciation for a great band. I admit, not much of a story. I think the 'Mats legacy will always be that they struck a chord with the disaffected, pissed-off youth of the mid 80's. The 'Mats to me, were a haven, a shoulder to cry on, during an awkward stage in my life and many others' lives: high school. Westerberg's comforting voice made it seem ok to not be the most popular person in school. And the 'Mats did it with thoughtful melodies and incredible energy and passion. "Bastards of Young" is a big "fuck you" to the Reagan era in the 80's, when Gen-Xers discovered that the Baby Boomer, "ME generation" were ruining the country. And I still occasionally shed a tear when I hear "Here Comes a Regular". Most critics rank "Let it Be" as the 'Mats' best work, but "Tim" is my favorite album. "Pleased to Meet Me" is my 2nd favorite. "Let it Be" is my next favorite. I also think "All Shook Down" is great album, very under-rated. Just because it wasn't a real 'Mats album, with the group rarely playing as a group, the music is still superb. Just think of it as Westerberg's first solo album. I heard a rumor that the 'Mats were planning to reunite for a reunion tour for the retrospectives that have come out and will continue to come out. It would be neat, but I also would like to see what Westerberg does on his own, and what Tommy Stinson will be doing in GN'R now. The story isn't as interesting as others' stories, but that is the beauty of the 'Mats. They were as much about the little things as they were the big things. They affected so many people in so many different ways. And on an aside, I have converted about 4 more fans to the 'Mats this summer, including my current girlfriend. My current girlfriend, missed them the first time around also, but just as my ex had done for me, I have now done for her and I have converted her into a fan of Paul and the band. I hope the music will still be there for us to grow old to someday. Thanks for listening. p.s. there is a local/semi-national band in my area who remind me a little of the 'Mats. Check out their web site at: http://www.huffamoose.com [According to anything that in the band has said in interviews in the past seven years, the reunion rumor is unfortunately probably just that. ~ m@.] From: Rody0@aol.com Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 00:47:09 EDT Subject: Yaderhey I thought I would drop you a line to check in formally. I love the site and I have been spending most of my workdays (at a cable TV network - ugh) looking at it. I really enjoy reading everybody's stories and hearing about the crazy shit that went on in the 'Mats' heyday. I must admit that I got turned on to the band ridiculously late in life, and with no real excuse. I was born in 1969 and grew up in NYC. My sister was always about 19 years ahead of the curve when it came to music. When I was listening to Billy Joel in the early 80's, she was listening to Siouxsie & the Banshees, the Slits, Replacements (foreshadowing!), etc. She tried to help me out, but I was hopeless. I wasn't even ready for Led Zeppelin. As far as I was concerned, "Glass Houses" was IT. Fast-forward to 1987. Freshman year, UW-Madison. What a great city Madison is. Especially when you're 18. Living out of the house for the first time. Total freedom...getting blotto about three nights a week...the whole bit. STILL I was unable to catch on to the 'Mats. I was into Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen and 80's Rap pretty much exclusively. At least I had jettisoned Billy Joel. One of my best friends, Brady, was into lots of what was then being called "alternative", or "progressive" music, eventually including the Mats(he was from Osceola, WI--not far from Mpls.). Throughout college, which ended in '91, just like the 'Mats, he'd put in Don't Tell a Soul or Pleased to Meet Me, and I became familiar with some of the songs. Loved Can't Hardly Wait. Still do. Didn't love I'll Be You. Still don't. So I had a little awareness of them, but they hadn't HIT me yet. I moved back to NYC after a year or so kicking around Madison (Boy, I love that town). Then, in 1993 or so, a bunch of my college roommates had a reunion weekend in Chicago. Brady lives there now, and he was at this point a 'Mats- nut. He's not the type of guy who gets all into the lyrics and analyzes the piss out of a song( I am). His approach is more Beavis and Butthead: either it rocks or it doesn't. So Brady's driving, and he goes: "I want you to hear the best fucking song ever" or something like that. He put in "Unsatisfied", and suddenly it all connected. We put that song on about 3 badillion times that weekend. When I got back to NYC, I bought "Let it Be". I liked the album a lot, although not as much as I do now. So I inexplicably didn't buy any more albums. Then earlier this year, another reunion weekend, this time in NYC. We were shitfaced at about 6pm one day, walking back from a bar, and Brady goes, "Do you have 'Tim'?" I shook my head. He stumbled off alone in a city he didn't even know, found Sounds on St. Mark's Place (Alex Chilton was nowhere in sight), and returned with the disc. That became the theme album for the next few days, and when he left town (the CD was left as a gift), I had become a junkie. Once they hit ya, it's just over. There's no one quite like 'em. I am now on a rampage through their catalog (a slow rampage, considering my income). Need the first two still, but only a matter of time now. Also have "Eventually" and like it a lot. Sorry about the length...almost done. Had dinner with my sis the other night at my mom's. She asked my mom if any of her albums were still around. My mom directed her to them, and guess what was stickin' right out? "Tim", "Hootenanny", and "Sorry, Ma...", all on vinyl. We put on "Sorry Ma", but the turntable was having some problems, so I didn't get a good listen. Still, it was a very satisfying evening. OK, sorry to waste more time, but here are a couple of quick ones: Favorite 'Mats album: "Tim" or "Let it Be" Song: "Little Mascara" or "Alex Chilton" Madison bar: Pinckney St. Hideaway(I heard it's gone) NYC bar: probably 7B, but there are certainly a lot of choices. -Steve From: PJungwirth@aol.com Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 22:03:22 EDT Subject: Erik Estrada - 'Mats fan?!? I just caught an episode of "Vinyl Justice" (the show where they bust in on people and dig on their disk collections) on VH1. Our fine officers were in the home of none other than Erik Estrada when I caught a glimpse of Hootenanny in his disk collection. If you happen to see the episode, it is sitting (back side up) on the top of the disk pile right before they haul out a copy of the soundtrack to "Hook". Ponch digs the 'Mats. Cool! Pete Jungwirth Wilmington, NC On the eve of Hurricane Bonnie From: xevenoirxx@aol.com (XEveNoirXx) Newsgroups: alt.music.replacements Subject: I'm In Love... The Replacements Are All I Have Date: 30 Aug 1998 15:50:24 GMT What's that song? "Cerebral rape and pillage in a village of his choice. Invisible man who can sing in a visible voice. Feeling like a hundred bucks, exchanging good lucks face to face. Checkin' his stash by the trash at St. Mark's place..." - Alex Chilton, The Replacements I'm living in Minnesota. I can't keep denying this fact, as if I'm going to wake up tomorrow and realize this was all some Wal-Mart and Vend*A*Bait (They sell leeches and minnows in vending machines here, rather like condoms or soda or candy, and speaking of prophylactics, they also have condom machine in a bar restroom here that not only vends condoms, but temporary tattoos) induced nightmare. I spent some of my formative years here, in this land of 326738292902 lakes or whatever it is, and in the spirit of nostalgia, I have been listening to a lot of the Replacements. This band got their name 'cause way back in the day Iggy post- Stooges needed a backup band and Paul Westerberg and the boys filled in, or at least that's the way my Dad told me when I was a kid. And when I was a kid, we loved the Replacements. Every single band that I ever heard in some garage did a cover of "Fuck School" and "Red Light." They also did bad acoustic versions of "Skyway." We all thought "Androgynous" was the freakin' most brilliant song ever written, 'cause man, we were punks and man, the parents just didn't "get it" and man, we got a math test tomorrow. "Here come Dick, he's wearing a skirt Here comes Jane, y'know she's sporting a chain Same hair, revolution Same build, evolution Tomorrow who's gonna fuss" Hell, "16 Blue" was the played and replayed anthem of every angst-N-acne ridden' kid. "Try to figure out, they wonder what next you'll pull You don't understand anything sexual.." The Replacements were loud and they had lyrics that spoke to our lil' flannel-clad hearts and they knew what it was like to live in the Midwest and dream of Hollywood. They knew all about living in some nowhere town and getting someone's older brother to buy you 3.2 at the 7-11 and back then, store clerks didn't card for smokes. I loved 'em, everyone loved 'em, but back then I knew I was getting outta Minnesota. I'm living in Minnesota. I deny this fact to everyone I know. Some of my friends from back in the day are thrilled about this. I get phone calls. MN.Friend#1: "Hey Eve, I hear your living here now." Me: "No, I don't live in Minnesota." MN.Friend #1: "Did you rent a place here." Me: "Yeah." MN. Friend #1: "Well, then you're living in Minnesota." Me: "Fuck you." My west cost pals are pretty upset about this. LA X-Boyfriend who treated me like shit but has now decided he wants me back: "Fuck, are you ever gonna come home." Me: "Yes, as soon as I can." LAXBWTMLSBNHDHWMB: "Did you rent a place there?" Me: "Yeah." LAXBWTMLSBNHDHWMB: "Well, then you're living in Minnesota." Me: "Fuck you." If I were younger, and I didn't have a kid, and if I weren't so terrified of living in Hawthorne, I could move back to LA. My publisher tries to placate me. Publisher Guy: "It will be good for you. Write some more. Take a break. By January you'll be able to afford to live in LA." Me: "Fuck you." Yeah, maybe I'm cynical and I don't have a bone of hope left in my body, but until I actually see the dust cover for my book, I ain't even planning on visiting LA. Nah, until then I'll have Schell's beer and Barnes and Noble's stocked to the gills with Garrison Keiler books and a whole buncha lakes. But thank God there ain't a bar in this state that doesn't have " Here Comes A Regular" and "Red Red Wine On Sunday" on the juke. I have a feeling I'm gonna need it. From: "Mickey Lemle" Subject: Re: Story #1 Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 10:41:20 -0400 During my last semester at college, I interned at The Hubley Studio (independent animation studio). I continued working there fore a several years but that has no relevance to this story. Anyway one day I was inking & painting at Emily Hubley's house. We got to talking about music and such and inevitably it turned to The Replacements. Back in the 1980's Emily shared a house in Hoboken, NJ with her sister Georgia (now of You La Tengo). Since they lived just down the street from Maxwells, frequently bands would crash at their house on their way through town. Bob and Tommy spent several nights with the Hubleys. Emily told me about Bob spending his day in front on the TV watching cartoons and being fascinated by their cat and then later trying on her dresses for that nights show and of Tommy spending the in day in the bathroom emptying the hairspray bottle and how Paul came over and offered up apologizes. I delighted in these tales and went home from work that day with a Cheshire grin. The next morning I awoke for class, turned on the radio and much to my dismay learned that a member of the 'Mats has died. When I was finally informed which one, I called Emily and made her promise to no longer discuss anything even remotely related to the band with me. This has been upheld and to this day no other band member has died. -Linda Moroney Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1998 23:37:53 -0500 From: Jeff Leven Subject: the testimonial I had to wait a year to write I'll have to admit to being one of those miserable heels who religiously reads every Skyway edition without having ever sent in my introduction. The reason? Well, although I'd like to pretend I'm a busy guy, the answer is a little more complicated than that. I've only owned a Replacements album for about two years, and felt like I needed to "earn" my status as a 'Mats fan before I could even try to explain what they mean to me. See, unlike a lot of y'all I never had a chance to really experience the Replacements when they were in their heyday. As Paul and the boys were ripping up stages and garages across the U.S., I was still under the influence of my parents light rock stations, and was a couple million miles away from the point in my life where a song like "Color Me Impressed" could really begin to speak for me. So, anyway, I can't really claim that "The Ledge" kept me from teenage suicide, nor do I have any good stories about getting smashed with the Stinsons or any such classic 'Mats moments. I got interested in the Replacements by one of those lucky accidents that in retrospect seems almost like a mundane sort of destiny. Having played guitar from about fifth grade on, I slowly began to get interested in types of music that you couldn't get on the radio. The turning point for me was a blues compilation I bought just for the hell of it to see what all the fuss in the guitar magazines was about. It absolutely blew me away and from that moment on I realized that music was one of the things in life that consistently resonated with me, and that somehow it was something I was meant to really dive into. So, anyway, since then I've been reading about and listening to anything I can get my hands on, and, like that first blues compilation, bought Pleased to Meet Me just because I had heard about it enough to want to hear what the noise was about. This was freshman year in college, and there was just something about the album that made so much sense to me at the time, and still do. The Replacements to me are kind of like a good college buddy- a smart-aleck exterior with just enough octane in the tank to make things a little dangerous but sincere to the core with enough heart to lend a certain shabby glory to even their most embarrassing moments of excess. Pleased to Meet Me is one of the few albums I can listen to in any mood-- "I.O.U" or "Shooting Dirty Pool" to rev me up for a night on the town, "Valentine," or "Can't Hardly Wait," for driving on a sunny day with the windows down looking for an epic anthem to lend to the memories being formed, and "Skyway" for those meditative moments, be it broken-hearted or deep in love. There is just something so powerful about the way Westerberg can spill his heart out and couch it in enough self-deprecating humor that you know he means it. So anyway, for the last two years the Replacements have been kind of a soundtrack to my various adventures and misadventures. When I turned 21 at midnight, my friends and I blasted "Beer for Breakfast" and did a ritual chug, while the first girl I deeply fell for got a mix tape with "Skyway" on it. I do blues radio here at WPRB in NJ, but every rock show I do as a sub starts with "Left of the Dial," and before all the silly parties where the same people say the same nothings to the same people who themselves are too busy glancing around the room to notice I go to "Nightclub Jitters," or "Color Me Impressed," for a little perspective. As far as my collection goes, I've kind of worked backwards, buying Let It Be and the All For Nothing albums before going back to Hootenanny and Sorry Ma. I'll have to admit that it's hard to be as amused by "Treatment Bound" or "Take Me to the Hospital," as it must have been before Bob's death, but there is still an abandon and an exuberance in those albums that suggests that there was more to that music than an embarrassing mess of drugs and untuned guitars. I guess that's why I actually like Westerberg's new music, too. It's kind of inspiring to see him not only survive to outgrow his excesses but also to actually continue to put his heart on the line without the crutches of the 'Mats wild reputation and his own personal problems to shield him from high expectations. You get the sense that even in the depths of their insanity, the 'Mats had the heart of an innocent sixteen year-old boy first falling in love and eager to drink out all that life had to offer (no pun intended). Westerberg seems to have done a pretty good job of keeping his music on this level, although I think that it was only in juxtaposition with songs like "Fuck School," that songs like "Here Comes A Regular" could be so powerful. Nonetheless, "Waiting for Somebody," and "Love Untold," still speak to me quite a bit, and I can't wait to drag all my friends to see him as soon as he goes on tour next. So, anyway, I guess that's my take on why the Replacements deserve this kind of adulation half a decade after their demise, and why I continue to proudly call them my favorite band. Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 01:01:28 -0800 From: Gilbert Davila My name is Gilbert, I am 31 years old and I am from Los Angeles. I've been a Replacements fan since '84. The Replacements were a very special and influential band to me spiritually. I always felt close to their songs and I admit that when I still hear songs like "Sixteen Blue", "Within Your Reach", and "Here Comes a Regular", I get goose bumps and teary eyes. The Replacements brought me out of Punk Rock and Post Punk and into to Indie-Rock. To me they were the Beatles and my favorite band of the '80s along with Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and X. Now my favorite bands include Pavement, Stereolab, GBV, Portishead, Tricky and Yo La Tengo. The only band I ever played in when I was a kid was called Stuck in the Middle, which I named after the song from the "Stink" EP. That song really described the state of mind us original slacker kids were in at that time. Oh well I hope to hear from other Replacement fans and maybe hook up with some fans from LA next time Paul Westerberg comes into town. Punk is dead, Indie Rock is dead, MTV sucks, Spin sucks, everybody is hip and that's not cool. LONG LIVE THE REPLACEMENTS! From: Bryceypooh@aol.com Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 21:56:00 EDT I am new to the internet and all this newfangled technology widgets so one of the first things I did was search for something that made me feel happy, The 'Mats. After finding this page all I could think was SUSCRIBE ME NOW. I happened to stumble across them about two years and they have quickly become one of my favorite bands. They have come to me to represrent a sincerity and rawness that is not found in very few other bands. A modern version of The Who or The Rolling Stones circa 1966 in my humble opinion. It feels like Paul Westerburg is speaking to me whenever he sings his songs, the greatest of his generation. As a guitar player these guys are reachable heros, writing memorable melodies with a rawness that keeps me interested and wishing for more. I could pages on them but why? ________________________________________________________________________________ II. BAREFOOT AND PREGANT GRANDPA BOY From: "Phil Clayton" Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1998 17:18:13 +0000 Subject: Lindeen EP This is probably old news to a lot of you, but maybe you'd like to let the rest of The Skyway know about this, if nobody has done already: I received a postcard today from Monolyth/Soundproof Records advising me that "A Pregnant Pause" CD EP by Laurie Lindeen is now available featuring... Grandpa Boy. Catalogue #: MCD 1321 CD EP It's available for $8.50 pp (US, I presume add $US2 postage for overseas air) from: Monolyth/Soundproof Records PO Box 990980 Boston MA 02199-0980 UNITED $TATE$ OF AMERICA www.monolyth.com Phil Clayton phil@ch.planet.gen.nz From: JohnFA2@aol.com Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:30:54 EDT "On the musical front, both Mom and Dad have new releases coming soon. AllStarMag reports that Laurie will be releasing a solo EP, Pregnant Pause, at the end of August, featuring a duet with Paul on a cover of Herman's Hermits' "Don't Go Out into the Rain". The EP will released by Soundproof/Monolyth Records, home of Grandapaboy and you can order the EP from their Web site or from Newbury Comics Interactive. Speaking of Grandpaboy, you can click here to view the video for "Hot Un" online at altvideos.com - although it's pretty low budget (and low-brow) and Paul doesn't appear in it, it's worth checking for curiosity's sake. News on Paul's next release is a little more complicated. The original release date was Sept. 8 and it was entitled "It's A Wonderful Lie" (a typically Westerbergian title). However, according to Capitol's Web site, the date has now been pushed back (FOR THE THIRD TIME). It had been listed as "Fall 98" and it's now been moved to the "Coming Next Year" section and it will be called "Self-Defense". All this uncertainty about the release is not a good sign and is probably the result of Gary Gersh's departure." goddammit, i can't believe this shit. -john Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 11:44:32 -0500 (CDT) From: Mark Janovec Being a regular reader of SKYWAY, I thought I'd send this bit of info your way. The 1982 cassette compilation Barefoot and Pregnant (on Reflex Records), featuring the 'Mats live version of Ace of Spades, will be re-issued this summer on CD. The compilation also contains two Husker Du songs and a contribution from Loud Fast Rules (the early name for Soul Asylum), plus just about every other Minneapolis hard-core band at the time. Permission has been secured from all the bands except Soul Asylum, but that's in the works and should be done soon. The CD is expected to come out in mid-August in an initial pressing of 1000 copies (which should disappear pretty quickly, but it will be probably be re-pressed upon demand). This compilation will have a very small distribution (mostly Twin Cities area stores), so I thought I should make you aware of this re-issue before it's too late. Right now, I don't want word of this re-issue to spread. So if you keep it hush-hush for now, I would appreciate it. But when it comes out, I will supply all the info necessary to order copies. You can then feel free to post it on your website for others to see. Take it easy, and thanks for doing SKYWAY. It's always fun to read. Mark From: "Ralph Bryant" Subject: Barefoot and Pregnant Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1998 14:03:00 PDT Garage D'Or records in Minneapolis has RERELEASED Barefoot and Pregnant on CD! It includes a live 'Mats song called "Ace of Spades".(Motorhead cover?!?) This was originally released in 1982 on Reflex records on cassette only...this piece is nearly impossible to find. You can call the store...I don't have the number but will find it and email it to you. This also includes stuff by the Huskers, Loud Fast Rules (yes, this is correct) and a host of other early Minneapolis bands. Worth picking up for the collection! Date: Wed, 02 Sep 1998 7:48 -0600 From: "Chad Werner" Subject: Barefoot & Pregnant! For those of you who haven't heard, Terry Katzman (Garage D'Or) has re-released the 1982 Mpls. compilation "Barefoot & Pregnant" on Reflex Records. I was 10 years old in 1982, so, although I lived near Mpls. at the time, I didn't get into the 'Mats until later that decade. I rushed out to buy this document of a time past as soon as I heard about it. It takes awhile to get into because it sounds like total shit. There is one, barely audible, 'Mats song on the compilation: "Ace Of Spades". It's pretty funny. Also, there is an Eagles- sounding pop song called "Let's Lie" by Tulsa Jacks. Tulsa Jacks is Bob Mould (Du, Sugar, etc.), Chris Osgood (Suicide Commandos) & Tommy Stinson (duh!). Other tracks are by Loud Fast Rules (hmm...), Husker Du, Idol Threat, Rifle Sport, In Decision, Lou Santacroce, Man Sized Action, Mecht Mensch & Red Meat. The last track, I've decided, is worth the price of the CD. I won't spoil the surprise, but, suffice it to say, if you grew up in Minnesota in the 80s & watched a fair amount of TV, you'll find it pretty damn funny. ________________________________________________________________________________ III. TOMMY RUMORS ABOUND (and the put outs) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998 11:35:24 -0400 From: "StEpHaNiE b. FrAnK" Subject: Tommy Puts Out I'm new here, but I've been reading through some of the more recent back issues of Skyway. I'm not exactly a die-hard 'Mats fan...yet. It's a long story that only makes me look weird, so I'm not going into it now. But trust me, I'm notorious for signing on to mailing lists of defunct bands that I'm not really a fan of. =) I actually have some information that might be of interest! Please forgive me if this has been posted before, but I didn't notice it. At any rate, I think it was in the March 22nd issue that someone's review of the solo Tommy Stinson show on March 8th at the IOTA in Arlington, VA, appeared. Well, I was supposed to be at that show. Due to the fact that I'm under 21, the club refused to let me in despite many people's efforts. Of course I heard back that it was one rockin' show. Go figure. Does anyone know if any bootleg exists? I'd take either set, but I'm especially interested in the openers (the Put-Outs), though I wanna hear that version of "Crocodile Rock" really badly as well. Anyway... I believe the reviewer (I apologize for not knowing your name! I don't have the thing in front of me at the moment) mentioned that Tommy was thinking of producing the opening act the Put-Outs, but it seemed more like a joke. Well, it wasn't. He was set to record with the band July 8-13, but I believe it ended up being only five days, at a studio in Upper Marlboro, MD. The Put-Outs recently finished up the recording of the twelve songs for the CD on their own and will be mailing the tapes out to Tommy in L.A. for mixing. I heard about a winter release, but don't hold me to that, since it's not nearly ready and they aren't sure who will release it. I know "La La La" (one of my favorite ditties) isn't on the album. I don't know the track listing, because I don't want to spoil the surprise for myself by asking. Maybe a background on the Put-Outs would be appropriate, since I'm sure just about everyone is thinking, "Who the hell are they?! I've never heard of them!" Think of their sound as Superdrag meets The Replacements. They're based in Baltimore, MD, and play the Balt./D.C. circuit quite often and sometimes make it to NYC. As far as I know, there aren't any up-coming shows, so I can't plug them, however if you happen to see them listed somewhere go to the show! I believe they've been knocking around the area for a couple of years now and have appeared on a few compilations (The Three Minute Revolution, Settling the DC Score, Listener Supported, Bawdamoor, and another up-coming one) as well as releasing a 7" vinyl of "The Sky Is Falling" backed with one B-side "Starlet... (Annie)." Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of the lads. I guess I'd actually say they're my favorite band at the moment, so if you want to know anything else feel free to e-mail me. I'm working with the band on their official web site, however it's not open to the public yet. BUT if you want to hear a couple of sound clips (this is not the Tommy produced stuff), e-mail me and I'll give you the URL to that specific page of the site. Or hey, if you want to buy anything, let me know and I'll give you the score on all that. On an unrelated note... I'm a bootleg collector. Don't have any 'Mats stuff yet (in the process of getting When the Shit Hits the Fans), but I'd love to acquire more. If you're interested in a trade, the URL for my list is in my signature. Please contact me if you'd like to trade! I've said plenty for my first rant, so I'll shut up now. Take care... "Say la la la," Stephanie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ the Put-Outs --> COMING SOON!! STAY TUNED!! Not Another Clich‚ --> http://coward.home.ml.org Rule 62 Rules --> http://audiophile.com/rule62 My Bootleg Stash --> http://www.audiophile.com/boots -->>----ICQ UIN-----> 1796262 \ | / -->>-----AOL IM-----> CowardChik O O ---------------------------------------------------oOo--(___)--oOo------ From: psorce@webworldinc.com Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 01:33:34 -0700 Subject: Fwd: Tommy answers his critics...NOT! From: sector7g@ix.netcom.com (Tyler Andersen) Ventured up to NYC to see Perfect and Ryan Adams on Friday. Tommy got heckled throughout the show about GnR, Axl, and fielded numerous requests for "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City". He never acknowledged the comments and to be honest, looked a tad embarrassed by the whole thing. The Perfect show was LOUD and Tommy seemed to be enjoying himself. Never mentioned anything about when we can expect a record though. And for all you Puffy fans out there, yes, he did through in a few bars of the "Benjamins" during one of the final numbers. The Fox networks' "That 70's Show" debuted tonight and the theme song was Big Star's "In the Street". I was thinking that was pretty weird and then I read this bit in Entertainment Weekly: <> Tommy in a techno incarnation of G'n'R... what is this world coming to? ________________________________________________________________________________ IV. CORNER OF UNTOLD MUSIC PUBLISHING RIGHTS CHEERFULLY LOST From: keragatz@mpls.k12.mn.us Date: Sat, 1 Aug 1998 09:52:51 +0000 Just got the new Replacements boot, Putting on the Ritz (NYC 1987; on the "Punk Vault" label). I.C.E. magazine described it as "easily the finest bootleg of the band to date, offering a blistering 25-track soundboard recording of a tight and spirited show..." On a first listen I'd say this is right on. The track list is great; it includes I Will Dare, Lovelines, Within Your Reach, Sweet Home Chicago, Favorite Thing, Unsatisfied, Go, California Sun, Another Girl..., If Only You Were Lonely, Color Me Impressed, Takin' a Ride, and tons of songs from Tim and Pleased to Meet Me. I got two copies of this. I'll sell my second at cost (be warned, it's a bit expensive); e-mail me if interested. Tom P.S. Have you seen a new Westerberg rarities boot called Unintentionally? Any idea where I might find a track list? From: Miraclo@aol.com Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 04:12:18 EDT Subject: Replacements Rarities CDs available I saw that someone in last month's Skyway was inquiring about 'Mats rarities on CD, so it occurred to me that perhaps there are people who don't know about the rarities CD-Rs I have put together. So, for those of you who don't know, I currently have the following five CDs available: 1. "Boink: The Replacements Anthology" which covers unreleased songs and alternate versions from 1980-86, including "If Only You Were Lonely", "Nowhere is My Home", the airshaft version of "Can't Hardly Wait", and "Time is Killing Us", and many more. 2. "How Did the Vomit Get up on the Ceiling" which covers unreleased songs and alternates from 1987-91, including "Learn How to Fail", "Ought to Get Love", "Run for the Country" and "Can't Hardly Wait" without the horn overdubs. 3. "Unintentionally" which features Paul Westerberg demos (including mostly songs the 'Mats never did, like "Bad Worker" and "Gas Station Attendant") from 81-83, along with a solo live acoustic show by Paul in 1982. 4. "Trackin' Up the North" which collects additional studio rarities and live stuff from 1980 through to 1991, such as "Lookin for Ya", "Like You", "Only if We Must", and "Job Country" (the country version of "God Damn Job"). 5. "Simply Unacceptable" which contains a live show recorded on 7/1/1985 in Minneapolis. The full track listing for each CD, along with photos of the covers, can be found at Bob's Barber Shop (http://www.magicnet.net/~mikem/). If you have questions about these discs or are interested in getting any of them, email me at miraclo@aol.com. Jason From: "Scott Hudson" Subject: Puttin on the Ritz Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 08:37:11 -0500 I'm another guy looking for Puttin on the Ritz. I would also be willing to burn some CDR's of that show if the disc is found. Scott 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 ________________________________________________________________________________ "This job would be perfect if it weren't for the fucking customers." - Randall, _Clerks_