Josh Freese Archives - chimesfreedom

Last night, The Replacements appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and performed the song “Alex Chilton” from their classic album Pleased To Meet Me (1987). The band features featuring founding members Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson with Josh Freese (drums) and David Minehan (guitar).

The Replacements, who recently launched a reunion tour, have not toured since 1991 so it was cool to see the great band playing together again. The performance on NBC on a show hosted by a Saturday Night Live alum is especially sweet considering that the band had been banned from the network’s Saturday Night Live show in 1986 after appearing drunk and destroying a dressing room. Reportedly, Fallon’s late-night show had been working for nearly a year to get “The Mats” to appear. Check it out.

The song “Alex Chilton” is a tribute to the leader of the band Big Star. To listen to a whole concert from the reunited Replacements, check out this story.

What is your favorite song by The Replacements? Leave your two cents in the comments.

The Replacements Reunite

Michael Stipe’s Tribute to David Bowie

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’s Last Waltz

I Wish It Was Christmas Today

A Famous Encounter and “Like a Rolling Pin”

Paul McCartney Joins Springsteen for “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

While everyone is buzzing about the MTV Video Music Awards, there actually was a major music event last night. The Replacements reunited for the first time in 22 years at Riot Fest in Toronto. Rolling Stone reports that nearly 10,000 people showed up for the historic event with Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson, along with drummer Josh Freese and Dave Minehan on guitar.

The band’s 23-song set spanned their career and included a number of covers. So far, there are a few videos from the performance on YouTube. But for now, you may hear the entire performance streaming below courtesy of The Replacements – Live Archive Project. It is an audience recording, but it is still worth turning up your speakers and checking out.