Slim Dunlap

Bob "Slim" Dunlap embodied the working musician who performed whenever his regular job permitted. Listeners most often recognize his name because he took over the guitar position left vacant by the Replacements' late Bob Stinson. His career, however, extends well beyond that stint with the storied Minneapolis band.

Local notice first came in the late 1970s through his work alongside the offbeat singer and songwriter Curtiss A, whose real name is Curt Almsted. Dunlap appeared on every Twin/Tone release by Almsted except one, beginning with the 1978 EP issued under the punk-leaning Spooks moniker and continuing through such characteristically off-kilter singles as "I Don't Wanna Be President." His growing reputation as a versatile and dependable player drew the attention of Paul Westerberg. Although Dunlap initially turned down the Replacements' offer after they parted ways with Stinson in June 1986, he later accepted, motivated chiefly by respect for Westerberg's songwriting. The addition of a technically assured musician undeniably tightened the famously loose outfit, evident on both Pleased to Meet Me (1987) and Don't Tell a Soul (1989), even if Dunlap contributed little to the former, which was nearly finished before his arrival.

His unassuming presence helped soften the disappointment felt by devoted fans who questioned Stinson's exit. On the Replacements' final album, All Shook Down (1990), Westerberg largely bypassed the group in favor of session musicians to achieve its sparse texture, leaving Dunlap with minimal opportunity to shine. The band dissolved after an extended tour through spring and summer 1991. Dunlap subsequently traveled with Dan Baird, the outspoken former frontman of the Georgia Satellites. His first solo album, The Old New Me, arrived in 1993 and revealed the roots-oriented style and sharp songcraft previously held in check. The follow-up, Times Like This (1995), pursued a similarly understated and appealing path.

Although no third solo record appeared, Dunlap kept performing regularly around Minneapolis and stayed a cherished presence in the Twin Cities scene. A severe stroke in February 2012 left him unable to walk, speak, eat solid food, or perform. Rising medical costs prompted friends and supporters to organize benefit efforts on his behalf. Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson recorded the EP Songs for Slim under the Replacements name, directing proceeds to Dunlap and his family. The project expanded into a series of singles featuring covers of Dunlap's material by Jeff Tweedy, John Doe, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Patterson Hood, and Jakob Dylan. Those tracks were later gathered on the 2013 benefit compilation Songs for Slim: Rockin' Here Tonight: A Benefit Compilation for Slim Dunlap. In 2015 both The Old New Me and Times Like This received vinyl reissues as a limited two-LP package. After prolonged health complications stemming from the stroke, Slim Dunlap died at his Minneapolis home on December 18, 2024, prompting widespread tributes across social media.