Chris Mars was the founding drummer of the seminal guitar-pop band the Replacements.
He was born April 26, 1961, in Minneapolis. Mars, guitarist
Paul Westerberg, bassist Tommy Stinson and lead guitarist Bob Stinson formed in that city in 1979, as the Impediments.
Following in the musical tradition of Hüsker Dü, the leaders of the Minneapolis punk-rock scene, the band emphasized ragged guitars and vocals and soon became infamous for its rowdy, drunken behavior onstage. They changed their name to the Replacements after being thrown out of a club for such
antics.
On Minneapolis' Twin/Tone Records, the Replacements issued Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash (1981), which contained songs of teenage angst. Hootenanny (1983) and Let It Be (1984) followed suit, demonstrating Westerberg's burgeoning songwriting skills. The latter was a breakthrough for the band, earning them critical raves and a jump in sales. The album contained songs with such audacious titles as "Gary's Got a Boner."
The Replacements became known for their knack for combining melody and garage rock. Sire Records signed them for Tim (1985), featuring an ode to their idol, Big Star's Alex Chilton, and songs such as
"Bastards of Young" (RealAudio excerpt).
But the Replacements didn't court popular success. They said "f--k" on "Saturday Night Live" and made videos that were deliberately uncommercial. While Pleased to Meet Me (1987) and Don't Tell a Soul (1989) were slightly more mainstream, the band never succeeded in attracting a large following.
Their final LP, All Shook Down (1990), was really a Westerberg solo album, containing little participation from the others. Mars left the band shortly after its release, saying that Westerberg had taken over.
Mars has released four critically acclaimed albums of pop rock: Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (1992), 75% Less Fat (1993), Tenterhooks (1995) and Anonymous Botch (1996).
Other birthdays Wednesday: Duane Eddy, 62; Bobby Rydell, 58; Gary Wright, 57; and Roger Taylor (Duran
Duran), 40.
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