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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWESTERBERG, Paul(b 31 Dec. '60, Minneapolis MN) Singer/songwriter, also guitar and piano. He was lead singer with the rock quartet the Replacements (first called the Impediments, formed '80 in Minneapolis) whose chart albums were Tin, Pleased To Meet Me, Don't Tell A Soul and All Shook Down '86-90, all on Sire (All For Nothing/Nothing At All '97 was a two-CD compilation on Reprise, 16 remastered tracks and 17 previously unreleased). His songs were highly regarded; he tugged ears with solo albums 14 Songs '93 on Sire, Eventually '96 on Reprise, both charting in Billboard in the top 50 with no hit singles to help. He always had an ear for the tune and had outgrown the rock'n'roll lifestyle; 'Good Day' was in memory of the Replacements' first lead guitarist, Bob Stinson, who died of drugs 18 Feb. '95 aged 35. Westerberg released an EP on an obscure Boston indie label '97, calling himself Grandpaboy, meanwhile signed with Capitol for Suicane Gratifaction '99, but in one of those inexplicable record industry events, Capitol dropped its business on the floor at exactly that moment to play musical chairs in the boardroom suite. Westerberg announced a double album Mono/Stereo on Vagrant for 2002, recorded quickly and roughly to try to recapture the flavour of his earlier work, and decided to release the Mono half early, so keen was he to tour |