Stinson talks to LA Times

[ppbebe]

Been scheduled for release every month for ten years, interesting?

That's new isn't it? Thanks god some one is sober here.

[Falcon]

The problem is it does not make for a cohesive record...just like the Illusions. Some masterpieces...some pieces of shit.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Most great records capture a moment in time, it's hard to do that when the moment in time in question is anyhwere from 5-14 years depending on who's timetable you're using.

[dont_damn_me]

The problem is it does not make for a cohesive record...just like the Illusions. Some masterpieces...some pieces of shit. Hopefully with all this time and effort, Axl will make this album a lot more focused. I think it will be from a lyrical standpoint, but musically?

WTF!! Illusions were not cohesive and there were "pieces of shit" tunes??!! ?Sure maybe My World but other than that the Illusions were the most cohesive solid records ever put out!! i'd love to see CD be a cross between Illusion and Appetite!!

[ppbebe]

Illusions were not cohesive and there were "pieces of shit" tunes??!!

They were not cohesive.  But you can't say there's some pieces of shit.
You might hate My World but it's my fav tune.

I think they were meant to be incoherent.

[Falcon]

The problem is it does not make for a cohesive record...just like the Illusions. Some masterpieces...some pieces of shit. Hopefully with all this time and effort, Axl will make this album a lot more focused. I think it will be from a lyrical standpoint, but musically?

Sure maybe My World but other than that the Illusions were the most cohesive solid records ever put out!!

Disagree totally.

Those records were all over the place, absolutely the antithesis of cohesive or focused. ?

Like a 3 hour movie with a thin plot and too many characters.

[norway]

yes, agree, and i can say that it's clearly evidence of a band at work,
but the swing an momentum goes with the singer imo
agree 2 that article

and mods can bash me 4 this, but why so much x-members in the gunsnroses threads? and sections
can't people deal with reality?

And i hope they're plans about a release and finsihed soons, happens for them this time,
and that we can finally hear studio albums of the band!!! ?

[gabble]

By Susan Carpenter, Times Staff Writer

When Tommy Stinson released his first solo album, his goals were modest. The former bass player for legendary '80s rockers the Replacements wanted to begin making his own records, to find a label, to build an audience.

The results, unfortunately, were equally modest. Since Sanctuary Records released "Village Gorilla Head" last August, it has sold just 15,000 copies and received almost no radio airplay

"There's always an excuse for why. All you can really do is say, 'OK. Cool. I made another record, put it out, toured, and I'm going to keep doing it because that's what I do,' " said Stinson, who's scheduled to play a solo show at the Hotel Cafe on Friday.

Now 38, Stinson was just 12 when he and older brother Bob formed the Replacements in their Minneapolis basement. He was 13 when they fleshed out the lineup with drummer Chris Mars and singer Paul Westerberg, 14 when the band made its recording debut with "Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash," 15 when the group started getting a lot of attention and 18 when they reached their creative peak, releasing the seminal punk album "Let It Be." When the band split up, the Replacements had eight records to their credit. Stinson was only 24.

He now lives in Los Angeles. In the 12 years he's been here, Stinson has never had a car; he gets around via bicycle and public transit. He still "gets his drink on," he said, but not to the point of stumbling around onstage, as the Replacements were known to do.

His thin frame and face topped with tousled two-tone hair, his wrist carrying a cluster of jewelry, Stinson is still very much the rocker. In the mid-'90s, he formed the short-lived groups Bash & Pop and then Perfect. Since 1998, he's been the bass player for Guns N' Roses.

Musicians from each contributed to "Village Gorilla Head," including Perfect drummer Gersh and Guns N' Roses' keyboardist and guitarist, Dizzy Reed and Richard Fortus. For his part, Stinson not only plays bass on the record but six-string guitar, keyboards and, on one track, drums. He also sings -- both lead and backing vocals.

"I wanted to switch it all up," Stinson said, "not just say, 'Here's the one good song and eight others that sound like a crappier version.' "

As a whole, he has succeeded. His first solo record is a multifaceted life snapshot of lessons learned the hard way. The record is rock with a spit shine -- its guitar-driven melodies steeped in disappointment, its lyrics ping-ponging between pessimism and hope. Vocally, it's clear Stinson's picked up some tricks from Westerberg. His delivery has the same energy, sneer and sarcasm of his former bandmate, but there's an endearing, wounded-puppy sensitivity beneath it all, belying a life that's had a lot of downs along with its ups.

Stinson credits the Replacements with saving him from a life of delinquency. Before forming the band, he'd been arrested twice for stealing. Later, the band caused a family rift when Stinson sided with his bandmates to throw his own brother out of the group. Bob later died from alcohol abuse at age 35, in February 1995.

Fourteen years since the group's disintegration into alt-rock also-rans, Westerberg in particular remains a source of bitterness and disillusionment. Stinson and Westerberg saw each other for the first time in eight years in January, when the two collaborated on music for Sony's upcoming animated feature "Open Season."

Ask Stinson about future collaborations with Westerberg, however, and his mood quickly darkens.

Will there be a reunion tour?

"No," he said, directing his full attention to the meatless burrito he was eating at the 101 Cafe in Hollywood.

"No," he repeated without further prompting.

It wouldn't be fun?

"No."

After a long pause, Stinson explained. "If they were throwing the kind of money at us like they were throwing at the Pixies, I would have to look into it because I'm in this to obviously sell records and make a living, but they're not," Stinson said. "And would it be fun even if they did throw that kind of money around? I don't know. It doesn't really entice me. Do I really want to go out and play 'Alex Chilton' again? I've done that. I don't know if I want to play with Paul live again because I've done that."

At Westerberg's initiative, a Replacements box set is in the works, but Stinson is getting involved only because "otherwise I'll get screwed," he said.

Stinson seemed much happier on the subject of Guns N' Roses and his work on one of the most talked about unreleased records in history, "Chinese Democracy." He and the other seven members of the group worked tirelessly on the album from 1998 to 2002.

"There are so many different musical textures and different things going on, you can't pinpoint it as just another drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll record, which is kind of what they celebrated back in the heyday. There's elements of that sort of a musical vibe in a way, but it's a lot more diverse," Stinson said.

"That record's really close to being completed and put out," he added, but declined to guess when exactly that will be.

"It's been scheduled every month for the last 10 years," he deadpanned, adding that once the record's out "there will be a flurry of chaos that I'll be thrown into."

Until then, he's focusing on his own music, which has been getting a slight boost from local station Indie 103.1, which added Stinson's "Moment Too Soon" last fall.

"It's Tommy Stinson," Indie 103.1 music director Mark Sovel said of his rationale for adding the song. "I grew up on the Replacements, and even if the record wasn't getting widespread play, it was still good songwriting and a good record. If he doesn't deserve a shot, who does?"

[Lady Livin]

Same old, same old.

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Pittman and Finck live in Axl's basement so they probably hear Axl singing and playing his piano late at night. 

that is so kinky S&M, dude.  do ya think he's got a dungeon bed down there, whips, handcuffs, candlewax, the whole shebang.

[RichardNixon]

The way Tommy describes all the different musical styles and textures is exactly the way I figured it would end up being.

Yep, me too.

Very unfortunate.

Why is that "very unfortunate"? Do you ever have anything positive to say about anything?

[RichardNixon]

The problem is it does not make for a cohesive record...just like the Illusions. Some masterpieces...some pieces of shit. Hopefully with all this time and effort, Axl will make this album a lot more focused. I think it will be from a lyrical standpoint, but musically?

Sure maybe My World but other than that the Illusions were the most cohesive solid records ever put out!!

Disagree totally.

Those records were all over the place, absolutely the antithesis of cohesive or focused. ?

Like a 3 hour movie with a thin plot and too many characters.

"antithesis of cohesive or focused" Well--aren't we the little armchair Intellectual.   

But anyway, I'd say that they were a great mix of styles and there wasn't really any filler at all.

[Falcon]

Why is that "very unfortunate"? Do you ever have anything positive to say about anything?

I believe I echoed madagas' sentiments on the reasoning behind it being "unfortunate".

And yes, I do have positive input from time to time. ?I'm virtually positive you did not read my post history before asking such a question.

[Falcon]

"antithesis of cohesive or focused" Well--aren't we the little armchair Intellectual.? ?

We aren't....

[jarmo]

He and the other seven members of the group worked tirelessly on the album from 1998 to 2002.

So much for the "they've been working on it for ten years" posts.


Thanks chindem!



/jarmo

[Pandora]

Thanks to Chindem for posting the full article, since after all it was the original subject 

[norway]

[
So much for the "they've been working on it for ten years" posts.


Thanks chindem!



/jarmo

yes, they have not, but the collabration with paul tobias and the music reportedly started early on, hm?
Thanks 4 postin this whole article, i like readin tommy stuff and stuff 

[leesixxrose]

So is the record still comming out in April Tommy!!!!!

[Booker Floyd]

So much for the "they've been working on it for ten years" posts.

I have to question that timeline...unless the albums been completely finished for 3 years, and I doubt thats the case.  As far as I know, theyre still "working on it." 

The fact of the matter is that Axl has been working on a follow-up since before 1998...Most of the material from those days has probably been scrapped.  Maybe some of it will be used.  So it comes down to what youre referring to as "it": Chinese Democracy or the new GNR album.  Again, the material on CD may be 7 or so years in the making (certainly not the 4 suggested by the article), but the new GNR album has been worked on since, what, '94?

[Ignatius]

Nothing new on the horizon but...

I didn't really like Tommy's comments about a reunion with the Replacements though. The only complain I have about this band is its lack of unity ( apperantly). A Band has to stick together, it's ok to put out solo albums if the band is not ready, but as far ar re-uniting with your former band while you are still in GNR is another story. I would have rather hear him say "A Replacements reunion is not going to happen cause I'm in GNR" or something along those lines.

Regarding the diversity of the album, a record could be diverse and still be cohesive. I'm in no way expecting a UYI or AFD clon. Axl's matured musically and lyrically and I expect to see that on the new record. SG Peppers is very fucking diverse yet still solid and cohesive.

[jarmo]

So much for the "they've been working on it for ten years" posts.

I have to question that timeline...unless the albums been completely finished for 3 years, and I doubt thats the case.? As far as I know, theyre still "working on it."?

The fact of the matter is that Axl has been working on a follow-up since before 1998...Most of the material from those days has probably been scrapped.? Maybe some of it will be used.? So it comes down to what youre referring to as "it": Chinese Democracy or the new GNR album.? Again, the material on CD may be 7 or so years in the making (certainly not the 4 suggested by the article), but the new GNR album has been worked on since, what, '94?

Yeah, by that logic work on the Use Your Illusion albums started in the early to mid-80s. Before GN'R even existed.

Would you say it took GN'R six or seven years to finish UYI? Some of the material is that old.....


I'm sure they have worked on songs before 1998, but Tommy wasn't even in the band before 1998. I think once they got a band together, after all the members leaving, things got a bit more serious.




/jarmo