“You guys get together,” Slim Dunlap told Replacements bandmate Paul Westerberg recently. “Go play a song.” Now at the encouragement of their former guitarist — who’s ailing from a stroke he suffered in February — Westerberg and Tommy Stinson have hit the studio under the Replacements banner for a reunion set of cover songs. What’s more, Rolling Stone reports the process left Westerberg enthusiastic about the potential for another record and/or tour, adding:
It’s possible. After playing with Tommy last week, I was thinking, “All right, let’s crank it up and knock out a record like this.” I’m closer to it now than I was two years ago, let’s say that.
Renditions of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” Gordon Lightfoot single “I’m Not Sayin’,” Hank Williams classic “Lost Highway,” and Dunlap’s own “Busted Up” are on the EP, which will be limited to just 250 copies and auctioned off to benefit Dunlap. Former drummer Chris Mars opted out of the effort, although we should point out that he released his own benefit track for Dunlop over the summer, available here.
Here’s hoping full-fledged reunion dates or more recording will come together after this 10″ release due later in the year. In the meantime, one last quote from Westerberg has us pumped for whatever’s on the way: “Tommy and I strapped on guitars, not a word was said, and bang. We still rock like murder.”