Peter Jesperson on His New Memoir, Euphoric Recall: Five Decades of Story and Song

Peter Jesperson, fueled by an unwavering passion for music, has experienced a lifelong journey of extraordinary musical experiences. During the late '70s and early '80s, Peter played a pivotal role in shaping the vibrant music scene of Minneapolis, pulling off the trifecta of cool. At the time, Peter managed the essential record store in the city, where music lovers could find the best independent new music from around the world; he spun tracks as a DJ at the underground nightclub, where emerging local new wave and punk bands like the Suicide Commandos and the Suburbs shared the stage with cutting-edge national and international acts (think Talking Heads); and alongside his co-conspirators, he co-founded Twin/Tone Records out of a drive, and need, to share the abundance of remarkable music pouring out of Minneapolis/St. Paul. But that was just the beginning!

Peter's journey led him to discover and manage the Replacements, producing their first four records. He did a brief stint as R.E.M.'s road manager. For a remarkable 17 years, he served as an A&R executive at New West Records, working with artists like Vic Chesnutt, Steve Earle, Drive-By Truckers, and Kris Kristofferson.

As someone who grew up in the Twin Cities and settled in Minneapolis after college, Peter profoundly influenced me. He introduced me to a wealth of incredible music and inspired my own path as a DJ. I vividly recall many nights eagerly arriving at Jay's Longhorn — the club where he spun records — right when the doors opened, hungry for the freeform sounds he curated. This was the pre-internet era, a time when unearthing independent underground music required dedication and effort. Through his record store, the nightclub, and the label, Peter became one of my main musical mentors.

Now, in his memoir titled Euphoric Recall, Peter chronicles five decades as a hardcore music enthusiast, producer, DJ, band manager, and record executive. Peter joined me on Drive Time to share stories and the music that has fueled his soul! Listen to our conversation here: 

Audio Produced by Miina Beyreis