By Eleni P. Austin
If you were a fan of Punk, New Wave and Alternative music in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the name Peter Jesperson should ring a bell. The Minnesota native made his bones managing the wildly influential Minneapolis record store Oar Folkjokeopus, worked as a club DJ and also founded the Twin/Tone Records. That upstart indie provided a launching pad for a clutch of well-known bands like Soul Asylum, The Suburbs, Babes In Toyland and The Jayhawks. In the early ‘80s, he discovered The Replacements and went on to manage and provide A&R services to the prodigiously talented trouble boys, guiding them to critical acclaim and commercial success. His career in the music industry continued even after he and the ‘Mats parted ways. Euphoric Recall charts his highs and lows.
If you’re a music obsessive, this is the book for you. Peter is one of those people that can tell you exactly where he was and exactly what he was doing when he heard the first song that changed his life. Actually, there were three that hit like thunderbolts when he was just four years old: “All I Have To Do Is Dream” by The Everly Brothers, “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley and “Tom Dooley” by The Kingston Trio.
In short order, The Beatles and the Stones blew his young mind, and music became his passion. There are chapters devoted to specific career moves. From his years behind the counter at Oar Folk, DJ’ing at Jay’s Longhorn, cofounding the Twin/Tone record label, discovering The Replacements, becoming their manager and getting them signed to Sire Records, a powerhouse off-shoot of the Warner Brothers conglomerate.
The book is brisk and funny, Peter was at the center of the Alternative scene, branching off from Twin/Tone to Medium Cool Records and ultimately relocating to L.A. There, he worked at the New West label, alongside icons and iconoclasts like Vic Chestnutt, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam and Kris Kristofferson. He also addresses the substance issues that were part of his life until the early ‘90s. It’s a rollicking read, that returns you to a time when Punk and New Wave music meant everything.
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Peter Jesperson will be on-hand for The Twentynine Palms Book Festival at the Twentynine Palms Community Center At Freedom Plaza on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The first event will be a book signing from 12;30pm to 1:30pm. The second event entitled Books And Beats, also includes authors Cary Baker, Jaan Uhelszki, Laurie Kaye, Jim Ruland & Nalini “Ash” Maharaj.
