The alternative rock world mourns the loss of Bob “Slim” Dunlap, the revered guitarist from the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based band The Replacements, who also enjoyed a successful solo career. Dunlap passed away at his Minneapolis home on December 18, 2024. He was 73 years old.
A statement confirming Dunlap’s death was issued by his family to the Minnesota Star Tribune. It reads, “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 poetic.”
Dunlap had been battling complications resulting from a stroke he had in 2012. His wife, Chrissie, revealed in a 2023 interview that he was paralyzed and unable to play music due to his condition. He had also been hospitalized over 100 times.
Born in 1951 in Plainview, Minnesota, Dunlap started playing guitar when he was 10 years old. He formed his first band, Thumbs Up, in the early 1970s with musician Curtiss A, combining rhythm and blues with pop. Dunlap later became a member of Curtiss A’s punk-rock group, Spooks.
Before his tenure with The Replacements, Dunlap had made a name for himself as a reliable and versatile musician in the Minneapolis music scene. His work with Curtiss A caught the attention of Paul Westerberg, who was looking for a new guitarist.
Dunlap officially joined The Replacements in 1987, after original member Bob Stinson was let go from the band. Initially, Dunlap turned down the offer, but later accepted due to his admiration for Westerberg’s songwriting. He contributed to the band’s last two studio albums, “Don’t Tell a Soul” (1989) and “All Shook Down” (1990).
Dunlap’s addition to the band played a significant role in allowing The Replacements to continue following Stinson’s departure. He also partook in the band’s tour, supporting their album “Pleased to Meet Me.”
Dunlap was known for his gentle guitar playing style, often employing a unique thumb-pick technique that brought depth and a sense of introspective melancholy to the band’s sound.
After The Replacements disbanded in 1991, Dunlap embarked on a solo career, releasing two albums: “The Old New Me” (1993) and “Times Like This” (1996). Bruce Springsteen, who commended the albums, described them as “deeply touching and emotional.”
In the aftermath of Dunlap’s 2012 stroke, fellow musicians rallied around him. The Replacements reunited in 2013 to release a benefit EP, “Songs for Slim,” to raise funds for his medical care. Even though he could not participate in The Replacements’ 2014 reunion tour due to his health, Paul Westerberg confirmed that Dunlap had given his blessings for the band to proceed. In 2020, a live album documenting a 2002 performance was released by notable musician Steve Earle, who was among those who praised Dunlap’s solo work.
In a 2023 interview, Dunlap reflected on his stint with The Replacements, conceding that he could never truly replace Bob Stinson. He admitted that while he learned Stinson’s parts, he brought his own unique style to the role. He described his time with the band as a thrilling yet emotionally challenging roller coaster ride. But despite the challenges, it allowed him to realize many of his dreams and opened up new opportunities, for which he expressed profound gratitude to Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, and Chris Mars.
Dunlap is survived by his wife Chrissie, their three children, including musician daughter Emily Boigenzahn, six grandchildren, and three sisters.
