Iconic 80s rock guitarist dead at 73

Iconic 80s rock guitarist dead at 73

As a devoted fan who has grown up with the raw and electrifying music of Slim Dunlap and The Replacements, I can only express my deepest sadness at his passing. This Minnesota-bred musician was more than just a guitarist and singer-songwriter; he was a beacon of creativity and resilience that shone brightly through the turbulent waters of rock ‘n’ roll.

73-year-old guitarist and vocalist for the band The Replacements, Slim Dunlap, passed away on Wednesday.

The family of the musician born in Minnesota made an announcement that he died due to issues related to a stroke he experienced in 2012.

Due to a medical emergency, Bob, known as Slim, embarked on a 13-year journey filled with health issues and recovery.

He took over as a member of The Replacements when Bob Stinson was dismissed, and he was generally lauded for giving the group a new lease on life.

Instead of calling the new band member by his full name, it was Paul Westerberg’s suggestion to nickname him “Slim” in the official lineup, so as to distinguish him from the original group member named Bob.

Dunlap toured 1987’s Pleased to Meet Me album, which was the last featuring Stinson on guitar.

Iconic 80s rock guitarist dead at 73

Iconic 80s rock guitarist dead at 73

He went on to appear on the Replacements’ final two projects — 1989’s Don’t Tell and 1991’s All Shook Down.

On Wednesday, a statement was released by Bob’s family through Minneapolis Star Tribune, indicating that he peacefully passed away at home at 12:48 PM, with loved ones present.

We put on the ‘Live at the Turf Club (‘Thank You Dancers!’)’ CD for him, and he departed soon after hearing his rendition of ‘Hillbilly Heaven’. That particular song was quite moving.

‘It was a natural decline over the past week. Overall it was due to complications from his stroke.’

Dunlap released his first solo album, The Old New Me, in 1993.

1996 saw the release of Times Like These, which garnered significant attention, eventually catching the ear of Bruce Springsteen in 2014. On NPR, Springsteen praised the two albums by Slim Dunlap, stating, “Give them a listen, as they are simply fantastic rock ‘n’ roll records. I found them to be incredibly moving and emotional.

1951 saw the birth of Slim, who hailed from a family with a Minnesota state senator as his father. In 1976, he joined the music group initially known as Thumbs Up, which later became recognized as Spooks.

Initially, when Westerberg found him, he was reluctant to become part of The Replacements, given his role as a spouse and parent to three children.

Iconic 80s rock guitarist dead at 73
Iconic 80s rock guitarist dead at 73

His wife Chrissie, with help from Westerberg, persuaded him to take the gig.

In a 2015 interview with the Star Tribune, Chrissie expressed that he felt compelled to earn a reliable income and joining the Replacements provided him an opportunity to achieve this goal while also pursuing his passion for music.

In addition, she mentioned that the change in her spouse’s position presented challenges for their 16-year-old daughter Emily, who is both a budding musician and an admirer of her dad’s latest musical group.

The woman with three children mentioned that her daughter was deeply passionate about The Replacements. She added that if her own father were to join that band, it would be similar to me finding out that mine had joined The Rolling Stones.

Earlier in his life, Dunlap worked as both a taxi driver and a cleaner at the First Avenue nightclub, a place where his spouse served as a talent coordinator.

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2024-12-21 04:03

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