Tommy Stinson

REPLACEMENTS! GUNS N’ROSES!

What music are you currently grooving to? Nicole Atkins’ new record, which isn’t fully done yet. She’s a friend of mine and I’m totally crazy about it. Lydia Loveless, another great singer, has a… not a No Depression alt country singer-songwriter thing, she’s got more of an edge than that.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? It could be Blonde On Blonde or London Calling. Probably London Calling to be honest, because it wasn’t just punk rock. They had a real good balance between the political side and the pop songs and melody.

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? It might have been London Calling, at Oar Folkjokeopus in Minneapolis, I used to skip school and hang out there just after The

Replacements got signed. That store was the best. All the guys there were music freaks, 100 per cent. They kinda looked at me as a student.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? Shit. He he! If I’d been someone else, probably Paul McCartney. For all the cheesy shit he’s written. He’s fucking Sir Paul for a reason! It’s obvious why.

What do you sing in the shower? I wait ’til I get out. Ha ha ha! I try to stick to the work in hand.

What is your favourite Saturday night record? I’ve been hitting a Sam Cooke record the last couple of Saturdays, The Rhythm And The Blues. It’s an oddball one, but it’s got this version of Smoke Rings, it’s fucking incredible, the phrasing and orchestrations really stand out. It’s right for late-night jams, when you get a little drink, with your girl, y’know?

And your Sunday morning record?

I start off pretty quiet – some bluesy or country stuff to fill the air without intoxicating my brain too much. So probably some early George Jones. I’ll put on an old country internet radio station, and let it roll. Bash & Pop’s Anything Could Happen is out now on Fat Possum.