The Replacements Quotes

United States,
1979 – 1991.

The Replacements were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979. Initially a punk rock band, they are considered one of the pioneers of alternative rock. The band was composed of the guitarist and vocalist Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bass guitarist Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars for most of its career. Following several acclaimed albums, including Let It Be and Tim, Bob Stinson left the band in 1986, and Slim Dunlap joined as lead guitarist. Steve Foley replaced Mars in 1990. Towards the end of the band's career, Westerberg exerted more control over the creative output. The group disbanded in 1991, with the members eventually pursuing various projects. A reunion was announced on October 3, 2012. The band is referred to by their nickname "The 'Mats" by fans, which originated as a truncation of "The Placemats," a mispronunciation of their name.

I listen back, and I hear what's there, and I know in my heart, in my gut, that we The Replacements were the real deal. No one can take that away. You can call us buffoons, or clowns or whatever. But when we wanted to, we were as good as anybody.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
- Good
- Heart
- Listen
I used to write things that might have sounded better coming out of an older person's voice or vision. Hence, "grandpa-boy." I'm an old man, but I'm a boy. A really old boy!

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
- Voice
- Write
- Old Man

That’s a misconception he’s run with. I was never mortified by them. My brother was definitely not into them, but that’s because Paul and my brother had more of a competing nature towards each other.

Tommy Stinson The Replacements
- Nature
- Brother
- Run
There was a game that had to be played that had nothing to do with music and everything to do with stroking someone else and f—ing doing the whole song and dance that was completely foreign and, quite frankly, illegal to us.

Tommy Stinson The Replacements
- Music
- Game
- Dance
We play for free. We get paid for waiting.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
- Free
- Play
- Waiting
If you want to be the best, Work hardier than the rest. If you don't want to be the best, Just work like the rest.

Bob Stinson The Replacements
- Work
- Best
- Rest
Nobody gets married to a clever song, let alone falls in love to one.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
I'm constantly recording and playing down in the basement, and my voice is starting to sound really good. There's cracks and scratches in my voice that have been there since I was 19. It hasn't changed that much.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements

Some records are timeless, and some absolutely sound of their day.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
- Sound
- Records
- Timeless
By the fourth or fifth record there was not a lot of time to sit around. We The Replacements stopped rehearsing. We stopped getting together and rehearsing. We'd perform, and that would take it all out of us. Then we'd be done touring and we'd be sick of each other. We'd never call each other up and hang out.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
- Together
- Sick
- Record
Literally, we haven’t played ‘Treatment Bound’ in years, so I’m sitting there writing the words for the second time in my life. The first time was when we did it and the second time is here, 30 years later.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements
- Words
- My Life
- Treatment
We The Replacements never made any money on tour. None of us came out of the school of economics. We took it for granted that a rock and roll band gets ripped off. We've tried to shake that tree a couple of times, but what can we do? You look back, when you're sort of idle in your middle years, and think, we should have made some money.

Paul Westerberg The Replacements