Belleville native Jeff Tweedy doesn鈥檛 wax nostalgic when it comes to reflecting on his hometown. The Wilco frontman and Uncle Tupelo co-founder wrote a memoir, 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go (So We Can Get Back),鈥� that details his childhood, musical influences and the stories behind forming the alt-country Uncle Tupelo and Wilco.
鈥淏elleville was having a tough time when I was growing up,鈥� Tweedy told 漏 2024 外网天堂 morning host Mike Schrand in November. 鈥淭he downtown area in Belleville had been pretty destroyed. The nearby mall and a lot of the industry there was struggling. There were a few breweries and they shut down. Stag Beer shut down [in 1988].
鈥淎side from a couple of record stores that were oases, it wasn鈥檛 a particularly happy area,鈥� he said.
During that time, though, Tweedy met Jay Farrar in high school and along with Mike Heidorn, they founded Uncle Tupelo. The band performed regularly in and around St. Louis and toured the U.S. as well as Europe. Although the group engendered a loyal following, internal problems led to the band鈥檚 dissolution, which Tweedy writes about in his memoir.
Tweedy went on to found Wilco while Farrar founded Son Volt. Each band has made its mark.
Schrand also spoke with Tweedy about the melding of folk and country, the role of Jay Bennett in Wilco and their past drug use.
brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host and producers , and give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.
