Bash & Pop

Bash & Pop was an American alternative rock group formed in 1992^[1] by Tommy Stinson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the breakup of the Replacements. It released one album before breaking up in 1994.^[1]

History

With a name selected from a contest hosted by New York radio station WDRE,^[2] Bash & Pop was formed in 1992 by bassist Tommy Stinson, following the breakup of previous group The Replacements, who switched to guitar, with drummer Steve Foley,^[3] also formerly of The Replacements, along with his brother Kevin on bass^[1][4] and guitarist Steve Brantseg being added to the group^[1][2]

Rumors were that Bash & Pop were a band in name only with Stinson recording the album,^[1] Friday Night Is Killing Me, mostly by himself along with a number of guest musicians.^[1] However Steve, Kevin and Brantseg all contributed to the album along with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers members Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell, Wire Train's Jeff Trott^[1] as well as other musicians Greg Leisz, Brian McCloud, Phil Jones and Tommy Steel.^[5]

Friday Night Is Killing Me was released in January 1993^[1] through Sire/Reprise Records^[4] to mainly mixed reviews with Stewart Mason, of Allmusic, stating that "here are a couple of great songs here, the catchy single "Loose Ends" and the rocking "Fast and Hard", but even those two songs feel sloppily half-written, with choruses that vamp on repeatedly for far too long. Most of the rest of the album sounds fine while it's playing, but the songs aren't at all memorable."^[6] Steven Mirkin, of Rolling Stone, described the album as "not as pointed as ex-Mats drummer Chris Mars's vitriolic Horseshoes and Hand Grenades and lacking Westerberg's songwriting polish, Friday Night Is Killing Me is still a notable debut that at its best flashes the easygoing, knockabout charm missing from the Replacements' last few albums."^[7] Bruce Haring, of Variety, described the album as "a frisky little rocker propelled by Stinson's endless energy and peppy, raspish vocals."^[2] A tour in support followed^[3] along with the recording of the track "Making Me Sick" which was included on the soundtrack, released in 1994, to the movie Clerks.^[8] The group disbanded later in 1994.

Post-breakup

Stinson went on to form another group, Perfect,^[1] before going on to join Guns N' Roses^[1] and releasing his debut solo album Village Gorilla Head^[9][10] while drummer Steve Foley joined Wheelo, previously known as 69, releasing the album Something Wonderful in 1997.^[11]

Discography

Studio albums

• Friday Night Is Killing Me (1993)

Compilations

• Clerks: Music from the Motion Picture (1994) The track "Making Me Sick"

Band members

• Tommy Stinson – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Steve Brantseg – lead guitar
• Kevin Foley – bass
• Steve Foley – drums, percussion

References

External links

• Bash & Pop on Myspace
• Bash & Pop discography at Discogs