How do I live a Westerberg Lifestyle as a 20 year old?

[mitqh]

Now let me preface I'm looking for ways to get far away off the digital world and do things that westerberg would do mainly in 80s. I see hes very private person and I admire that. I'm looking for more value in my life.

I just turned 20 last January, 4 years ago I had no clue who the replacements were I had very bad music taste years prior just your basic 70s radio repeats like Carry on Wayward Son or that generic music guardians soundtrack is comprised of (besides I Will Dare ofc), I basically had no identity with the music I was listening too. When I was at thrift store looking through cd's with my mother (I just bought an old sony cassette and cd boombox at the time) not knowing it until I got home my mom said how much she loved the replacements growing up and she bought me "Don't Tell A Soul" CD. I struck gold instantly when I slapped it into my player, hooked upon the first 55 seconds of Talent Show and it was at that moment "I didn't want to tell a soul" in fear that someone would ruin this feeling of "someone stole all my words I ever had and put into most beautiful written music ever". Obviously checked out everything they had after, found some songs I liked listened to them consistently for next years until last summer I delved deep and started to like it all, even songs I wasn't fond of at first, obviously had to listen to Paul Westerberg singles hooked again at Lookin' Out Forever. I began watching movies with there music like for example fantastic John Cusack movie 1989 "Say Anything" loved Within Your Reach, Can't Hardly Wait 1998 movie, the song was not only thing I fell in love with, (aka Jennifer Love Hewitt). I'm getting side tracked let me get to the point The Replacements and Paul Westerberg has made me feel okay with who I am as reserved person, shown me how to just not care, do my own thing, take life less seriously. I just love everything they stand for with there music, antics, clothes they wear.

What kind of stuff do y'all think Westerberg would do with his free time growing up besides playing guitar? What kind of clothes are essential to have to fit the lifestyle?

current things do

- sit at home listening and watching the replacements live

- watch old movies (mainly 80s but 2000s and below)

- I just started learning guitar 2 months ago

- I read books from time to time (just got Trouble Boys Book, it might be good start to get more insight)

- mostly go to the beach

- I work at marina

currently what I wear

- jeans

- blank, vintage and band tees

- black converse high tops

- flannels

- leather bomber jacket, denim jacket

songs I most resonate with

- Can't hardly Wait

- Skyway

- Within Your Reach

- Bent out of shape

- I'll Be You

- Talent Show

- Bastards Of Young

- Nowhere is Near My Home

- Time Flies Tomorrow

- Lookin' Out Forever

I'm looking for just some form input from other fans, who grew up on listening to the replacements and I would love to hear personal stories, clothes you wore/wear, how the replacements impacted your life and etc.

[anarkissed]

Elements of the Westerberg/Replacements lifestyle to avoid:
- Minimize the alcohol.
- Don't smoke. (Tobacco.)
- Deliberate self-sabotage.
- Being an asshole unnecessarily, for the fun of it.
- Questioning your own self-worth.

I tried all of these. Not a good idea.

Elements of the Westerberg/Replacements lifestyle to embrace:
- Listening to music you like, even if others might consider it uncool or unworthy.
- Mercilessly mocking authority figures. (Behind their back and out of earshot, of course.)
- Deliberate laziness. (In moderation. Don't let it become a lifestyle.)

[salparadise]

Number one rule to live a Westerberg lifestyle: do not ask on an internet message board on how to live a Westerberg lifestyle ;P

[mitqh]

Mar 3, 2024 11:21:14 GMT -5 anarkissed said:

Elements of the Westerberg/Replacements lifestyle to avoid:
- Minimize the alcohol.
- Don't smoke. (Tobacco.)
- Deliberate self-sabotage.
- Being an asshole unnecessarily, for the fun of it.
- Questioning your own self-worth.

I tried all of these. Not a good idea.

Elements of the Westerberg/Replacements lifestyle to embrace:
- Listening to music you like, even if others might consider it uncool or unworthy.
- Mercilessly mocking authority figures. (Behind their back and out of earshot, of course.)
- Deliberate laziness. (In moderation. Don't let it become a lifestyle.)

Great points, thanks alot

[mitqh]

Mar 3, 2024 13:09:05 GMT -5 salparadise said:

Number one rule to live a Westerberg lifestyle: do not ask on an internet message board on how to live a Westerberg lifestyle ;P

your definitely right lol, just wanted some people to share there two cents on topic of his lifestyle

[curmudgeonman]

I'm the same age as Westerberg, and basically grew up listening to the band, attending shows starting with the Let It Be tour. I had a more stable background than Westerberg; I graduated from college, was living with my girlfriend (future wife), had jobs, etc. Back then we had very little money, didn't spend money on clothes, drank cheap booze (Black Label beer, cheap wine, occasional bottle of Jack), etc.  We didn't live like rock stars and neither did the Replacements.

Having lived through those years, and compare it to now, the times are so different, they're not even on the same planet. Back in the early 80s, there was no internet, cable TV was in its infancy, no cell phones, home computers for the masses did not arrive yet. No social media. Nobody carried still or video cameras around all the time. To watch a movie on your little 19" TV at home, you had to rent a VHS tape at a store to play on a VCR player. People interacted with people far, far more back then than now (as I type this out).

You get the idea.

To try and maybe live life from another era is chasing lightning. Paul is a high school dropout; when he was 20 yo, he was poor, didn't know how to drive (still doesn't), had self-esteem issues, drank to extremes, consumed drugs, and tried to figure out life. Had problems dealing with authority and the status quo. I don't know if he would label it a "lifestyle", but he was living with the cards dealt to him.

I'm looking for more value in my life.

I'm a father, my son is 26 yo. He graduated from college, has a great career, lives with his awesome girlfriend. I raised him right- he is polite, treats other people with respect, he works hard, and has a pretty good bead on life. This is what i would call a lifestyle. Maybe as a 62 yo, I sound like an old man, but I would tell young people that Westerberg's years with the Replacements is a life I would not wish on my son.

I agree with you that a digital world has become a societal burden (I don't have a smartphone). Forums like this are the only means I have to communicate with others in cyberspace, and I suspect Westerberg has far less involvement with the digital world than me. But instead of following someone else's lifestyle choices and paradigms, create your own. Ultimately, YOU are responsible for YOURSELF.

The world is a lot tougher than 40 years ago, a lot more complicated. 

[Chris]

With respect to living life with a similar attitude as that of Paul, I recommend thinking not so much about disregarding authority as much as conformity. For better and for worse, Paul and the Mats were always true to themselves irrespective of the consequences. If you have not yet done so, I recommend Bob Mehr's "Trouble Boys," an excellent personal account of the Replacements, warts and all.

Also - take a listen to Paul's cover of this 1970s gem, a defiant performance which I've always considered a declaration of his core ethos (with a fittingly thrash ending):

[currympeople]

"Grandpaboy was born somewhere. He plays guitar. Do not try to be his friend, he will not like you."

[con]

[mitqh]

Mar 3, 2024 19:00:00 GMT -5 curmudgeonman said:

I'm the same age as Westerberg, and basically grew up listening to the band, attending shows starting with the Let It Be tour. I had a more stable background than Westerberg; I graduated from college, was living with my girlfriend (future wife), had jobs, etc. Back then we had very little money, didn't spend money on clothes, drank cheap booze (Black Label beer, cheap wine, occasional bottle of Jack), etc.  We didn't live like rock stars and neither did the Replacements.

Having lived through those years, and compare it to now, the times are so different, they're not even on the same planet. Back in the early 80s, there was no internet, cable TV was in its infancy, no cell phones, home computers for the masses did not arrive yet. No social media. Nobody carried still or video cameras around all the time. To watch a movie on your little 19" TV at home, you had to rent a VHS tape at a store to play on a VCR player. People interacted with people far, far more back then than now (as I type this out).

You get the idea.

To try and maybe live life from another era is chasing lightning. Paul is a high school dropout; when he was 20 yo, he was poor, didn't know how to drive (still doesn't), had self-esteem issues, drank to extremes, consumed drugs, and tried to figure out life. Had problems dealing with authority and the status quo. I don't know if he would label it a "lifestyle", but he was living with the cards dealt to him.

I'm looking for more value in my life.

I'm a father, my son is 26 yo. He graduated from college, has a great career, lives with his awesome girlfriend. I raised him right- he is polite, treats other people with respect, he works hard, and has a pretty good bead on life. This is what i would call a lifestyle. Maybe as a 62 yo, I sound like an old man, but I would tell young people that Westerberg's years with the Replacements is a life I would not wish on my son.

I agree with you that a digital world has become a societal burden (I don't have a smartphone). Forums like this are the only means I have to communicate with others in cyberspace, and I suspect Westerberg has far less involvement with the digital world than me. But instead of following someone else's lifestyle choices and paradigms, create your own. Ultimately, YOU are responsible for YOURSELF.

The world is a lot tougher than 40 years ago, a lot more complicated. 

Thank you for this. I agree. I have strong addiction to the 80s and everything that surrounds it. Hard for me to come to truth that I will never experience it. I guess I'm just chasing a more simple life that reflects the 80s no phones, getting out and just living away from digital world. I need create my own "paul westerberg lifestyle" with hobbies I love and things I love to do without the fear of judgement from others.

Your post opened my eyes. thanks again

[mitqh]

Mar 3, 2024 19:31:41 GMT -5 Chris said:

With respect to living life with a similar attitude as that of Paul, I recommend thinking not so much about disregarding authority as much as conformity. For better and for worse, Paul and the Mats were always true to themselves irrespective of the consequences. If you have not yet done so, I recommend Bob Mehr's "Trouble Boys," an excellent personal account of the Replacements, warts and all.

Also - take a listen to Paul's cover of this 1970s gem, a defiant performance which I've always considered a declaration of his core ethos (with a fittingly thrash ending):

Just started reading it and love it so far, thanks for recommendation.

Love his version of make your own kind of music, thanks for sharing.