Trouble Boys

January 11, 2016
Music critic Mehr captures the light and dark of a band that could play both acoustic ballads such as “Here Comes A Regular” and punk anthems such as “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out.” The Replacements were one of the great alterative rock bands of the 1980s and were known for their live shows, which could be brilliant displays of controlled mayhem or drug-fueled disasters. Mehr covers all aspects of the band members: alcoholism and addiction, artistic differences, ruined friendships, and the death of lead guitarist Bob Stinson. Though the band was known for its short, fast, impromptu-sounding songs, this book takes an opposite approach: it runs more than 500 pages and is thoroughly researched and detailed. Mehr includes rare candid interviews with the band’s singer-songwriter, Paul Westerberg, and bassist, Tommy Stinson, earning the “true story” subtitle. B&w photos not seen by PW.

Starred review from January 15, 2016
An in-depth biography of a beloved, exasperating band that never quite made it. Early on in this impressively researched and well-rendered biography, Commercial Appeal music critic Mehr describes how the Replacements became " 'legends' without ever really becoming stars" and then proceeds to show how the qualities that made them legendary prevented them from achieving the success that fans thought they deserved. Frontman Paul Westerberg may well have been the greatest rock songwriter of his generation, the equal of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, and others who would follow his punk-pop lead to far greater glory. And the rest of the band was never simply the rest of the band but musical misfits who contributed to the chemical equation that resulted in brilliant performances one night and absolute disasters the next. Guitarist Bob Stinson, abused and neglected as a child, was the initial leader, recruiting his younger brother, Tommy, not even in his teens when he became the bassist. Drummer Chris Mars was the band's initial songwriter and creative force, but he was increasingly marginalized as Westerberg joined and asserted himself (Mars, also an artist, now sells his paintings for thousands of dollars). Add lethal doses of alcohol, increasing quantities of drugs, and the rebellious irresponsibility fueled by both, and you've got an explosion waiting to happen--which it did, frequently, as the band fought with managers, record labels, and producers and sabotaged promotional efforts with journalists and radio stations. As a straightforward, ramshackle rock 'n' roll band, they never quite fit with either the punk rock that inspired them or the so-called "alternative rock" that would enjoy such success in their wake. "We were five years ahead of our time, we were ten years behind," said Westerberg, who never achieved expected success as a solo artist. A recent reunion effort featuring Paul and Tommy brought them their biggest paydays but fell apart because of familiar tensions. The dynamic that made the band great also tore them apart, as this biography superbly documents.

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Starred review from February 15, 2016

Ten years in the making, this fantastic biography from music critic Mehr (contributor, Mojo, The Commercial Appeal) of the self-destructive 1980s alternative rock band The Replacements provides sensitive, detailed, and critical depictions of the band's members, known for their unpredictable shows and their heavy alcohol consumption. The portrait of the group's lead guitarist Bob Stinson (1959-95) is especially poignant, as Mehr describes his painful childhood and subsequent challenges with drug addiction and schizoaffective disorder. Front man Paul Westerberg is given the most attention, and the author describes his mercurial, gruff exterior, which masks deeply hidden insecurities. The book is most insightful when discussing how The Replacements were never quite able to achieve mainstream success. Mehr delves into the business side of the band's affairs, covering the pitfalls of indie-label distribution, meddling by major executives, and the group's blase attitude toward playing the game. Ultimately The Replacements were, as Westerberg notes, "Five years ahead of our time [and] ten years behind." VERDICT Though hefty, Mehr's book is a page-turner from beginning to end and should find its way onto every music fan's bookshelf. It offers a master class on how to pen a rock biography.--Brian Flota, James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, VA

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