Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 2172
December 11, 2015
Grimes - Art Angels

LP / CD / Cassette Out Today BUY NOW FROM 4AD STORE

#1 Album of the Year - NME
#1 Album of the Year - Stereogum
#1 Album of the Year - GorillaVsBear***** DIY | ***** The Daily Telegraph | **** MOJO | **** SPIN Today sees the official worldwide release of Art Angels by Grimes, on LP, CD, and limited edition cassette.The album was recorded primarily in Grimes home studio in Los Angeles, CA, where she relocated to in 2014. Like all of her previous albums, Art Angels was written and recorded entirely as a solo endeavour. The new album features more live instrumentation than ever before on a Grimes record. She plays piano, guitar and violin, continuing her evolution as a musician and a producer for her most ambitious album to date.You can buy the record on LP / CD / Cassette via the new 4AD Store here. Buy Art Angels on iTunes here.
Buy Art Angels on Amazon here.
Buy Art Angels on Google Play here.Stream Art Angels on Spotify here.
Stream on the platform of your choice here.

grimesmusic.com
Tumblr
Published on December 11, 2015 08:06
Caulfield Beats present stunning new video to accompany Acid Pt 1
The Caulfield BeatsStream the video for ‘Acid pt. 1’ Here'Acid pt. 1' singlevia Straight Lines Are FineOut on December 18th“Kick ass acid-electronics...a riot of wiggly 303, searing bass and big bouncy beats” DJ magazine
“They’re a unique and puzzling proposition...we’re definitely taken with this gurgling tripout.” Boiler Room
“The Caulfield Beats, are bringing the halcyon days of '88 back to the Haggerston Riviera.” Thump
[image error]
Following their ‘Mexican Smoke' EP, The Caulfield Beats return with a new single ‘Acid pt.1'. The sister track to EP opener and Boiler Room favourite '90's Love', it demonstrates a continuation of the band's unique style, in driving bass-heavy dance music, set against a live untamed sound. Sinister and experimental, 'Acid pt. I' gives fans an additional taste of what to expect from the debut LP (out next year) whilst steering us into further recesses of a 'new breed' in club culture.
Navigating that rare and coveted middle ground that usually separates live gigs from 4 to the floor, The Caulfield Beats give the spirit of a DIY garage band to a vision of speaker cone bass. Spontaneity vs. repetition, organic vs. mechanical, the uncontrolled vs. the restrained this is the sound of a band not afraid to dismantle and toy with the idea of what dance music can be. It's called ‘garage electronics’ and will appeal to the indie kids as much as lovers of acid and techno.
The Caulfield Beats are Lawrence Northall and Molly Dixon. This two piece belongs to a generation of producers for whom music studios came in the form of illegal software torrents and production was strictly DIY. A zeitgeist extending beyond music as, like a number of young creatives, they were driven into the nomadic boat based lifestyle of London's canals – from where they conduct their activities and play impromptu warehouse parties. With live visual projections and already reputed for their visually immersive gigs, The Caulfield Beats are making us reconsider our traditional separations of dance music from live bands and in the process causing quite a stir.
The single package comes with a masterful remix from renowned producer, Antwerp. The Italian artist, who has been lauded by the likes of Dummy and XLR8R, adds some distinctive sitar vibes to the track.
“They’re a unique and puzzling proposition...we’re definitely taken with this gurgling tripout.” Boiler Room
“The Caulfield Beats, are bringing the halcyon days of '88 back to the Haggerston Riviera.” Thump
[image error]
Following their ‘Mexican Smoke' EP, The Caulfield Beats return with a new single ‘Acid pt.1'. The sister track to EP opener and Boiler Room favourite '90's Love', it demonstrates a continuation of the band's unique style, in driving bass-heavy dance music, set against a live untamed sound. Sinister and experimental, 'Acid pt. I' gives fans an additional taste of what to expect from the debut LP (out next year) whilst steering us into further recesses of a 'new breed' in club culture.
Navigating that rare and coveted middle ground that usually separates live gigs from 4 to the floor, The Caulfield Beats give the spirit of a DIY garage band to a vision of speaker cone bass. Spontaneity vs. repetition, organic vs. mechanical, the uncontrolled vs. the restrained this is the sound of a band not afraid to dismantle and toy with the idea of what dance music can be. It's called ‘garage electronics’ and will appeal to the indie kids as much as lovers of acid and techno.
The Caulfield Beats are Lawrence Northall and Molly Dixon. This two piece belongs to a generation of producers for whom music studios came in the form of illegal software torrents and production was strictly DIY. A zeitgeist extending beyond music as, like a number of young creatives, they were driven into the nomadic boat based lifestyle of London's canals – from where they conduct their activities and play impromptu warehouse parties. With live visual projections and already reputed for their visually immersive gigs, The Caulfield Beats are making us reconsider our traditional separations of dance music from live bands and in the process causing quite a stir.
The single package comes with a masterful remix from renowned producer, Antwerp. The Italian artist, who has been lauded by the likes of Dummy and XLR8R, adds some distinctive sitar vibes to the track.
Published on December 11, 2015 08:04
"Girl Riot" from Melissa Brooks and The Aquadolls

NEW SONG "Girl Riot" OUT NOW!!






Melissa Brooks and The Aquadolls put forth a trip out, pop punk vibe as they discuss love, opening your mind and hating being ateenager.
OC based indie label Burger Records released their debut albumStoked On You in December 2014, which peaked at #10 nationally on the US CMJ chart.








Published on December 11, 2015 08:00
December 10, 2015
Outside Lands Announces 2016 Dates
*****MEDIA ALERT*****
OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES 2016 DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
AUGUST 5-7, 2016inSAN FRANCISCO'S GOLDEN GATE PARK
###
OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES 2016 DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
AUGUST 5-7, 2016inSAN FRANCISCO'S GOLDEN GATE PARK

###
Published on December 10, 2015 12:21
December 9, 2015
LEVITATION 2016

The #LEVITATION2016 lineup has been released!
Join the Facebook Event here:https://www.facebook.com/events/934391703300707/
Weekend Passes, Deluxe Passes, Camping Passes, and Camping Rentals are now available at http://levitation-austin.com/... See More
Published on December 09, 2015 14:00
BORIS to play Levitation Fest 2016 in Austin, TX
BORIS to play Levitation Fest 2016,
first U.S. show in 1.5 years
Watch teaser for Levitation Fest 2016 HERE.
"Boris excel at playing around with magnitudes, and on their new LP Noise, all of the panoramas the band has crafted over the past two decades have coalesced into one massive, smoldering landscape." -- Pitchfork
Japanese trio BORIS announce their first U.S. show in over 1 1/2 years, playing the annual Levitation Fest in Austin, TX. The festival to be held April 29th - May 1st, 2016 at Carson Creek Ranch, also featuring Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds, Animal Collective, Caribou, Sleep and many more.
For more information, go to Levitation-Austin.com.
BORIS has always demolished expectations of what a band can do musically and aesthetically. Their most recent full length, Noise was released everywhere (excluding Japan) on LP, CD and download viaSargent House on June 17th, 2014.
first U.S. show in 1.5 years
Watch teaser for Levitation Fest 2016 HERE.

"Boris excel at playing around with magnitudes, and on their new LP Noise, all of the panoramas the band has crafted over the past two decades have coalesced into one massive, smoldering landscape." -- Pitchfork
Japanese trio BORIS announce their first U.S. show in over 1 1/2 years, playing the annual Levitation Fest in Austin, TX. The festival to be held April 29th - May 1st, 2016 at Carson Creek Ranch, also featuring Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds, Animal Collective, Caribou, Sleep and many more.
For more information, go to Levitation-Austin.com.
BORIS has always demolished expectations of what a band can do musically and aesthetically. Their most recent full length, Noise was released everywhere (excluding Japan) on LP, CD and download viaSargent House on June 17th, 2014.
Published on December 09, 2015 12:37
The Growlers Announce First Shows Of 2016


February 13 Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
February 14 Observatory, Santa Ana, CA
February 15 Observatory, Santa Ana, CA
February 16 Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA
February 17 Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA
Tickets: TheGrowlers.com
Published on December 09, 2015 12:29
The Holydrug Couple shares new video from "Moonlust" + reschedules European tour
THE HOLYDRUG COUPLE RESCHEDULES EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
WATCH THE NEW VIDEO FOR "LIGHT OR NIGHT" HERE
MOONLUST LP OUT NOW ON SACRED BONES RECORDS
The Holydrug Couple's newest LP Moonlust is out now on Sacred Bones Records. The Chilean psych band just rescheduled their previously postponed European tour dates and are sharing a brand new video for album track "Light or Night", you can watch it right here.
The recent album Moonlust saw the Chilean duo boldly treading territory in which their earlier psych-indebted recordings only hinted at. Influence from French movie soundtracks of the ’70s and ’80s and the discography of Serge Gainsbourg are no doubt present here. The album's twelve songs are streamlined hook delivery machines, without any baroque arrangements or unnecessary flourishes to get in the way of their ultimate goal.
You can find the new European tour dates along with the video for "Light or Night" below!
YouTube: The Holydrug Couple - "Light or Night"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSYwYk5EGg
Praise for Moonlust:
"It offers pretty much every gauzy riff, distant vocal, and obscure object of desire that could be wanted from a dream pop album" - Tiny Mix Tapes
"an overtly psychedelic listen" - NME
TOUR DATES04 MAR - NL - Amsterdam - Paradiso
05 MAR - NL - Groningen - Vera
06 MAR - NL - Zeewolde - Where The Wild Things Are
07 MAR - DE - Hamburg - Hafenklang
08 MAR - DK - Copenhagen - Loppen
09 MAR - SE - Malmö - Inkonst
10 MAR - SE - Stockholm - Lilla Hotellbaren
11 MAR - NO - Oslo - Revolver
12 MAR - SE - Göteborg - Woah Dad HQ
13 MAR - DK - Aarhus - TAPE
15 MAR - BE - Liege - MAD Café
16 MAR - BE - Gent Charlatan
17 MAR - BE - Brussels - Homeplugged
18 MAR - UK - London - Shacklewell Arms
19 MAR - FR - Paris - Gonzai Party @ La Maroquinerie
20 MAR - FR - Nantes - Le Ferrailleur
21 MAR - FR - Toulouse - Le Saint des Seins
22 MAR - SP - Tolosa - Bonberenea
23 MAR - SP - Madrid - Siroco
24 MAR - PT - Cascais - Stairway Club
26 MAR - SP - Oviedo - Lata de Zinc
WATCH THE NEW VIDEO FOR "LIGHT OR NIGHT" HERE
MOONLUST LP OUT NOW ON SACRED BONES RECORDS

The Holydrug Couple's newest LP Moonlust is out now on Sacred Bones Records. The Chilean psych band just rescheduled their previously postponed European tour dates and are sharing a brand new video for album track "Light or Night", you can watch it right here.
The recent album Moonlust saw the Chilean duo boldly treading territory in which their earlier psych-indebted recordings only hinted at. Influence from French movie soundtracks of the ’70s and ’80s and the discography of Serge Gainsbourg are no doubt present here. The album's twelve songs are streamlined hook delivery machines, without any baroque arrangements or unnecessary flourishes to get in the way of their ultimate goal.
You can find the new European tour dates along with the video for "Light or Night" below!
YouTube: The Holydrug Couple - "Light or Night"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSYwYk5EGg
Praise for Moonlust:
"It offers pretty much every gauzy riff, distant vocal, and obscure object of desire that could be wanted from a dream pop album" - Tiny Mix Tapes
"an overtly psychedelic listen" - NME
TOUR DATES04 MAR - NL - Amsterdam - Paradiso
05 MAR - NL - Groningen - Vera
06 MAR - NL - Zeewolde - Where The Wild Things Are
07 MAR - DE - Hamburg - Hafenklang
08 MAR - DK - Copenhagen - Loppen
09 MAR - SE - Malmö - Inkonst
10 MAR - SE - Stockholm - Lilla Hotellbaren
11 MAR - NO - Oslo - Revolver
12 MAR - SE - Göteborg - Woah Dad HQ
13 MAR - DK - Aarhus - TAPE
15 MAR - BE - Liege - MAD Café
16 MAR - BE - Gent Charlatan
17 MAR - BE - Brussels - Homeplugged
18 MAR - UK - London - Shacklewell Arms
19 MAR - FR - Paris - Gonzai Party @ La Maroquinerie
20 MAR - FR - Nantes - Le Ferrailleur
21 MAR - FR - Toulouse - Le Saint des Seins
22 MAR - SP - Tolosa - Bonberenea
23 MAR - SP - Madrid - Siroco
24 MAR - PT - Cascais - Stairway Club
26 MAR - SP - Oviedo - Lata de Zinc
Published on December 09, 2015 09:33
Replacements biography "Trouble Boys"
THE LONG-AWAITED BIOGRAPHY OF THE REPLACEMENTS,TROUBLE BOYS, OUT MARCH 1 FROM DA CAPO PRESS
Thirty-five years after the release of their debut album comes Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements -- the biography of one of the last great rock 'n' roll bands of the twentieth century. Written with the participation of the group's key members, including singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg, bassist Tommy Stinson, guitarist Slim Dunlap, and the family of late band founder Bob Stinson, Trouble Boys (March 1, Da Capo Press) reveals the primal factors and forces - addiction, abuse, fear - that would shape one of the most brilliant and notoriously self-destructive groups of all-time.The book is based on nearly a decade of research and reporting by (Memphis) Commercial Appeal music critic and longtime MOJO contributor Bob Mehr, who conducted hundreds of interviews (with family, friends, managers, producers and musical colleagues), and was given full access to the Replacements' archives at Twin/Tone and Warner Bros. Records. "After years of work, hopefully this story comes across as passionately and powerfully as their music," says author Mehr, who's just launched a website for the project, at www.replacementsbook.com and is on Twitter @bobmehr. This first-ever narrative biography of the influential Minneapolis band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees is an unrestrained account, providing revelations about the band members' troubled early years - which were scarred by abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues - and their pre-Replacements musical history. The book also offers an in-depth, emotional exploration of the life and tragic death of founding member Bob Stinson, who passed away at the age of 35 in 1995. Tracing the band's rise within the early-'80s American underground, it also explores their friendship, collaboration and longstanding rivalry with R.E.M. and Hüsker Dü. Signing to Sire/Warner Bros. in 1985, they would become one of the first indie bands to make the transition to the major label world, inspiring unrivaled critical acclaim and record company frustration during their chaotic career. The 520-page book also presents a detailed look at the making of classic Replacements' albums Let It Be, Tim and Pleased to Meet Me, among others.The book also documents the group's battles with MTV, their infamous 1986 appearance on Saturday Night Live, and digs up true tales of the Replacements' encounters with Bob Dylan and Prince, recording sessions with Tom Waits, performances with Keith Richards, studio chaos with Metallica, and tours with Tom Petty with Elvis Costello.It recounts the band's break-up-which saw them fire drummer Chris Mars and later split in front of 20,000 people onstage at Chicago's Grant Park-in 1991. It goes on to trace their later post-band endeavors: following Paul Westerberg's solo efforts, and Tommy Stinson's unlikely path to joining Guns N' Roses. The book's epilogue includes a behind-the-scenes look at the Replacements' triumphant 2013-2015 reunion, which saw them selling out stadiums and reclaiming their legacy.Featuring interviews with label intimates (Seymour Stein, Lenny Waronker), fellow musicians (Peter Buck, Frank Black, Wayne Coyne), record producers (Scott Litt, Jim Dickinson), and Hollywood fans (actress Winona Ryder, Heathers screenwriter Daniel Waters), the book also includes 70 rare and previously unseen images. This summer, the reunited Replacements wrapped up a sold-out headlining reunion tour of the U.S. and their first European dates in 25 years. Paul Westerberg has since been prepping his collaborative project with Juliana Hatfield, The I Don't Cares - whose debut LP, Wild Stab, comes out in late-January. Tommy Stinson is currently wrapping up work on his third solo album at his Bipolar Bear Studios in Hudson, New York. Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements will publish on March 1, 2016. The book is available for pre-order now.
Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0306818795Barnes & Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trouble-boys-bob-mehr/1122102368;jsessionid=67DADF7A0EF0E0F8AC68E6F203947AD4.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=9780306818790IndieBoundhttp://www.indiebound.org/book/9780306818790

Thirty-five years after the release of their debut album comes Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements -- the biography of one of the last great rock 'n' roll bands of the twentieth century. Written with the participation of the group's key members, including singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg, bassist Tommy Stinson, guitarist Slim Dunlap, and the family of late band founder Bob Stinson, Trouble Boys (March 1, Da Capo Press) reveals the primal factors and forces - addiction, abuse, fear - that would shape one of the most brilliant and notoriously self-destructive groups of all-time.The book is based on nearly a decade of research and reporting by (Memphis) Commercial Appeal music critic and longtime MOJO contributor Bob Mehr, who conducted hundreds of interviews (with family, friends, managers, producers and musical colleagues), and was given full access to the Replacements' archives at Twin/Tone and Warner Bros. Records. "After years of work, hopefully this story comes across as passionately and powerfully as their music," says author Mehr, who's just launched a website for the project, at www.replacementsbook.com and is on Twitter @bobmehr. This first-ever narrative biography of the influential Minneapolis band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees is an unrestrained account, providing revelations about the band members' troubled early years - which were scarred by abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues - and their pre-Replacements musical history. The book also offers an in-depth, emotional exploration of the life and tragic death of founding member Bob Stinson, who passed away at the age of 35 in 1995. Tracing the band's rise within the early-'80s American underground, it also explores their friendship, collaboration and longstanding rivalry with R.E.M. and Hüsker Dü. Signing to Sire/Warner Bros. in 1985, they would become one of the first indie bands to make the transition to the major label world, inspiring unrivaled critical acclaim and record company frustration during their chaotic career. The 520-page book also presents a detailed look at the making of classic Replacements' albums Let It Be, Tim and Pleased to Meet Me, among others.The book also documents the group's battles with MTV, their infamous 1986 appearance on Saturday Night Live, and digs up true tales of the Replacements' encounters with Bob Dylan and Prince, recording sessions with Tom Waits, performances with Keith Richards, studio chaos with Metallica, and tours with Tom Petty with Elvis Costello.It recounts the band's break-up-which saw them fire drummer Chris Mars and later split in front of 20,000 people onstage at Chicago's Grant Park-in 1991. It goes on to trace their later post-band endeavors: following Paul Westerberg's solo efforts, and Tommy Stinson's unlikely path to joining Guns N' Roses. The book's epilogue includes a behind-the-scenes look at the Replacements' triumphant 2013-2015 reunion, which saw them selling out stadiums and reclaiming their legacy.Featuring interviews with label intimates (Seymour Stein, Lenny Waronker), fellow musicians (Peter Buck, Frank Black, Wayne Coyne), record producers (Scott Litt, Jim Dickinson), and Hollywood fans (actress Winona Ryder, Heathers screenwriter Daniel Waters), the book also includes 70 rare and previously unseen images. This summer, the reunited Replacements wrapped up a sold-out headlining reunion tour of the U.S. and their first European dates in 25 years. Paul Westerberg has since been prepping his collaborative project with Juliana Hatfield, The I Don't Cares - whose debut LP, Wild Stab, comes out in late-January. Tommy Stinson is currently wrapping up work on his third solo album at his Bipolar Bear Studios in Hudson, New York. Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements will publish on March 1, 2016. The book is available for pre-order now.

Published on December 09, 2015 09:26
Replacements biography "Trouble Boys" out March 1
THE LONG-AWAITED BIOGRAPHY OF THE REPLACEMENTS,TROUBLE BOYS, OUT MARCH 1 FROM DA CAPO PRESS
Thirty-five years after the release of their debut album comes Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements -- the biography of one of the last great rock 'n' roll bands of the twentieth century. Written with the participation of the group's key members, including singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg, bassist Tommy Stinson, guitarist Slim Dunlap, and the family of late band founder Bob Stinson, Trouble Boys (March 1, Da Capo Press) reveals the primal factors and forces - addiction, abuse, fear - that would shape one of the most brilliant and notoriously self-destructive groups of all-time. The book is based on nearly a decade of research and reporting by (Memphis) Commercial Appeal music critic and longtime MOJO contributor Bob Mehr, who conducted hundreds of interviews (with family, friends, managers, producers and musical colleagues), and was given full access to the Replacements' archives at Twin/Tone and Warner Bros. Records. "After years of work, hopefully this story comes across as passionately and powerfully as their music," says author Mehr, who's just launched a website for the project, at www.replacementsbook.com and is on Twitter @bobmehr. This first-ever narrative biography of the influential Minneapolis band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees is an unrestrained account, providing revelations about the band members' troubled early years - which were scarred by abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues - and their pre-Replacements musical history. The book also offers an in-depth, emotional exploration of the life and tragic death of founding member Bob Stinson, who passed away at the age of 35 in 1995. Tracing the band's rise within the early-'80s American underground, it also explores their friendship, collaboration and longstanding rivalry with R.E.M. and Hüsker Dü. Signing to Sire/Warner Bros. in 1985, they would become one of the first indie bands to make the transition to the major label world, inspiring unrivaled critical acclaim and record company frustration during their chaotic career. The 520-page book also presents a detailed look at the making of classic Replacements' albums Let It Be, Tim and Pleased to Meet Me, among others. The book also documents the group's battles with MTV, their infamous 1986 appearance on Saturday Night Live, and digs up true tales of the Replacements' encounters with Bob Dylan and Prince, recording sessions with Tom Waits, performances with Keith Richards, studio chaos with Metallica, and tours with Tom Petty with Elvis Costello. It recounts the band's break-up-which saw them fire drummer Chris Mars and later split in front of 20,000 people onstage at Chicago's Grant Park-in 1991. It goes on to trace their later post-band endeavors: following Paul Westerberg's solo efforts, and Tommy Stinson's unlikely path to joining Guns N' Roses. The book's epilogue includes a behind-the-scenes look at the Replacements' triumphant 2013-2015 reunion, which saw them selling out stadiums and reclaiming their legacy. Featuring interviews with label intimates (Seymour Stein, Lenny Waronker), fellow musicians (Peter Buck, Frank Black, Wayne Coyne), record producers (Scott Litt, Jim Dickinson), and Hollywood fans (actress Winona Ryder, Heathers screenwriter Daniel Waters), the book also includes 70 rare and previously unseen images. This summer, the reunited Replacements wrapped up a sold-out headlining reunion tour of the U.S. and their first European dates in 25 years. Paul Westerberg has since been prepping his collaborative project with Juliana Hatfield, The I Don't Cares - whose debut LP, Wild Stab, comes out in late-January. Tommy Stinson is currently wrapping up work on his third solo album at his Bipolar Bear Studios in Hudson, New York. Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements will publish on March 1, 2016. The book is available for pre-order now.
Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0306818795 Barnes & Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trouble-boys-bob-mehr/1122102368;jsessionid=67DADF7A0EF0E0F8AC68E6F203947AD4.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=9780306818790 IndieBoundhttp://www.indiebound.org/book/9780306818790

Thirty-five years after the release of their debut album comes Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements -- the biography of one of the last great rock 'n' roll bands of the twentieth century. Written with the participation of the group's key members, including singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg, bassist Tommy Stinson, guitarist Slim Dunlap, and the family of late band founder Bob Stinson, Trouble Boys (March 1, Da Capo Press) reveals the primal factors and forces - addiction, abuse, fear - that would shape one of the most brilliant and notoriously self-destructive groups of all-time. The book is based on nearly a decade of research and reporting by (Memphis) Commercial Appeal music critic and longtime MOJO contributor Bob Mehr, who conducted hundreds of interviews (with family, friends, managers, producers and musical colleagues), and was given full access to the Replacements' archives at Twin/Tone and Warner Bros. Records. "After years of work, hopefully this story comes across as passionately and powerfully as their music," says author Mehr, who's just launched a website for the project, at www.replacementsbook.com and is on Twitter @bobmehr. This first-ever narrative biography of the influential Minneapolis band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees is an unrestrained account, providing revelations about the band members' troubled early years - which were scarred by abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues - and their pre-Replacements musical history. The book also offers an in-depth, emotional exploration of the life and tragic death of founding member Bob Stinson, who passed away at the age of 35 in 1995. Tracing the band's rise within the early-'80s American underground, it also explores their friendship, collaboration and longstanding rivalry with R.E.M. and Hüsker Dü. Signing to Sire/Warner Bros. in 1985, they would become one of the first indie bands to make the transition to the major label world, inspiring unrivaled critical acclaim and record company frustration during their chaotic career. The 520-page book also presents a detailed look at the making of classic Replacements' albums Let It Be, Tim and Pleased to Meet Me, among others. The book also documents the group's battles with MTV, their infamous 1986 appearance on Saturday Night Live, and digs up true tales of the Replacements' encounters with Bob Dylan and Prince, recording sessions with Tom Waits, performances with Keith Richards, studio chaos with Metallica, and tours with Tom Petty with Elvis Costello. It recounts the band's break-up-which saw them fire drummer Chris Mars and later split in front of 20,000 people onstage at Chicago's Grant Park-in 1991. It goes on to trace their later post-band endeavors: following Paul Westerberg's solo efforts, and Tommy Stinson's unlikely path to joining Guns N' Roses. The book's epilogue includes a behind-the-scenes look at the Replacements' triumphant 2013-2015 reunion, which saw them selling out stadiums and reclaiming their legacy. Featuring interviews with label intimates (Seymour Stein, Lenny Waronker), fellow musicians (Peter Buck, Frank Black, Wayne Coyne), record producers (Scott Litt, Jim Dickinson), and Hollywood fans (actress Winona Ryder, Heathers screenwriter Daniel Waters), the book also includes 70 rare and previously unseen images. This summer, the reunited Replacements wrapped up a sold-out headlining reunion tour of the U.S. and their first European dates in 25 years. Paul Westerberg has since been prepping his collaborative project with Juliana Hatfield, The I Don't Cares - whose debut LP, Wild Stab, comes out in late-January. Tommy Stinson is currently wrapping up work on his third solo album at his Bipolar Bear Studios in Hudson, New York. Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements will publish on March 1, 2016. The book is available for pre-order now.

Published on December 09, 2015 09:26