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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr
@bobmehr.bsky.social
1.8K followers 620 following 27 posts
New York Times bestselling author, 'Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements.' 2X Grammy winner (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Dead Man's Pop). Reissue producer. Words for NYT, MOJO, Gannett.
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Reposted by Bob Mehr
andymboyle.bsky.social
Andy Boyle @andymboyle.bsky.social · 6d
leaning into middle age hard by reading about two of the most important pairs of brothers in american history
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
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · 17d
A bit of news, regarding my Replacements bio, "Trouble Boys"
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · 25d
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...
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · 25d
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...
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Aug 28
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
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Aug 28
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
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Aug 26
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...
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Aug 26
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...
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Aug 5
Terry Reid: 1949-2025. Fly on...
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Jul 3
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.
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Jul 3
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.
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Jun 13
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...
The Musical Mysteries Brian Wilson Left Behind
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 15
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
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 15
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
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 13
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.
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 13
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)
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 13
-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
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 13
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
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · May 13
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...
chrissteller.bsky.social Chris Steller @chrissteller.bsky.social · May 12
Mehr says The Dads had a series of bookings at such sober houses. The Impediments are listed as openers again for The Dads May 30 at Ba-Ta-Clan, a venue in Minneapolis (not technically "this town"), in an ad from the May 28, 1980 Twin Cities Reader alt-weekly dug up by @mplsmusichistory.bsky.social.
BA-TA-CLAN COFFEEHOUSE & THEATRE CHEMICALLY FREE OPEN DAILY 11:30 AM Friday, May 30 THE DADS with IMPEDIMENTS Saturday. May 31 SAUCE Hot Rock June 4-6 ANN REED Guitar, Vocalist 724 E. 26th St. Mpis 871-7381
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Mar 26
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.
www.commercialappeal.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Mar 26
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.
www.commercialappeal.com
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Reposted by Bob Mehr
bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Feb 27
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.
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Feb 27
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.
www.nytimes.com
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Feb 24
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"
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bobmehr.bsky.social
Bob Mehr @bobmehr.bsky.social · Feb 23
Was pleased to find this lovely spread in today's print edition of The New York Times for my story on The Bangles, timed to the publication of a new bio authorized biography of the band, "Eternal Flame." You can read the NYT story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/a...
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