Interviews

Gorman Bechard

Clayton Trutor

Gorman Bechard is an accomplished novelist and filmmaker straight outta New Haven, Connecticut. His most recent project is a documentary about The Replacements, a band whose mythology is as extensive as their catalog. Color Me Obsessed chronicles the band's career through the words of their friends and their fans, tracing the band from origins in Minneapolis in the late 70s through their 1991 demise.

American Polymath: When did you first hear the Replacements?

Gorman Bechard: 7/17/1983 (if I have the date right)...they opened for R.E.M. at Toad's Place in New Haven, had no idea who they were. Thought they were the loudest, most obnoxious band I'd ever seen. Hated them. Of course, that would all change once I picked up their records

AP: What made you decide to do a documentary about them?

GB: I've been wanting to make a feature-length doc for years. I've been forever toying with the right subject. Finally my wife said, do a doc on what you're most passionate about: the Replacements or New Haven brick-oven pizza. As it turns out I'm doing both. But the Mats doc really fell into my lap, when the original director, Hansi Oppenheimer, ran out of funds. I'm not using any of her footage though, and am just taking the idea and re-inventing it.

AP: How has your work as a novelist, an essayist, and a director of fictional films informed your work as a documentarian?

GB: It all comes down to telling a story. Conflict is a key. Basically writing fiction will help me find the story of the band through the interviews. Having enough twists and turns, enough conflict and humor, to keep it interesting is key. Judging from the first few interviews, I'm certain I will.

AP: I became aware of your project while reading an update on Paul Westerberg's website. How many former members of the band are participating in the film?

GB: None. You will never see any of the band members in the film. Nor will you ever hear a note of their music. I'm going the God route. There are tons of films about God...however we obviously never see or hear him/her in the film. Yet people still believe. I'm going to treat this band like God, the potentially true legend, and allow viewers to go and discover their music for themselves.

AP: What documentaries inform the way you are approaching this project?

GB: It's more of which docs inform the way I'm NOT approaching it. I hate docs about bands that are long gone, that feature the band mates talking about "the good old days." They're like VH1 specials. No interest in that. Anvil is an amazing doc...(so much conflict)...but the band is still playing...thus it works. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart is brilliant because the filmmakers lucked out with (again) conflict galore. Heaven by Diane Keaton was a great idea, but had way too many cutaways. The interview sections though were great. Fog of War...again, the interviews. I'm trying something different here, in terms of a music doc. That's a huge part of what excites me about it. And as far as conflict goes...you can hear it into every story...the fans themselves are conflicted. There were so many sides to the Replacements...which was real?

AP: In general, do you find people who knew the Replacements during their time together willing or hesitant to talk about Bob Stinson?

GB: Thus far, everyone is more than willing to talk. Hopefully that won't change when we interview people in Minneapolis.

AP: Let's say you meet someone this afternoon who has never heard the Replacements. What three songs would you play for them to give them a sense of what the Replacements sounds like?

GB: "Can't Hardly Wait," "Here Comes a Regular," and "Color Me Impressed."

AP: Do you plan to release a soundtrack for the film?

GB: No music, no soundtrack.

AP: Favorite Replacements album?

GB: Damn. It changes every third second. Tim, if you put a gun to my head, but Pleased to Meet Me is close as is Let It Be. I have the same problem with Woody Allen films: Manhattan vs. Annie Hall. I can never make up my mind.

AP: Favorite cover by the Replacements, either live or on a studio album?

GB: Slade's "Gudbuy T'Jane," an outtake from Don't Tell A Soul.

AP: Favorite cover of a Replacements song?

GB: I detest them all. No, really. They all pretty much suck.