Bob Mehr

Given the news lately, I've thought about this particularly chilling scene a whole lot. R.I.P. to Robert Duvall, maybe the best to ever do it.

Sad news from Memphis: the great soul singer & songwriter Don Bryant has died at 83. A Hi Records artist who penned hits for his wife Ann Peebles (including the immortal "I Can't Stand the Rain"), Bryant enjoyed a late-career comeback over the last decade www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

5 Years After His Death, John Prine Gets a Cinematic Send-Off

My latest for The New York Times, on John Prine. A new concert film, "You Got Gold," documenting a pair of tribute shows begins its theatrical run on the heels of Tom Piazza’s book on Prine. Fiona Prine, Bonnie Raitt & more talk about his life & legacy. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/a...

Was honored to receive a Grammy nomination the other day for my album notes for Wilco's "A Ghost Is Born (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)." Always a privilege to rep the band, Nonesuch and the Warner family - and be part of the great archival work from producer Cheryl Pawelski!

The mailman brought a copy of an incredible Hüsker Dü release, "1985: The Miracle Year," for which I wrote liner notes. This 4LP/2CD set from Numero Group comes out Friday. You can hit the Numero site or your local record retailer to get yours: numerogroup.com/products/198...

My latest for The New York Times on the great Warren Zevon, in the wake of a lavish tribute concert dedicated to him in Los Angeles and ahead of his induction to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame next week. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...

A fluffy cat stands next to a table. On the table are two books: “TROUBLE BOYS: The True Story of the Replacements by Bob Mehr” and “THE BROTHERS: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War” by Stephen Kinzer

leaning into middle age hard by reading about two of the most important pairs of brothers in american history

A bit of news, regarding my Replacements bio, "Trouble Boys"

My latest for The New York Times, on the legendary session musician Carol Kaye. The outspoken 90-year-old is being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame this fall. With thoughts on Kaye's career from Paul McCartney, Kathy Valentine & more. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/a...

My latest for The New York Times, on the legendary session musician Carol Kaye. The outspoken 90-year-old is being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame this fall. With thoughts on Kaye's career from Paul McCartney, Kathy Valentine & more. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/a...

What Nine Inch Nails and Michael Bublé Share: Josh Freese’s Drumming

My latest for the New York Times on the colorful career of Josh Freese, late of Foo Fighters, currently of Nine Inch Nails-a child drum prodigy who's risen to the ranks of the world’s top musicians. With thoughts from Sting, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jim Keltner & more. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/a...

What Nine Inch Nails and Michael Bublé Share: Josh Freese’s Drumming

My latest for the New York Times on the colorful career of Josh Freese, late of Foo Fighters, currently of Nine Inch Nails-a child drum prodigy who's risen to the ranks of the world’s top musicians. With thoughts from Sting, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jim Keltner & more. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/a...

You might've heard the news about an incredible project from Hüsker Dü, "1985: The Miracle Year," a 4LP/2CD box set coming this fall from Numero Group. Had the privilege of writing the liner notes to this epic package. Check it out here: numerogroup.com/products/198...

You might've heard the news about an incredible project from Hüsker Dü, "1985: The Miracle Year," a 4LP/2CD box set coming this fall from Numero Group. Had the privilege of writing the liner notes to this epic package. Check it out here: numerogroup.com/products/198...

Terry Reid: 1949-2025. Fly on...

Neil Sedaka Executed One of Pop’s Great Comebacks. Now, He Just Plays.

My latest for The New York Times on Neil Sedaka. Fifty years ago, Sedaka pulled off one of pop music’s great comebacks. This is the story his rise, fall and rise again, as he marks the occasion with a deluxe release of “Sedaka’s Back” and some intimate shows in LA. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...

Neil Sedaka Executed One of Pop’s Great Comebacks. Now, He Just Plays.

My latest for The New York Times on Neil Sedaka. Fifty years ago, Sedaka pulled off one of pop music’s great comebacks. This is the story his rise, fall and rise again, as he marks the occasion with a deluxe release of “Sedaka’s Back” and some intimate shows in LA. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...

The Musical Mysteries Brian Wilson Left Behind

My latest for The New York Times, on some of the still (officially) unreleased material from across Brian Wilson's career: Adult/Child, Sweet Insanity, The Paley Sessions and more. With insights from Wilson biographers David Leaf and Peter Ames Carlin. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/a...

Christy Moore, Ireland’s Folk Music Legend, Is Still Writing History

My latest for The New York Times, a profile of Irish music legend Christy Moore. Got to chat with the great man & some of his many admirers-U2’s The Edge, Elvis Costello, The Late Late Show's Patrick Kielty & Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland-for this feature. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/a...

Christy Moore, Ireland’s Folk Music Legend, Is Still Writing History

My latest for The New York Times, a profile of Irish music legend Christy Moore. Got to chat with the great man & some of his many admirers-U2’s The Edge, Elvis Costello, The Late Late Show's Patrick Kielty & Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland-for this feature. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/a...

Skibbe actually plays an important role in the band's early history...he took Paul to the Longhorn for the first time and also helped get him his janitor job at Marsden Maintenance, which is how Paul earned the money to buy the Gibson 330 pictured on the cover of Sorry Ma.

Skibbe was unaware they'd changed the name of the band from the Impediments. Hence the billing in the ad for the 5/30/80 show. Which - famously - the band got kicked out of before they could play as a three piece (Tommy was absent having injured his arm falling out of a tree)

-In early May Westerberg drops off the demo - with Replacements written on it - at Oarfolk for Jesperson, who flips and wants to see them play live.
-Westy asks Steve Skibbe of the Dads to help them get a show in town asap, & he puts them on the bill at another sober venue, the Ba-Ta-Clan, however

I believe correct chronology is:

-April 1980 - Impediments first gig on the farm with the Dads
-Mid-April - Impediments play Team House in St. Paul - get kicked out for drinking and are threatened by the venue booker
-Late April/early May - 1st gig as Replacements at Paradise Ballroom

Fascinating find! I looked for this ad for a long time but could never locate it. It's an interesting bit of history that affixes the date officially for the Bataclan - or Ba-Ta-clan - gig that was set up specifically for Peter Jesperson. Let me explain...

Terry Manning dies: Producer/engineer worked with music icons from Isaac Hayes to ZZ Top A key figure in Memphis music and beyond, Terry Manning worked closely with artists across generations and genres, from the Staple Singers to Shakira.

Sad news from the world of Memphis music: Terry Manning, the noted engineer, producer, and musician who worked with a galaxy of stars — from Led Zeppelin to ZZ Top — over a sixty-plus year career has died. More on Manning's life and career here: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Terry Manning dies: Producer/engineer worked with music icons from Isaac Hayes to ZZ Top A key figure in Memphis music and beyond, Terry Manning worked closely with artists across generations and genres, from the Staple Singers to Shakira.

Sad news from the world of Memphis music: Terry Manning, the noted engineer, producer, and musician who worked with a galaxy of stars — from Led Zeppelin to ZZ Top — over a sixty-plus year career has died. More on Manning's life and career here: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Benmont Tench, Still a Heartbreaker, Is Carrying on Solo Starting in the early 1970s, the organist, singer and songwriter was a creative anchor for Tom Petty. On a new solo album, he explores what comes next.

My latest for the New York Times, a profile of the great Benmont Tench, as he releases his second solo album, “The Melancholy Season." With thoughts from Mike Campbell, Danielle Haim, Don Was, Jonathan Wilson. Look for it in Sunday’s print edition of the NYT. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/a...

Benmont Tench, Still a Heartbreaker, Is Carrying on Solo Starting in the early 1970s, the organist, singer and songwriter was a creative anchor for Tom Petty. On a new solo album, he explores what comes next.

My latest for the New York Times, a profile of the great Benmont Tench, as he releases his second solo album, “The Melancholy Season." With thoughts from Mike Campbell, Danielle Haim, Don Was, Jonathan Wilson. Look for it in Sunday’s print edition of the NYT. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/a...

Newly uploaded to YouTube, a discovery on par with the Dead Sea Scrolls, actual footage of Brian Wilson rapping a little bit of "Smart Girls." Shout out to @andrewsandoval.bsky.social for the find, a real treasure for those who appreciate "sexy legs with high IQs"