The Replacements!!!

There was a significant part of the mid to late 80's in which I listened to The Replacements probably every day. They were a band that, like many of my other favorite bands, my old brother turned me onto. There was something oh so cool about these guys. They were punkers. They were rockers. They played poppy tunes. They played sloppy tunes. Seeing them live (which I never did) was always a question mark. One night they would put on the best show you have ever seen, the next night they would play bits and pieces of random cover songs since they were too drunk to play they own. They were a lit firecracker and they were an inspiration. Green Day, The Hold Steady, Gaslight Anthem, Goo Goo Dolls and many others state that they wouldn't be here if it weren't for The Replacements.

They broke up due to all the other rock n' roll cliches. Drugs and alcohol were probably the leading reason and power struggle was the other. Guitarist Bob Stinson was kicked out for being too drunk and for not liking to play the more mellow stuff that lead singer Paul Westerberg was pushing the bands direction in. He played the guitar fast and loud and died, exhausted, at the young age of 34 . Bob's brother Tommy was only 14 when they released their first cd and much like Bob he lived and played the same way. He eventually moved on to start other bands and is currently playing bass for Guns N Roses?!? Drummer Chris Mars, much like the Stinson brothers, split the band not appreciating the power struggle with Westerberg and is now an accomplished painter and chooses not to talk about his days in the band. Slim Dunlap, who took over for Bob Stinson, has kept a low profile sticking to the Minneapolis music scene. Lead singer Paul Westerberg has had a solid solo career releasing 14 albums, some of under the name 'Grandpaboy' and his last 4 have been self released. A few years ago he severely injured his hand attempting to removed candle wax with a screwdriver and hasn't played much since.

So why am I writing about this band if they haven't done anything in years? There is a movie that is coming about about them and it is getting great reviews. The movie is called 'Color Me Obsessed, the potentially true story of the last best band'. One interesting thing about this film is they say that it doesn't contain any of their music. Huh?

Below you can find info about the film, which I took from its website: www.whatwerewethinkingfilms.com/colormeobsessed/ There are some promo items, trailers and some good quality videos from one of their early shows in 1981 which I found on Youtube. Thanks Youtube!!! Watch, enjoy and go see the movie when it comes to your town. Tell your friends! I'm very excited for this! Enjoy:

ABOUT:
With COLOR ME OBSESSED, the first documentary on the influential '80s
indie-rock band, The Replacements, director Gorman Bechard brings an
extraordinary vision to a unique filmmaking challenge. Told through
the eyes of fans, friends, and contemporaries, the film breaks from
the traditional music documentary format of music and performances.
“Not wanting to make a VH1/where-are-they-now style documentary, I
decided to present the band in a more iconic way,” the director
explains. “I thought, people believe in God without seeing or hearing
him but rather through the passion, faith, and stories of others.
After watching COLOR ME OBSESSED, I’m pretty sure music fans will
believe in The Replacements in much the same way.”

Telling the band’s story was a project close to the heart for Bechard.
Like many who were weaned on punk music he latched onto this brash
young Minneapolis band with fervor.  Dubbed “the last best band” by
Spin Magazine, their live shows could be miraculous or downright
disasters. Their fans, unwaveringly faithful. As critic’s darlings,
their albums were wrought with angry guitars and passionate
well-written lyrics that hinted at potential commercial success. Yet,
somehow, the band managed to continually shoot themselves in the foot.
Their relative obscurity was a motivating factor in presenting their
story on film.  “The Replacements should have been the next Rolling
Stones,” Bechard says, “And to the people who loved them, I think they
were.”

Combining over 140 interviews with rockers (Colin Meloy of The
Decemberists, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Tommy Ramone, Grant Hart
and Greg Norton of Husker Du, all three members of Goo Goo Dolls),
journalists (Robert Christgau, Legs McNeil, Ira Robbins, Greg Kot, Jim
DeRogatis), and fans both famous (Tom Arnold, Dave Foley, George
Wendt) and not, Bechard delivers the obsessive tale of the most
influential band you've never heard of, to many the greatest rock band
of all time, The Replacements. And though containing not a note of
their music, COLOR ME OBSESSED is a documentary that really rocks.

Name Dropping Trailer:


Another Trailer:


Goddamn Job & Juniors got a gun:


Kids don't listen:


Something to du (giving props to Husker Du):


Dope smokin' moron/skip it:


Maybelline (Chuck Berry cover):


Hey Good Lookin (Hank Williams cover):