Twin/Tone co-founder Peter Jesperson reflects on 50 years in the music biz

Check out a recent zoom interview with Peter Jesperson conducted by Tom Barnas for "Stories From The 78"

Here's the scoop from Tom Barnas...

Recently, I had the privilege of delving into the world of music with the iconic Peter Jesperson—a multifaceted figure known for his roles as a music enthusiast, producer, DJ, record executive, and now, an author. Our conversation was nothing short of captivating.

Peter Jesperson's journey into the Minneapolis music scene in the vibrant 1970s and '80s was serendipitous. Alongside managing the influential Oar Folkjokeopus record store and spinning tracks at Jay’s Longhorn bar, Jesperson co-founded Twin/Tone Records. This pivotal label propelled groundbreaking artists like the Replacements, Soul Asylum, The Suburbs, Babes In Toyland, and the Jayhawks into the spotlight, among many others.

His life took a transformative turn in the early '80s with the discovery of the Replacements. As an A&R visionary and later their manager, Jesperson navigated the chaotic yet immensely talented band's journey. Amidst this whirlwind, he also found himself managing the rising stars from Athens, Georgia—R.E.M. Yet, amidst professional success, Jesperson grappled with personal challenges, battling substance abuse.

Fueled by his unwavering passion for music, Jesperson staged a triumphant comeback, eventually transitioning to Los Angeles for the next chapter of his career. Collaborating with luminaries such as Dwight Yoakam, Kris Kristofferson, Vic Chesnutt, and Steve Earle, he witnessed firsthand the seismic shifts in the 1990s music industry landscape.

With over five decades of invaluable experience in the music business, Jesperson's memoir, "Euphoric Recall," promises a rich tapestry of insights, anecdotes, and lessons gleaned from his extraordinary journey. The book features a foreword by esteemed music journalist David Fricke, adding another layer of depth to this compelling narrative.

For more Stories From The 78, follow @tombarnas78 on Instagram or visit the site right here. Check out the Peter Jesperson interview below.

Ex-Replacements manager Peter Jesperson pens memoir Euphoric Recall

Twin/Tone label co-founder Peter Jesperson recounts 50 years worth of music biz tales in his new book Euphoric Recall out today.    

Here's the scoop...

Record executive, producer, band manager, club DJ, booking advisor, record store manager--few people had as deep an impact on the Twin Cities alternative and indie rock scene as Peter Jesperson.

A passionate music fan since his early childhood, Jesperson found his way into Minneapolis's burgeoning music world of the 1970s and followed a path that put him at the center of the scene as it grew and blossomed. Beginning with his time working at the legendary Oar Folkjokeopus record store, Jesperson helped shape the tastes of local music fans and foster the Twin Cities as a destination for touring acts from around the globe. His tastemaker role continued while he worked as a DJ and booking assistant at Jay's Longhorn bar, the landmark venue that elevated the Twin Cities' reputation as a mecca for left-of-centre artists. 

In 1977, Jesperson, along with two partners, founded Twin/Tone Records, which over the next 20 years released more than 300 records, including by such groundbreaking artists as the Replacements, the Suburbs, Soul Asylum, Babes in Toyland, the Jayhawks, and many more. With Twin/Tone, Jesperson further solidified Minnesota's place on the map as a hotbed of musical creativity and a leader in the indie music world. Just three years after starting Twin/Tone, Jesperson made the discovery that changed his life, and the Minneapolis music world, forever: the Replacements. As A&R man and then full manager, he guided the development of this talented and out-of-control foursome, while taking a break to road-manage an upcoming sensation out of Athens, Georgia: R.E.M. But as his career was on the rise in the wild '80s, Jesperson began his own descent into substance abuse, until he overcame his demons and launched a second act in the industry.

In Euphoric Recall (published by Minnesota Historical Society Press), Jesperson speaks frankly about his struggle with drugs and alcohol, and how it nearly derailed his career and his life. Motivated by his love of music, Jesperson rallied to pick up where he left off with Twin/Tone and the Replacements before heading west to begin the next phase of his career in Los Angeles. While working alongside such noteworthy artists as Dwight Yoakam, Kris Kristofferson and Vic Chesnutt, Jesperson experienced firsthand the dramatic changes in the music industry of the 1990s. Through it all, he has retained his passion for the industry and the art, and now, after a half-century in the music business, Jesperson shares his insights, anecdotes, and lessons from his unique vantage point.

If you can't find a copy of Peter Jesperson's Euphoric Recall at your local book store, you can get it from  Amazon right here. 

Watch WCCO-TV's A.J. Hilton chat with Peter Jesperson at Minneapolis record store Electric Fetus (which, he discovers on camera, has no Replacements records in stock) followed by a zoom chat involving Tommy Stinson.