Actually, I’ve done it the other way so many times where you rehearse the band and you do the whole thing with lights, the show and the crew – everything. Then you see what happens and you’re already committed to dates. I’m just sort of putting out feelers this way.

Meaning of the quote

Here's an explanation of the quote that would be easy for young learners in grades 6-8 to understand: Sometimes, musicians plan their entire tour and show before they even start playing. They practice with the band, set up the lights and stage, and book the venues. But then they realize they're already committed to those dates, even if the show doesn't turn out as planned. Paul Westerberg says he's trying a different approach this time - he's just putting out some ideas first to see how people respond, before fully planning the whole tour.

About Paul Westerberg

Paul Westerberg is a renowned American musician best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band The Replacements. After the group disbanded, he embarked on a successful solo career, experimenting with various musical styles and releasing albums under different monikers.

More about the author

More quotes from Paul Westerberg

The best I can say is that it’s better for me to write about despair and darkness than to be incapable of getting off the sofa. It’s better to write about suicide than to contemplate it too heavily.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

It’s like, it’s up to the people to fall in love with the song. The record company can only do so much.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I sat through Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones like three times at the Skyway when it came out.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I’m not dissatisfied with my place in it rock ‘n’ roll.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I forever felt that I’ve fallen right between the crack of way too young for the first generation of classic rock ‘n’ roll and too old to be brand-new. It’s hard.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I read The Bell Jar, and then I read her memoir and her diaries, and a third book, an outside opinion. Just the way she made the pillows so neat on the oven door. It just seems to be the opposite of, if you’re going to take your life, in a horrible rage it happens.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I think it should be evident by now, but I’m as lost as anyone.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

You know, he likes me because I’m his son. I have to go long and far to find someone who knows me just as me, rather than me the songwriter or whatever.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

A rock’n’roll band needs to be able to get under people’s skin. You should be able to clear the room at the drop of a hat.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Then again, I think about high school every day and I think about being a little kid every day too.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Oddly, when I started to make the record, I wasn’t aware I was making a record. I just was sort of disgusted with the whole thing and sequestered myself in the basement and started playing the piano just for something to do.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

So I figured in keeping with the record, I’d do something off the wall which is show up for free and wing it… I don’t know, I’m just going to play some songs. I think it’ll be fun.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I think of the Replacements only when they’re brought up to me. For two years, I’m at home, they don’t really cross my mind. I still hear them on the radio. I’m not ashamed of anything we did.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Although, my experience when I’ve been depressed, not only am I too depressed to sit down and write a song, I’m too depressed to pick up my feet. So if you can at least write about it, you’re halfway away from it.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I’ve had more people in my life take their lives than… I think it’s out of proportion with most people. I think a lot of them gravitate towards me because of the music.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I’m beyond caring what anyone expects of me anymore.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Stick with your heart and you’ll be fine.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I have my own language and it’s high time I put a little of it out there.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I don’t think there’s anything that will make me stop doing it. There may be a time when it’s not available to anyone. You may have to come listen at my basement window… but I can’t stop.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

It’s my first record since my son is old enough to understand and I can’t even show it to him. Yes, it’s affected me, probably in the opposite of how anyone would have thought.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I didn’t wake up one morning and not be in the Replacements. We’re all that forever, and I’ve just grown older. I mean, I haven’t lost anything. I’ve gained a few things.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Any musician who can stop may be a musician, but they’re no artist. If it’s in your blood, it can’t stop flowing.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

It’s fun, but the fun is where it always was. I mean, it’s still fun to strap on my Les Paul in the basement and turn up the Marshall amp. I’m still 15. I still enjoy that as much as I ever did.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

The hack songwriter will write the absolute truth every single word, whether it makes a great song or not.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

I’m hard-pressed to think of a lot of great rock movies.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Actually, I’ve done it the other way so many times where you rehearse the band and you do the whole thing with lights, the show and the crew – everything. Then you see what happens and you’re already committed to dates. I’m just sort of putting out feelers this way.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

The truth is overrated.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Right now, it hasn’t affected my music other than the fact that I don’t have time to write any of it. That’s no different from when I first started and I lived at home. I would play the guitar in the afternoon and then my mom or my dad would come home and I’d have to quit.

Paul Westerberg

American musician

Reading music is like listening to flowers. I don’t understand the concept.

Paul Westerberg

American musician