Music <\/p>\n
Bob \u201cSlim\u201d Dunlap<\/a>, the Replacements<\/a>\u2019 former guitarist and a solo artist in his own right, died on Wednesday, December 18, The Minnesota Star Tribune<\/em><\/a> reports. Dunlap\u2019s family said, in a statement, that the musician died of complications from the severe stroke<\/a> he had in 2012. The family also said he was listening to the Slim Dunlap Band\u2019s Live at the Turf Club (Thank You, Dancers!)<\/em> at the time of his death. Dunlap was 73 years old.<\/p>\n In 1987, right after the release of Pleased to Meet Me<\/em><\/a>, Dunlap joined the Replacements to fill in for Bob Stinson, the band\u2019s original guitarist who was kicked out the year prior for spiraling behavior. Compared to Stinson\u2019s more wild style, Dunlap played with a gentle, considered approach to the guitar, which not only added depth to the band\u2019s uptempo numbers, but also brought wistful introspection to their quieter songs. He was versatile, bluesy, and dependent\u2014three traits that would influence the Replacements last two studio albums, 1989\u2019s Don\u2019t Tell a Soul<\/em><\/a> and 1991\u2019s All Shook Down<\/em><\/a>. Looking back, singer-guitarist Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson credited Dunlap for bringing a spark of creativity and energy to the band during that final run.<\/p>\n Born August 14, 1951, Dunlap grew up in Plainview, Minnesota, and regularly played music in the area. While juggling a myriad of jobs to support his family, including stints as a taxi driver and a janitor at the legendary Minneapolis venue First Avenue, he played in several bands with local staple Curtiss A and filled in for numerous Twin Cities projects. \u201cI played in every little band I could play in, every band that would have me,\u201d he later told the Los Angeles Times<\/em><\/a>. \u201cSlowly but surely, I got this reputation as a guy who could play anything. One night you\u2019d see me play bluegrass in a little pizza shop, the next night it would be hard rock.\u201d<\/p>\n After the Replacements broke up in 1991, Dunlap toured with the Georgia Satellites\u2019 Dan Baird and, on his own time, started penning solo material. He officially made his debut as a singer-songwriter in 1993 with The Old New Me<\/em>, his first solo full-length. He channeled his love of bluesy rock\u2019n\u2019roll into original songs that felt timeless and earnest, and returned to the drawing board once more for his sophomore album, Times Like This<\/em>, in 1996.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe Ballad of the Opening Band,\u201d the penultimate track on The Old New Me<\/em>, went on to become a cult-favorite of bands across the country for its heartrending depiction of its protagonist, a steady musician who never catches the full spotlight. \u201cPeople see that as a sad thing, but the guy in the song gets to play,\u201d Dunlap told the Times<\/em>. \u201cThere are so many great musicians in America who didn\u2019t get attention. They haven\u2019t gotten any acclaim, but there\u2019s a specific thing they do that nobody can touch. No one gives them the time of day, but they\u2019re still out there doing it. That\u2019s what I love. This business is all about the little eccentrics out there who get lost in the shuffle.\u201d<\/p>\n Dunlap\u2019s solo records caught the attention and admiration of other big names in the industry, including Bruce Springsteen, who considered himself a big fan even decades later. \u201cI hope I get a chance to cut one of his songs,\u201d Springsteen told NPR<\/a> in 2014. \u201cCheck out the two Slim Dunlap records, because they\u2019re just beautiful rock \u2018n\u2019 roll records. I found them to be deeply touching and emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n After Dunlap had his stroke, in 2012, artists rallied together to help raise money for his healthcare costs. Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson recorded a four-song EP<\/a> to benefit their former bandmate. Others recorded covers of Dunlap\u2019s own songs for the nonprofit project Songs for Slim<\/em>, including Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Wilco\u2019s Jeff Tweedy, Pixies\u2019 Frank Black, X\u2019s John Doe, the Hold Steady\u2019s Craig Finn, Soul Asylum, and more.<\/p>\n Upon hearing of Dunlap\u2019s death, numerous musicians have taken to social media to pay their respects, including Superchunk\u2019s Jon Wurster<\/a>, the Ataris<\/a>, and more. \u201cGreat musician, very kind and gentle in our experience,\u201d wrote the Posies on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cWe first supported the Mats in Vancouver in May \u201889 – our first ever show in Canada. We were suddenly all legal drinking age once we crossed the border and we were given quite a few potent Kokanee beers. One of us was later regurgitating same beers behind the [Commodore Ballroom] Slim came downstairs to head to the bus, paused at said musician, and gently patted him on the back – \u2018don\u2019t worry, son… one day you\u2019ll learn how to drink!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n