Bob “Slim” Dunlap, best known for replacing Bob Stinson as the guitarist for the cult Minneapolis band The Replacements, has passed away at the age of 73. Dunlap died at home, surrounded by family, following complications from a stroke he suffered in 2012.
In a statement to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, his family shared, “Bob passed at home today at 12:48pm surrounded by family. We played him his Live at the Turf Club CD, and he left us shortly after listening to his version of Hillbilly Heaven — quite poignant. It was a natural decline over the past week.”
Dunlap joined The Replacements in 1987, after Stinson was dismissed due to struggles with substance abuse. To avoid confusion with frontman Paul Westerberg, Dunlap adopted the nickname “Slim.” Known affectionately as the “replacement Replacement,” Dunlap contributed his talent to the band’s final two studio albums, Don’t Tell a Soul (1989) and All Shook Down (1991). His first tour with the group supported Pleased to Meet Me in 1987, which was the last album to feature Stinson.
Born in Plainview, Minnesota, in 1951, Dunlap grew up with a love for rock ‘n’ roll. In 1976, he played in bands like Thumbs Up and Spooks before becoming part of the Minneapolis music scene. When Westerberg approached him to join The Replacements, Dunlap initially hesitated, concerned about the demands of touring on his wife, Chrissie, and their three children. With her encouragement, he joined the band, leaving his job as a janitor at the famed First Avenue venue, where he was later honored with a star on its mural.
Dunlap’s solo career also shone brightly, with albums The New Old Me (1993) and Times Like These (1996) receiving critical acclaim. Even Bruce Springsteen praised his work, calling it “deeply touching and emotional.”
His 2012 stroke left him paralyzed, ending his music career. Despite his condition, Dunlap remained in high spirits, bolstered by the support of his family and friends. In 2013, the music community rallied for him through the Songs for Slim fundraiser, featuring covers of his songs by artists like Lucinda Williams and Jeff Tweedy. His daughter, Emily, shared that the project provided him with significant moral support during his illness.
Bob “Slim” Dunlap is survived by his wife Chrissie, their children Emily, Delia, and Louie, and six grandchildren. His contributions to music and his enduring spirit leave an indelible legacy.
Music by Yevhen Onoychenko from Pixabay
