21 Facts About Slim Dunlap

Robert Bruce "Slim" Dunlap was an American rock musician.

Slim Dunlap was a Minnesota-based guitarist and singer-songwriter who was best known as a member of the Replacements from 1987 to 1991, replacing original lead guitarist Bob Stinson.

Slim Dunlap was born on August 14,1951, in Plainview, Minnesota.

Slim Dunlap's father was elected to five terms in the Minnesota Senate as a Republican, where he served from 1953 to 1967, and was Wabasha County Attorney from 1950 to 1952.

Slim Dunlap was an amateur piano player fond of Hoagy Carmichael.

Slim Dunlap said that he practiced for hours every day for years, often late into the night.

The family moved to the nearby, larger city of Rochester when Slim Dunlap was beginning high school.

Slim Dunlap's father "had to pull strings to get his son a diploma," Mehr wrote.

Slim Dunlap enrolled at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 1969, but dropped out after about a year, more interested in the legend of Bob Dylan's life in nearby Dinkytown.

Slim Dunlap formed his first band, a Small Faces-inspired combo called Mrs Frubb, around this time.

Slim Dunlap met his future wife, Christine, in 1971 at a Mrs Frubb show.

Slim Dunlap joined Almsted's punk-rock group Spooks, and featured on all but one of Spooks's albums.

Slim Dunlap initially turned down the offer, but joined the Replacements in 1987 on account of "his admiration for Westerberg's songwriting".

Slim Dunlap's wife, Chrissie, was a former First Avenue staffer.

Slim Dunlap became the "replacement Replacement", and remained with the band until their breakup in 1991, featuring on their last two studio albums.

In 1991 Slim Dunlap toured with ex-Georgia Satellites lead vocalist Dan Baird to promote Baird's solo album, Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired.

Towards the end of 1992 Slim Dunlap started recording his own first solo album, The Old New Me, which was released in 1993.

Slim Dunlap performed at The Bottom Line in New York City in December 1997, and he and his own band were active in the Minneapolis area until February 2012 when he was hospitalized after suffering a severe stroke.

The releases included an EP by his former bandmates from the Replacements, Songs for Slim Dunlap, featuring cover art by Chris Mars.

Slim Dunlap died at his home in Minneapolis on December 18,2024, at the age of 73.

Slim Dunlap was honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.