Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements

Music critic Mehr captures the light and dark of a band that could play both acoustic ballads such as “Here Comes A Regular” and punk anthems such as “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out.” The Replacements were one of the great alterative rock bands of the 1980s and were known for their live shows, which could be brilliant displays of controlled mayhem or drug-fueled disasters. Mehr covers all aspects of the band members: alcoholism and addiction, artistic differences, ruined friendships, and the death of lead guitarist Bob Stinson. Though the band was known for its short, fast, impromptu-sounding songs, this book takes an opposite approach: it runs more than 500 pages and is thoroughly researched and detailed. Mehr includes rare candid interviews with the band’s singer-songwriter, Paul Westerberg, and bassist, Tommy Stinson, earning the “true story” subtitle. B&w photos not seen by PW. (Mar.)