Paul & Tommy in Rolling Stone

[Jer]

Rolling Stone Article

[Placemat]

Same old rumor that goes around, every time one of 'em puts out a new record. If they're gonna have fun, go for it. If it's just for a paycheck, I'd rather they not.

More interesting is:

While a reunion may be unlikely in the near future, Westerberg has spent a lot of time recently combing through his past for a planned box set. "On a whim I got to dig through some old tapes," he says. "I found one song I never put on anything for people to hear. Then I dug deeper and found the original 'Good Day' [from his 1996 solo LP Eventually]. That pretty much stunned me. I have to close this box set pretty soon because this could take the rest of my life just going through all these things and going, 'God, why was that there.'"

I'll pay fer a box set.

[sivad]

Aug 22, 2011 18:47:05 GMT -5 Placemat said:

Same old rumor that goes around, every time one of 'em puts out a new record. If they're gonna have fun, go for it. If it's just for a paycheck, I'd rather they not.

More interesting is:

While a reunion may be unlikely in the near future, Westerberg has spent a lot of time recently combing through his past for a planned box set. "On a whim I got to dig through some old tapes," he says. "I found one song I never put on anything for people to hear. Then I dug deeper and found the original 'Good Day' [from his 1996 solo LP Eventually]. That pretty much stunned me. I have to close this box set pretty soon because this could take the rest of my life just going through all these things and going, 'God, why was that there.'"

I'll pay fer a box set.

I'm all over that, too. Now the question is . . . when? Can you imagine what he has put away? A treasue trove of what he considers a throw away.

[Jer]

Same old rumor that goes around, every time one of 'em puts out a new record. If they're gonna have fun, go for it. If it's just for a paycheck, I'd rather they not.

I know lots of people want to see it happen (myself not included) but at this point wouldn't it just be sad? I mean, there's not one of them that really wants to do it, and it's kinda like "well, if you keep bugging us long enough then just maybe..." Paul's literally throwing away songs, and Tommy's got this new record that he's justifiably excited about.

Even though I am not always 100% on board with Tommy's stuff and I am significantly less on board with the PW downloads, I'd rather see them both doing that than literally dragging themselves out to theaters for some at-best-psedo-reunion. Save yourself the hassle guys. Keep the legacy alive with a proper live album from `86, a DVD and/or a pw/mats box set. Don't let anyone talk you into some half-hearted, money-grubbing tour.

[melbmatsfan]

Yeah I agree. Bands that break up and then reform twenty years later, it just never feels right. Even worse is when they start recording new stuff, it usually sounds like a different band and ruins the legacy in my opinion. Just leave things the way they are.

[adamapple]

that article is just kinda depressing. interested to see what comes of paul's box set stuff. he seems to totally lost interest in putting out music right now.

[timsch]

What I really want is for Tommy and Paul to start a new band. Bring in Rick Neilson on guitar and whatever drummer they want. Write new material, record it, and then shock of all shocks......tour in support of it.
There's no pressure. They are not the Replacements. They're just a rock band with a new album.

[Squaw]

I’m not particularly interested in shelling out $100 for something I already have. If the boxed set came with memorabilia, new pictures that we haven’t seen, a lyrics book or accounts from PW himself, I would be extremely interested. Might as well throw in a T-shirt too!

As far as a Replacements reunion, I could care less. I like the other guys and appreciate their work, past and present, but I’m all about Paul Westerberg. He is what has made the difference for me. He is what kept the ‘Mats from being like every other garage band.

There is no shortage of good musicians and singers out there. Tommy, Chris & Slim have some excellent music to offer, and I do enjoy it. However, if they quit music altogether today, I wouldn’t miss them. If and when Paul quits, I will be truly heartbroken. There is no substitute (or Replacement!) for Paul Westerberg. I’ll take a bad Westerberg song over a good Maroon 5 or Matchbox 20 song any day.

[FreeRider]

Aug 23, 2011 11:08:23 GMT -5 Squaw said:

I’m not particularly interested in shelling out $100 for something I already have. If the boxed set came with memorabilia, new pictures that we haven’t seen, a lyrics book or accounts from PW himself, I would be extremely interested. Might as well throw in a T-shirt too!

I agree. If it's just re-releasing the same stuff, what's the value in that? Now if it included some interesting out takes and demos, I'm in. I know that's not for everyone, but I am interested in seeing the process of how songs were forming and what led to the final result.

As far as a Replacements reunion, I could care less....

I understand the sentiment. I never got to see them play, although I had chances to. So I don't have these sacred memories of "having been there". I can't go back and re-live that because I never experienced it. It'll be a fun event if they do decide, "ah, what the hell, why not?" but I don't think it'll be anything special to me.

If and when Paul quits, I will be truly heartbroken. There is no substitute (or Replacement!) for Paul Westerberg.

I kind of fear that we are seeing it already. Now that he's got some financial cushioning, and he can get a money stream from royalties and publishing rights, there's no need for him to perform anymore to gin up some money so he can pay the mortgage or whatever. Let's say the Glen Campbell CD sells really well---how much does Paul get compensated for having Glen covering two of his songs? Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert from the Starland Vocal Band made a killing from having John Denver cover "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and making it a hit.

I’ll take a bad Westerberg song over a good Maroon 5 or Matchbox 20 song any day.

Amen to that!

[ClamsCasino]

Ouch. That last paragraph is another nail in the coffin. Paul really does sound like he's pretty much quit at this point. The whole "Why bother?" thing doesn't really make me very interested to hear anything he'd come up with these days anyway. Tommy needs to kick him in the pants.

[landshark]

No reunion? Meh. But no writing or recording? That's a shame.

[wecantgetanybetter]

"In this day and age, my thought is to make a song everyday and erase it as a sort of Dadaist protest."

Possibly related: Neo-dadaist Robert Rauschenberg's "Erased de Kooning":



Probably related: "Ghost on the Canvas"

Definitely related: PW's history with erasing/destroying music (Twin Tone tapes legend, interview quotes about taping over songs, partially erased Stereo/Mono demos, recent sound collages where one song obscures another ...)

[ih8music]

Yeah, Paul sounds about as excited about songwriting and recording as he is about taking his morning dump.

[jd19jd]

If Chris Mars said "I have my drum chops again, let do it" I'd be into a reunion. Otherwise it would seem a little hollow. They could also call Dan Murphy (looks like Bob a little, plays a gold top like Slim) and they'd be set.

[timtoast]

Depressing.....

[Placemat]

Aug 23, 2011 14:23:26 GMT -5 ClamsCasino said:

Ouch. That last paragraph is another nail in the coffin. Paul really does sound like he's pretty much quit at this point. The whole "Why bother?" thing doesn't really make me very interested to hear anything he'd come up with these days anyway. Tommy needs to kick him in the pants.

Amen.

As for Paul & Tommy playing together and not calling it the Replacements-- All for it, but I doubt it'll ever happen.

Seems as far as they're concerned, they are the Mats. And this article is pretty clear they wanna get paid (don't we all). The name brings a certain about of money they wouldn't see without.

[thenewoldme]

In a time when bands that had their heydays back in the 80's and 90's are taking advantage of their newly-rediscovered and appreciated latter-day triumphs, I think it is perfectly fitting that the Replacements are blowing their opportunities once again.

At least they're consistent.

[grandpaboysfriend]

All over bar the shouting, it's a waste of time, as written by P.W. himself in '87. I would hate to see the Replacements reform because that time has passed and can never be captured again. Leave it be.

[TomT]

Aug 24, 2011 2:30:20 GMT -5 grandpaboysfriend said:

All over bar the shouting, it's a waste of time, as written by P.W. himself in '87. I would hate to see the Replacements reform because that time has passed and can never be captured again. Leave it be.

Right on. But Paul's comments regarding creating new stuff has me disappointed. I'm hoping that Johnny gets into music and bugs the old man to tour again.

[wecantgetanybetter]

On the "Why Bother?" question ... He's got a second song on that Glen Campbell on the theme of "Don't go to any trouble." And whatever the "Gentle on My Mind" musical echoes (which I think are well done), the lyrics in the bridge lift several lines from "It's a Wonderful Lie."