Paul Westerberg Biography
31 December 1959, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Westerberg had been planning a solo project even before his band, the Replacements, imploded in 1991, but his first work under his own name comprised two tracks on the soundtrack of the 1992 "slacker" movie Singles. This was followed by 14 Songs, perceived by some critics to be a return to the punked-up glory days of Bob Stinson-era Replacements, and including "World Class Fad", a warning to the fast-living likes of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. By 1996, however, Westerberg appeared to be ready to leave his punk days behind. Eventually was more overtly influenced by 60s pop and soul, and even offered tinges of folk rock, with acoustic guitars given more prominence than feedback-heavy riffing. The lyrics again provided rueful reflection on past excesses: "Decided not to raise some mixed-up kid/Just like my mama and daddy did" could almost have been a mantra for the redeemed hell raiser. The album also saw a reunion with Replacements bass player Tommy Stinson on "Trumpet Clip", although the track owed more to the Kinks than to their original band.
Westerberg ended his association with Warner Brothers Records shortly afterwards, releasing a single and an EP under the Grandpaboy name in 1997. After signing to Capitol Records in America, Westerberg recorded most of his third album in his own basement studio. Producer Don Was concurred with the singer about leaving the songs on Suicaine Gratification in their raw, unembellished state. Similarly sparse was 2002's Stereo, an acoustic album featuring some ex-Replacements that appeared on the independent Vagrant Records label. The hard rocking Grandpaboy recording Mono was released at the same time. Westerberg remains a critical favourite and retains a loyal cult following.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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