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Paul Westerberg

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Paul Westerberg
Background information
Birth namePaul Harold Westerberg[1]
Born (1959-12-31) December 31, 1959 (age 64)
Edina, Minnesota
OriginMinnesota, United States
GenresAlternative rock, punk rock (early)
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, bass guitar, piano, drums
Years active1979–present
LabelsSire/Reprise Records
Vagrant Records
Fat Possum Records

Paul Harold Westerberg (born December 31, 1959) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter in The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s.[2] He launched a solo career after the dissolution of that band. In recent years, he has cultivated a more independent-minded approach, primarily recording his music at home in his basement.[3]

The Replacements

Main article: The Replacements (band)

In the late 1970s Westerberg was working as a janitor for U.S. Senator David Durenberger,[4] and one day while walking home from work, he happened to hear a band practicing Yes's "Roundabout" in a basement. He talked his way into the band by convincing the singer that the other band members – Bob Stinson, Chris Mars and Tommy Stinson – were going to fire him. The singer quit and Westerberg joined the group.[5] The band was originally called "The Impediments," and played their first gig in the basement of a church, playing to members of a nearby halfway house who did not appreciate their drunken shenanigans,[6] but they soon changed their name to "The Replacements" after several venues declined to advertise the band under their original name.[7]

The Replacements quickly made a name for themselves in the Twin Cities punk scene, largely thanks to Westerberg's songwriting and their classic-rock-friendly punk presentation. The band made several critically acclaimed albums for local label Twin/Tone before signing to Sire Records in 1985.[8] Despite the jump to Sire, the Replacements never translated their critical success into commercial sales.

The band broke up in 1991. Their final album, All Shook Down, was for all intents and purposes a Westerberg solo project. There are numerous guest performers and the other three members of the band (including Slim Dunlap, who had replaced Bob Stinson three years earlier to tour in support of Pleased to Meet Me) made minimal contributions. Mars left the band during this project. After touring for the album (which was critically well-received) with replacement Replacements, Westerberg and Stinson went their separate ways.[9]

Solo work

Westerberg's first official work appeared in the form of two songs, "Waiting For Somebody" and "Dyslexic Heart", for the soundtrack to the 1992 Cameron Crowe film Singles, for which he is also credited with composing and performing the score. The following year Reprise Records released his first solo album, 14 Songs. During the interim between solo albums, Westerberg songs appeared on Melrose Place ("A Star Is Bored") and Friends (his cover of Jonathan Edwards' "Sunshine" and "Stain Yer Blood") television soundtracks, in 1994 and 1995 respectively. In 2007, "Dyslexic Heart" was used in Smart People movie trailer, a selection made by music supervisor Serena Undercofler.

Westerberg co-wrote the song "Backlash" with Joan Jett for her 1991 album Notorious, and played guitar with her on a video of the song. He also recorded a duet with Jett ("Let's Do It") for the Tank Girl soundtrack (1994).[10]

In 1996, he released his second solo album, the appropriately titled Eventually, which was tepidly received by critics and had modest sales. It did yield the alternative radio hit, "Love Untold". Westerberg parted ways with Reprise Records and the following year chose to release songs that were more blues-influenced and less slickly produced under the name Grandpaboy. An EP and single were released by indie label Soundproof/Monolyth Records. His third album, Suicaine Gratifaction, is a piano-driven, melancholy, and highly personal work. The album was released on Capitol Records in 1999. The label was undergoing reorganization, and failed to push the album.[11] Westerberg appeared on a fifth season episode of The Larry Sanders Show (entitled "Larry's New Love") performing "Ain't Got Me" from Eventually. The episode first aired on February 26, 1997. Westerberg also performed the song that same year on The Tonight Show hosted by Jay Leno.

Westerberg then quit the major label circuit and disappeared for three years before staging a major comeback in 2002. With new management and a new independent label, Vagrant Records, he released two records simultaneously, Stereo and Mono (Mono being released under his alter ego Grandpaboy). Stereo and Mono were recorded in Westerberg's basement studio. They were acclaimed as his best works since the Replacements, and Westerberg became increasingly prolific, releasing Dead Man Shake (as Grandpaboy), Come Feel Me Tremble, and Folker all within the next two years to critical success.

Westerberg contributed a cover of The Beatles' "Nowhere Man" for the 2002 soundtrack to the 2001 film I Am Sam. Additionally, "Lookin' Up in Heaven" appears on the Starbucks sampler Hear Music, Vol. 10: Reveal, "Outta My System" can be found on Hot Stove, Cool Music, Vol. 1, and the Vagrant Records sampler Another Year on the Streets, Vol. 3 features "As Far As I Know." All three compilations were released in 2004.

In December 2005, Westerberg reconvened with Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars to record two new songs for a compilation titled Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?, which was released in 2006.

In 2006, Westerberg took on the challenge of writing a collection of songs for the animated film Open Season. In all, the soundtrack includes eight new Westerberg originals. It is unique in that two of the songs were covered by other artists. The track "Wild As I Wanna Be" is performed by Deathray, whereas Pete Yorn performs "I Belong (Reprise)." In addition, Tommy Stinson is featured playing bass on the songs "Love You in the Fall" and "Right to Arm Bears." The soundtrack also includes the song "Good Day" from Westerberg's solo album Eventually. The album is rounded out by two non-Westerberg originals, Deathray's own "I Wanna Lose Control (Uh Oh)" and the Talking Heads' 1986 hit "Wild Wild Life."

Seen on stage playing a First Act production model guitar, Westerberg joined creative forces with the Boston-based guitar manufacturer to create his signature edition PW580 in September 2006.[12] Built with a red plaid pickguard, the guitar was designed to be "mean and lean".[13]

On July 17, 2008 it was announced that on "June 49" (July 19) Paul Westerberg would release an album with 49 minutes' worth of music for 49 cents. The album, 49:00... Of Your Time/Life, was released on July 21, 2008. A few weeks after 49:00 was released, it was taken down from Amazon.com and TuneCore store. In its place, Westerberg released a song titled "5:05" (in reference to the fact that 49:00 was really 43:55 long, 5:05 shorter than 49:00). From the lyrical content of "5:05," it is believed that 49:00 was recalled due to copyright issues in the ending cover medley.[14]

On August 27, 2008, Westerberg released two new songs, "3oclockreep" and "Finally Here Once", on TuneCore. On September 13, 2008, another new song "Bored of Edukation" was released as an MP3 download on Amazon.com.[15] On December 24, 2008, Westerberg released three songs; "Always in a Manger", "Streets of Laredo" and "D.G.T." on tunecore.com for $0.74. On September 22, 2009, Westerberg released an EP titled PW & The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys with six songs: "Ghost on the Canvas," "Drop Them Gloves," "Good as the Cat," "Love on the Wing", "Gimmie Little Joy" and "Dangerous Boys".

Upon Alex Chilton's death in March 2010, Westerberg wrote a eulogy for one of his biggest influences that appeared in The New York Times.[16] In May 2010, he played "Dangerous Boys" and "Time Flies Tomorrow" standing on the visitors' dugout at Target Field for the documentary, 40 Nights of Rock & Roll.[17][18] Westerberg appeared in the video for the title track of Glen Campbell's 2011 farewell to studio recording, a cover of Ghost on the Canvas (which Westerberg wrote in 2009).[19] In the online, May 24, 2013 version of the New York Times' Measure for Measure feature, he set forth his songwriting creed, which privileges the virtues of inspiration and spontaneity over gradually developing and revising a song.[20]

Personal life

Westerberg was born in Edina, Minnesota, the son of Mary Louise (née Philipp) and Harold Robert Westerberg.[21] He married his first wife, Lori Bizer, in the 1980s.[22] After their divorce, he became married to former Zuzu's Petals guitarist and author Laurie Lindeen. They divorced in 2014.[23] They have a son, Johnny (born 1998), whose voice is likely on 49:00[24] and "Whatever Makes You Happy" from Westerberg's solo album Suicaine Gratifaction. Westerberg severely injured his fretting hand in 2006 in an accident while trying to remove candle wax with a screwdriver leaving his ring finger on his left hand numb. His band, The Replacements, have since reunited, notably playing several dates at Riot Fest in 2013 and the Coachella Music Festival in 2014. He resides in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. His younger sister, Mary Lucia, is a DJ at local radio station 89.3 The Current. He is influenced by several artists, including Alex Chilton of Big Star, about whom he wrote a song on 1987's Pleased to Meet Me.

Westerberg is a recovering alcoholic, reported to have been sober since 1990.[25]

Discography

DVD

  • Come Feel Me Tremble – Redline Entertainment/Ventura Distribution (2003)

Studio albums

Self-released mp3 EPs

  • 49:00... Of Your Time/Life (Self-released, 2008)
  • 3oclockreep (Self-released, 2008)
  • Bored of Edukation (Self-released, 2008)
  • D.G.T. (Self-released, 2008)
  • PW & the Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys (Self-released, 2009)

Studio albums as Grandpaboy

  • Grandpaboy: Grandpaboy EP (Soundproof/Monolyth, 1997)
  • Grandpaboy: Mono (Vagrant Records 2002)
  • Grandpaboy: Dead Man Shake (Fat Possum, 2003)

Soundtracks and compilations

References

  1. ^ "Person Details for Paul Harold Westerberg, "Minnesota, Birth Index, 1935-2002" —". Familysearch.org. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  2. ^ Weiss, Dan (March 25, 2010). "Billie Joe Armstrong Meets Paul Westerberg". SPIN.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  3. ^ "Paul Westerberg releases more basement tapes". Onlineathens.com. September 30, 2004. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  4. ^ Valania, Jonathan. "Paul Westerberg: The Man Who Wasn’t There," Magnet (August 16, 2002).
  5. ^ Azerrad, Michael. Our Band Could Be Your Life. Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1, p. 198.
  6. ^ Azerrad, 2001, p. 200.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Replacements > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  8. ^ Azerrad, 2001. p. 227.
  9. ^ "20 years ago at Taste of Chicago: The Replacements break up on stage". Chicago Tribune. July 5, 2011.
  10. ^ "Magnificent Bastards: Tank Girl: Original Soundtrack From The United Artists Film: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  11. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (December 31, 1959). "Paul Westerberg | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  12. ^ "First Act Guitars: Paul Westerberg". Firstact.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "Paul Westerberg PW580 Signature Guitar". Guitar Player. New Bay Media. February 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  14. ^ "The Strib: Westerberg & Stinson together again". Paulwesterberg.net. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  15. ^ "paul westerberg". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  16. ^ Westerberg, Paul (March 20, 2010). "Beyond the Box Tops". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  17. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (November 20, 2011). "Recapping Westerberg's reclusive years". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  18. ^ Shine, Kathy (May 31, 2010). "News". PaulWesterberg.com. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  19. ^ "Item World: Local news and views 11/4". Star Tribune. November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  20. ^ Westerberg, Paul (May 24, 2013). "Simple or Impossible". The New York Times.
  21. ^ "The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting: An Oral History - Jim Walsh - Google Books". Books.google.ca. November 30, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  22. ^ Walsh, Jim (2007). All Over but the Shouting. Voyageur Press. p. 38. ISBN 076033062X. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  23. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris. "The Replacements at Midway: Don't ask why". startribune.com. The Star Tribune. Retrieved September 23, 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  24. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (July 21, 2008). "Paul Westerberg Offers New Album For 49 Cents". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  25. ^ Hilburn, Robert. "An Untroubled Troubadour" Los Angeles Times June 6, 1993.
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