Happy Birthday Jeff Tweedy: Uncle Tupelo TV Appearances

Founding Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy celebrates his 49th birthday today. The principal singer and songwriter for the acclaimed Chicago-based group, Tweedy has been active since the late 1980s when he and Jay Farrar formed the influential alt-country rock band Uncle Tupelo with Mike Heidorn. As Jeff enters the final year of his 40s, here’s a look back at a twentysomething Tweedy appearing on television with Uncle Tupelo.

Formed in the St. Louis suburb of Belleville, Illinois in the early 1980s, Uncle Tupelo first featured Tweedy on bass, Farrar on guitar and and Heidorn on drums. The lineup would later change to feature Tweedy on guitar while expanding to add multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston and John Stirratt on bass and Ken Coomer taking over on drums.

After issuing their debut LP No Depression in 1990, tensions between Farrar and Tweedy continuously mounted, culminating with a decision to end the band following the release of their fourth album, 1993’s Anodyne. A final Uncle Tupelo concert was held May 1, 1994 at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis. Farrar went on to form Son Volt, while Tweedy and the other members of the group reassembled as Wilco.

Back on November 15, 1989 Uncle Tupelo was featured on a the premiere episode of the local St. Louis cable-access program Critical Mass. The footage below features an interview with Tweedy, Heidorn and Farrar as well as live performances of part of “So Called Friend,” “Graveyard Shift” and “Factory Belt.” Watch a bass playing Tweedy in the clip below:

Purportedly taped as part of benefit concert for the Mississippi River Center from May 1989, the two clips below again feature the original Uncle Tupelo lineup. Also purportedly the band’s first TV appearance, the first segment features another take on “Graveyard Shift,” followed by a video of their cover of “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The final video below features the expanded Uncle Tupelo lineup performing on Late Night With Conan O’Brien during their farewell tour in 1994. Tweedy plays guitar and leads the group through his Anodyne original “The Long Cut.” Watch their national television debut here: