From
Minneapolis, Minnesota.Led by Paul Westerberg (vocals/guitar) with Tommy Stinson
(guitars),
Chris Mars (drums) and Slim Dunlap (bass).The "Mats" (short for place mats, as their fans called them),
were the great unsung American rock band of the 80's.If there were no R.E.M., then The Replacements would have beenAmerica's
foremost alternative rock band. Fast and sloppy, their
legendary off-the-cuff live performances could be
outstanding or dismal depending on which night you saw them on and how
much they were drinking.Inconsistencies in the band led to the firing of original
bassist Bob Stinson (Tommy's
brother) in 1986.Sadly he died of alcoholism in 1995.All members of
the band have gone on to solo careers. Tommy Stinson formed the
groups Bash & Pop and Perfect and is now a member of the reformed
Guns & Roses.Stinson
however says that Axl Rose is much easier to work with than Westerberg
was! Stinson, Mars and Westerberg reunited to create two new Mats
songs for a 2006 retrospective cd. 1981-90.