The Replacements

Willfully messy and driven toward self-sabotage, the Replacements were one of the best and most influential rock bands of the '80s.

Biography

The Replacements came out of Minneapolis, at the forefront of the indie rock scene that was exploding there in the early-to-mid-1980s. After dropping its initial hardcore leanings, the group caught fire with a skewed take on classic rock, mixing Stones-y chord changes with the nihilistic attitude of punk. As leader Paul Westerberg's songwriting became increasingly sophisticated, the group essentially became a vehicle for him. He continued to chart his own course in a solo career after the band's final release in 1990.