The Replacements

The Replacements emerged from Minneapolis in 1979 as architects of American alternative rock, transmuting punk's raw energy into something messier and more emotionally volatile. Led by Paul Westerberg's literate songwriting and the band's legendary unpredictability, they released a trilogy of essential albums through the mid-1980s: Let It Be (1984), Tim (1985), and Pleased to Meet Me (1987). Their sound careened between thrashing punk, Stonesian swagger, and aching balladry, embodying the contradictions of Reagan-era youth culture.

Critics recognised their influence even as commercial success remained elusive. Their refusal to professionalise, notorious for performing drunk and sabotaging television appearances, made them heroes to independent-minded bands that followed. Let It Be particularly demonstrated their range, from the ferocious "I Will Dare" to the tender "Androgynous," addressing gender fluidity years before mainstream discourse.

The Replacements dissolved in 1991 after major label albums yielded diminishing returns. Their legacy persists as godfathers to 1990s alternative rock, proof that ambition and self-destruction often share the same stage. They reunified briefly between 2012 and 2015.