The Replacements’ Slim Dunlap has died, aged 73

Bob ‘Slim’ Dunlap, guitarist for The Replacements has died at the age of 73.

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Per the Minnesota Star Tribune, Dunlap died at his home in Minneapolis on Wednesday. He had suffered a debilitating stroke in 2012 and been in ill health ever since. His family confirmed the death to the MST: “Bob passed at home today at 12:48 p.m. surrounded by family. We played him his ‘Live at the Turf Club (’Thank You Dancers!)’ 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. Overall it was due to complications from his stroke.”

Slim Dunlap began his music career in the early 1970s, playing in several bands in Twin Cities, Minnesota, including Curtis Almsted’s Spooks. During his stint with Spooks, Dunlap caught the attention of The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg. At the time, Westerberg was looking for a guitarist to replace the American punk outfit’s lead Bob Stinton, who had left after failing to properly deal with his substance abuse problems.

Dunlap joined The Replacements in 1987, shortly after they had recorded the album ‘Pleased To Meet Me’. He would remain with the band until their split in 1991, appearing on their two final albums; 1989’s ‘Don’t Tell A Soul’ and 1990’s ‘All Shook Down’.

Following The Replacements’ split, Slim Dunlap released his debut solo album ‘The Old New Me’ in 1993 and the follow-up ‘Times Like This’ in 1996. In 2002, he recorded the live album ‘Live at the Turf Club (Thank You Dancers!)’ at the 350-capacity Turf Club in St. Paul – the album was released in 2020.

Dunlap remained active in the Minnesota music scene until he suffered a severe stroke in 2012 that left him mostly paralysed. After news of the ailment broke, The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson reunited for an EP to raise funds for Dunlap’s medical bills.

In 2014, The Replacements were nominated to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame but ultimately never got the honour.

Dunlap remained largely bedridden since the stroke, and fans last year began buying the musician’s memorabilia from his family in an effort to help cover his medical fees.