The Replacements on MTV News in 1989 | MTV News

Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson of the Replacements talk “Don’t Tell a Soul”, lying, and the legacy of the 80s in this 1989 interview with Kurt Loder. Read more: www.mtv.com/new...
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[@memye288]

Tommy was 23, Paul was 30. Right around the time of Don't Tell A Soul. I love it all, for better or worse. My favorite band of all time!

[@ikeyschultz4969]

Hmmm. Paul rocking a sweater very similar to one I swear I saw worn by an "icon" about 5 years later. The Replacements, unknowingly, led the way once again. Btw: It's the "unknowingly" part that made them great.

[@eiremike1]

yeah all those good influences eventually got thru :-)

[@danh4724]

Any idea what Cobain thought of the replacements?

[@ikeyschultz4969]

Dan Ham Not sure. I think he probably had an uneasy admiration. Read somewhere they shared an elevator ride once and neither said a word to another. Paul is on record saying he thought Cobain took himself "too seriously."

[@danh4724]

Ikey Schultz That sounds about right.

[@makeshiftswahili9710]

Kurt said he wasn't really a fan, but he had seen them live, in one of his last interviews (by a Canadian tv station I think). That part wasn't originally aired but a couple of years ago the unedited interview was released. It's on youtube somewhere

[@chrisblaney5195]

Hero’s

[@scott7521]

Loder.... such a fanboy. I couldn't stand that brown-nosing worm.

[@lazlostrutz]

I can't believe they used to let musicians be themselves on the tv. This is almost frighteningly bizarre.

[@misterscallop9849]

did they? I thought they got kicked off performances for being drunk

[@lazlostrutz]

@@misterscallop9849 you're probably right. you should be lucky to be boring

[@misterscallop9849]

@@lazlostrutz lol piss off dude, replacements would have more freedom now bc of youtube

[@warshipsatin8764]

its bizarre that you dont even realize theyre mocking the phoniness of television at that time in this very video

[@exiles_dot_tv]

@@warshipsatin8764 Television has always been phony, at least MTV at that time was doing some interesting things. And sure, the Replacements would have a bit more freedom on KZbin, but that's not really "television".

[@giornogiovanna8530]

Most underrated band in history

[@t.outlaw2490]

Facts!

[@roydagger]

@Jeff Baker Average song writing along with a limited vocal range (Westerberg) won't sell. Thank god! Do we need any more audio pollution? No. Replacements music is good for one thing-- sleep! Only the ideologically dedicated and the naive (for a time anyway) will nod their heads along to sub-par music. Viva alternative. Viva boredom!

[@masonherrera6560]

@@roydagger how about fuck you buck rodgers

[@roydagger]

@@masonherrera6560 okay, thanks. Replacements still an average band with aerobics style hairdo.

[@JG-ux7of]

I have never heard a band that had so many songs that sound like number 1 hits that most of the world have never heard. In alternate realities the Replacements are bigger than the Beatles and Nirvana. How prophetic and accurate about nothing from the 80s making history other than the coming of MTV. I describe to everyone that the Replacements are the perfect blend of Punk and Pop but they were way too Punk at heart to ever be Pop.

[@mrjapan1]

I watch this once a week

[@hauntedhose]

Yeah man... being in a rock band brings out best in people

[@leahflower9924]

there's something about Midwest people that is so endearing lol

[@BoughtASatellite]

Just start to know that I remembered this vid such a gem

[@jamesm876]

"You gotta watch out for the Pinocchio thing there too, buddy" Gotta love Tommy.

[@luckythree227]

my idol

[@chasebizzy1]

Is anyone else old enough to remember casual cigarette smoke?

[@JL-rt9mi]

I'm old enough to remember when hospital waiting rooms had ashtrays.

[@traceym7581]

At my first job out of high school, the woman who sat next to me used to smoke at her desk. Not too much later the rules changed and the smokers had to go outside to smoke. I remember that lady was mad.

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

I remember when we had an area we could smoke at in High School in 1979!

[@watchnlearn1001]

Went to a Vo-tech during High School. There was a smoking bus and a non smoking bus! Got busted smoking in Junior High. Principal took me into his office, sat down and sparked up a cig while he lectured me.

[@mike196212]

I'm 58 and I sure do recall those days. Don't smoke,never did and sure don't miss coming home from bars smelling like tobacco.

[@deeganpoores1652]

Never guessed Paul would have been into the Cocteau Twins, thats really cool actually

[@deeganpoores1652]

Also, I find it pretty ironic that they were against sampling back then, especially cause Mr. Whirly basically just sampled the Beatles lol

[@susanmaggiora4800]

Deegan Poores Except ‘basically’ sampling and actual sampling are two entirely different things.

[@deeganpoores1652]

@@susanmaggiora4800 I know

[@jjstraka1982]

The fact he immediately mentions my other favorite band besides The Replacements warms my heart.

[@wesleystafford8521]

Paul's speaking voice - he oughta have a radio show on Sirius XM.

[@brucearmacost8598]

Not too long after this interview Paul had moved back into his parents house and Tommy was working as a telemarketer. That was only temporary but still.

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

Hi Paul 👋!

[@hockeykid1747]

I've never seen two people fidget more during an interview with cigarettes and cups

[@kazd3256]

@Richard Sullivan Hahah! Sounds like a good title for a Replacements track! or, name for a deli chain c. 1980! 😉😄

[@Anthony-hu3rj]

@@kazd3256 I can see it now: More During An. Great name for a deli.

[@wtburns01]

You've never seen a typical interview with Bob Dylan from 1965, then

[@seankent1807]

Kurt Loder was the GOAT. Not condescending, laughed along with the silly parts, well prepared…miss those days!

[@shevwreck2370]

Kurt Loader: "What does Slim bring to the band?" Paul Westerburg: "Drugs lol" Fuckin' priceless, I wasn't old enough to catch em when they first came around. But seeing them in 2014 (@Forest Hills) kicking off the set with "Favorite Thing" was the closest thing to a spiritual experience.

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

It’s true. Paul and Slim were snorting cocaine and heroin together, speed balls.

[@BobboByrnes]

Tommy is a grizzled and jaded veteran of the music biz here. He's 23 in this interview.

[@MPLSprintmaking]

Proclaiming how the replacements are overrated is overrated. If anything, the Replacements are rated accurately. Seriously, name a music critic who doesn’t love this band.

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

I agree. I grew up in Mpls in this scene. I've watched them over the years. Westerberg is acknowledged as a great songwriter, as he is, and Tommy is recognized as a World class bassist. Westerberg has managed to have a great career and maintain an image of an outsider/ artist with integrity. Tommy has had a great career. The Replacements receive nothing but praise now. And in Mpls they were absolutely loved very early on by their peers. I saw them regularly every chance I got from the age of 16 in 82 when I got a fake ID and I saw them at alcohol free places too. Except for a gig that was cancelled at the last minute when Tommy had to have his tonsils taken out!

[@rightfromleft6071]

I'm getting out of my car going to my best friends place in Burbank and here comes Tommy Stinson whipping by on a bicycle. I'm like, man you don't see that everyday.

[@travisedwards3543]

My friend lives in north hollywood by the drum shop that is owned by 311s drummer. Not too far from the liquor store where cher gets robbed in clueless. It was kinda trippy just running into it on foot.. "wait?! Whats this from.. This looks familiar." 🤔 💥👉 Clueless. (I commented because im pretty sure burbank is neighboring to n. hollywood. Thought you might be familiar with the area.)

[@dner75-xh9le]

I met Paul walking around Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis one day with his girlfriend or wife. Really nice guy, but I could tell he didn't want to be bothered. I took the hint.

[@jjamiejackson]

if you are a Mats fan...you need to read "Trouble Boys". It's by far the best biography written on The Replacements.

[@jasonpeters9716]

Ty

[@dadmadedinner5456]

I’m in the middle of my second read. It might be the best music biography ever written.

[@JMarinelli]

Like a Midwestern Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, in the best possible sense.

[@joshww2339]

Dudes are fried!

[@heidihermes5852]

"Pete Buck is one fine guitar player..." lmao Read the Bob Mehr book, folks.

[@sloburnjo]

Yup

[@alainsoir]

What does he say about them? It made me sad that he didn’t seem to like REM, I thought they were kindred spirits

[@TvDaddyAndTheTabloidArmy]

@@alainsoir 🙄

[@condor7810]

@@alainsoir : Actually, Pete Buck played the guitar solo on "I Will Dare" on the Let it Be album. So they were very much kindred spirits. Not to mention the lyrics on "Left of the Dial" which mention the "sweet Georgia breezes..."

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Poor Bob, he sure didn't deserve to suffer and have such a fucked up life. Mental illness is a real hard thing to deal with. Hope he's resting in peace.

[@davidmckaig4777]

"If i have to look at the guitarist's butt in leather, it takes away from the lyric" Brilliant 🤣❤️

[@matthewstetson711]

Sorta kinda taking a shot at Peter Buck, probably a bit of being jealous there since the two bands started out liking each other. Replacements story is an entertaining one. A punk band that discovered they had a songwriter in their midst. What to do? What they did. RIP Bob Stinson. I hope Slim has more good days than bad ones.

[@madddads6418]

I like to be optimistic and think that "jealous shot" at Buck and REM, was no big deal and everyone got along fine as friends when the cameras and interviewers were't around. The Replacements just ran with The Sex Pistols "fuck off" attitude and stuck by it.

[@matthewstetson711]

MADDdad S Yeah, jealous isn't the best word. They never seemed to know what they wanted anyway. Put together a very good catalogue which is the most important thing. I love the live six part gig here on youtube that TwinTone recorded back in the day

[@madddads6418]

+matt helm I really dig that too!

[@jdmo]

Buck was a friend of Bob's, or so I heard. Don't know if Westerberg cared one way or another, though that jangly Peter Buck solo on "I will dare" has always sounded kinda misplaced.

[@brothawils]

Pete buck played on Let it Be. I Will Dare I think

[@justindrakecroft]

This is so amazing and refreshing to watch in 2016.

[@mjtch]

Anddddd 2024 too

[@jake2480]

On sampling: “Prince steals from us”

[@JayyVee41]

Paul and Tommy look like they’ve been on a 238 year bender

[@antacidchain3022]

It was at least a 238 day bender

[@memye288]

Not really at the time. They definitely sounded like it. Tommy was only 23 here!!!

[@CandysChannel]

Love this because the band were one of my favorites. The song "The Ledge" had great meaning to me

[@johnrunion5357]

the first time i ever heard the replacements was when a friend gave me his copy of pleased to meet me. the whole album was solid and then the ledge took it to a whole new level. then the cassette clicked over to side two and it was solid and then skyway took it to whole new level.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

Candy’s Channel: The Mats were one of a very few bands where almost no songs on any of their albums were duds -- filler tracks added around the obvious singles in order to make a whole album. Almost every song on every one of their albums had the potential to be singles. Paul always had something of substance to say, lyrically-speaking, in every one of his songs (both in the Mats and his solo career) -- he very rarely, if ever, mailed in the lines just to satisfy (or "Unsatisfy" -- pardon the pun) the need to deliver a full album's worth of material.

[@leahflower9924]

before grunge we had the ledge lol great song

[@billyj1410]

Whats with the like/dislikes? am I missing something or is this just one of those fuck Mtv type deals.

[@morrisonreed1]

Love watching them laugh at the bs of it all , Stinson is trying not to laugh from the very beginning . would love to see this w no edits .

[@bengrabenstein2929]

If you haven't already, try and support Slim by purchasing Songs for Slim.

[@maggiemace1811]

“I like the Cocteau Twins”

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

He really does. Check out What's In My Bag with Tommy Stinson.

[@mim8291]

i just want to know why tommy looked like he was about to crack up at the beginning

[@eiremike1]

When asked about any new bands and they dont mention any...if only they'd known (in 1989)... Pixies Surfer Rosa, Nirvana Bleach, Dino Jr, Sonic Youth (Evol?) the next wave was on the way, influenced by these legends

[@madddads6418]

I don't think they were really in the business of bragging up anyone else. I think it was a super tough love thing happening, and Paul was the toughest.

[@eiremike1]

true!

[@adamrichman6105]

eiremike1 there used to be an interview online with these two where they talked about loving The Pixies

[@jdmo]

Oh, they knew Sonic Youth going back to 1985 or '86 when the 'Mats were still at least sort of part of the underground. I doubt the 'Mats wanted anything to do with SY and visa versa w/ Paul trying to do his Bryan Adams get-me-on-the-radio impersonation. I seem to remember Westerberg talking about how much he liked "Talk is Cheap" by Keith Richards, which would have been relatively new in 1989.

[@scotttracey2297]

perhaps my second favorite band of the eighties, after the smiths

[@bpmrox]

I just met a guy named Alex Chilton... He loves the replacements and he is called out regularly - proving that people efin love The Replacements!!!!

[@jimtokheim1422]

"I guess that makes us Fabian"! and THAT is what makes Paul such a great song writer. Such a prophetic interview, seeing that everyone is now talking about The Replacements.

[@ANobodiemyspace]

Why are people taking about them now?

[@ANobodiemyspace]

Its hard to climb the ladder of success when holding a drink in both hands

[@JL-rt9mi]

"It was never that dirty in the first place!" How can anyone not love Tommy Stinson?

[@chasebizzy1]

Kurt Loder 104 years old.... R.I.P. .

[@absolving]

Tommy's already laughing ten seconds in😆😆

[@baileyb4470]

I love how they’re just having fun during the whole interview These guys are amazing!

[@seancurran3603]

And drunk.

[@baileyb4470]

@@seancurran3603 big time Aren’t they almost always drunk during performances and interviews?

[@mrjapan1]

Tommy picking his nose and giggling in the beginning

[@auralepiphanies4055]

When music wasn't tainted by grunge

[@machbaby]

I'm guessing there wasn't just coffee in those cups. I don't think Paul was sober at this time. In the book "Trouble Boys" he said his drinking got so bad that he lost high tolerance to alcohol- then it works the other way. He talked about how only a single drink would knock him on his ass. Paul quit cold turkey soon after.

[@neaituppi7306]

I remember seeing this interview on MTV years ago, and I always liked it, even though I didn't listen to their music much. There was just no artifice with them, they would be too busy making fun of it.

[@PapiMahoney]

What kind of cocktail is in those cups?

[@greglamb4079]

Listen to Tommy drop the heavy Minnesota "O" at 7:03 when he says "jump on the boat" Straight Outta Fargo. It's funny because he doesn't talk like that anymore.

[@sigurdhaakaas2881]

" Jump on the båt " 😂

[@StevenSclafani]

Kurt Loder's keeping it real asking them their opinion on sampling.

[@flyingburritobro68]

They always tried harder to sabotage themselves preventing any chance of major success. This interview shows them playing that up and acting out. Having paid to watch them live was a waste of money as they didn’t even try on most nights. Still made some good albums but Westerberg Stinson and Mars solo work is just as good and in some cases better

[@brendonla]

No idea Westerberg was a Cocteau Twins fan (as is Stinson)

[@adolexical]

Thanks, I was trying to figure out what he said there

[@wesleystafford8521]

"Kick drum where the guy missed a beat ..." - is Paul digging on Chris Mars here? :)

[@spectralv709]

For some reason they remind me of the Beastie Boys of Alternative Rock. Must be the alcohol

[@ustheserfs]

i think they only ever wanted a fleeting glimpse of success, which they got but the folklore surrounding this band is what will be talked about from now until the last 'mat expires.

[@Mikem-mq2hh]

What band does Paul mention at the 3:55 mark?

[@treatmentbound]

I couldn't make it out either.

[@Stormwarningjeep]

Cocteau Twins

[@otineb5]

One can tell that Paul was still in his drinking phase. Good thing that he stopped drinking and hopefully he's since stopped smoking. Hadn't he stopped partying, he probably wouldn't be with us today.

[@machbaby]

From what I hear, he went back to drinking, but in moderation (whatever that means for someone like him.) Tommy never stopped.

[@zippymufo9765]

@@machbaby He was pretty drunk at one of the solo gigs in the 00's.

[@SunshineClementine]

Be real, and so... they did. x

[@Paul-dw2cl]

“What do you think he brings to the band?” “Drugs.”

[@jonswenk8073]

Greatness !!

[@Daniel-yt6sc]

Paul got the cardigan sweater first

[@memye288]

Hell yes!

[@jasonpeters9716]

Crazy..lil do they know a music revolution, due to bands like The Replacements! Is about to take place in 2yrs

[@bradnewsom6058]

This is great

[@richalderson6069]

They look like born rockn'rollers.

[@davidmreyes77]

Kurt Loder’s comment at 4:35 was pretty prophetic and on the mark. 1989 and into 1990 was actually kind of a low point for mainstream rock. His comment “ do you think we are on the cusp of a renaissance?” was interesting because of what happened in 1991…

[@ROOKTABULA]

Fuck sakes. I'll eat my leg if someone can find a clip where Kurt Loder isn't a total choad!

[@ROOKTABULA]

Too late. He's such total meat bag, I ended up gnawing both off. Just call me Stumpy.

[@applescruff1969]

​@@ROOKTABULAI haven't laughed this hard at a comment since Obama was president.

[@goose_esooge]

Poor Stinson he's fucking cooked

[@warroad]

Most overrated band in history. What is the bass player showing up for interviews for - lost his pick?

[@kentwood9821]

Love this interview!

[@tonyseabolt2723]

little did everyone know what would happen in 1991 in Seattle

[@jasonpeters9716]

Incredible great sounding live band fr the get! In 1981

[@bierce85]

All my favorite musicians are super fidgety in interviews.

[@leahflower9924]

same

[@ironflazambat5815]

Song and dance men

[@wtburns01]

​@@ironflazambat5815Bob, izzat you?

[@troygaspard6732]

Kurt asks what the new guitarist brings to the band, and Tommy answers; Drugs.

[@supreme-dictator-donald-tr6611]

Bring back old mtv news you know when it was about music not about agenda pushing propaganda

[@mathompson53187]

Supreme-dictator-donald-trump not happening unfortunately.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

Supreme-dictator-donald-trump: ...and "reality" show nonsense.

[@Cap683]

PW is a chain smoker. He has a cigarette in hand in every interview that I have seen on YT.

[@jasonpeters9716]

Minneapolis ALMOST was a Seattle type buzz

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Back in the 80's, both the Twin Cities and Seattle had some common ground.... At that time they both were somewhat sleepy backwater "3rd tier" Metro areas which nonetheless had thriving and tight knit musical scenes.... Both had notoriously bad weather; Seattle was cold and rainy for much of the year, The Twin Cities were dreadfully frigid for much of the year. The general disposition of people in both areas was similar; introverted and arguably dour in comparison to neighboring regions. But both regions, and especially Seattle, would "thrive" in the 90's and beyond, leading to huge economic and demographic shifts.

[@wtburns01]

Seattle wishes it could ever be mpls.

[@hauntedhose]

Fuck yeah! Fun rules😛

[@ryanmaxwelll2730]

More Auquanet than Stryper.

[@stephenrafter1022]

The state of them.

[@timnizhnik5963]

i love them😭

[@RoscoPColtrane17]

Great band, horrible hair.

[@spencercoe3804]

How drunk are they here? 10/10?

[@70mjc]

Spencer Coe 0/10 No slurring, no displaced thoughts, no forgetfulness

[@sjones5863]

11

[@Mikem-mq2hh]

Such an honest bunch...

[@TheSickNeeds]

I think there are still a few people out there that look back on the 80s from time to time.

[@70mjc]

The SickNeeds only cool people

[@shakedydogshake]

13 or 14 drinks, works quite well! Thanks to the Common Man Dan Cole, for the 13 or 14 drinks…….smokes’em up🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@spookrockcity]

lol

[@bengrabenstein2929]

First buy the CD Wronger. Second see Tommy, Stinson and Cowboys in the Campfire.

[@jdmo]

By the end of this interview, Loder seems pretty peeved, or maybe Tommy farted or something.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Loder was kind of a prick.... I've read a history of MTV and people talked crap about him.

[@primitivebroadcast]

Yeah, he's not having any fun with this. @@ryanjacobson2508

[@MrTheLuckyshot]

Gave no fucks about all the right things and all the fucks about the right things. Perfect.

[@jasonpeters9716]

Kurt Loder,,.. "Are we on a crest of a Renaissance..?" Wow foreshadowing GenX into 90s growing up and ending shitty hair metal. Music Revolution fr 1991-95

[@justing7909]

3:54 ish, anybody get a better ear for what band he mentions?

[@MrBananaBacon]

Cocteau Twins

[@tinfoilmagnolia2546]

Check out the CD Treasure by the Cocteau Twins

[@whentherope]

Peter Buck is one fine guitar player...

[@sibe6096]

The Mat's and REM are/were friends. They were kidding.

[@shakedydogshake]

Good ole Garage D’or Records…….hello to my Mpls brethren!

[@shakedydogshake]

Tommy should have also been in Husker Du……

[@miker.9138]

Damn, they agree with me that 80s music was mostly dull

[@Mikem-mq2hh]

I love Kurt Loder and he knows these questions are annoying to these guys.

[@lahipster3172]

In 60s bands where doing promo shot on film

[@jasonzoellner7547]

Too sad 😢 self destruction is a bitch

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

How come they mocking pete buck rem

[@marcopervo]

I thought they were the same guy half the time.

[@stevegozdecki8352]

Ah, honesty. I miss it.

[@Anthony-hu3rj]

30 years ago and counting.