Bob Stinson
Encyclopedia
For the baseball player, see Bob Stinson (baseball)
Bob Stinson (born Robert Neil Stinson, December 17, 1959–February 18, 1995) was the founding member and lead guitarist for the American
rock band The Replacements.
, USA
in 1979 with drummer Chris Mars
and Bob's younger half-brother Tommy
, then just 12 years old; a year later, Stinson brought in Paul Westerberg
on second guitar and vocals.
In 1985, a long-running power struggle between Stinson and Westerberg reached a breaking point, and Stinson was forced out of the band sometime in late 1986. Though the exact circumstances of the split remain murky, published explanations include Westerberg's commercial aspirations, pressure from Sire Records for more mainstream records, and Stinson's increasing substance abuse problems. "Whether he was thrown out for the way his alleged alcohol problems had destroyed his skills or he left voluntarily due to creative tension is a moot point," according to Prefix Magazine. "What matters is this: Stinson was gone, and with him went much of the band's edge." With the departure of Stinson, "Pleased to Meet Me" and all subsequent recordings by the band were increasingly more pop-oriented, dominated by Westerberg's pop stylings. Stinson's last stint in the band was on the demos for the Pleased to Meet Me
album.
Model Prisoner's line up consisted of Sonny Vincent (Testors)-Vocals and Guitar, Bob Stinson -Guitar, Eric Magistad-Bass, Jeff Rogers-Drums. Other members included Jim Michels and Mike Henderson. The band performed live and they recorded an album at Nicollet Studios (Twin Tone).
Bob later formed Static Taxi
in 1988. They recorded two albums Stinson Boulevard (released in 2000) and Closer 2 Normal (released in 2003) before folding in the summer of 1991.
Again in alliance with Sonny Vincent, Bobby Stinson was a member of the band 'Shotgun Rationale' and they appeared together on Shotgun Rationale's Time Is Mine single (in 1991 on Dogmeat Records)( a remake of the original 'Testors' song). The new version of the song with Bob on guitar also featured future Bash & Pop
guitarist Steve Brantseg. Bob also appears on sought after European releases that featured him together with Sonny.
An interesting aspect of the band 'Shotgun Rationale' was its constantly changing line up. At one point Bob and Sonny invited Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys) to join the band and Cheetah moved to Minnesota to play guitar with them. According to Sonny that was "quite insane for a while"...
"You have to imagine a band consisting of both Bob Stinson and Cheetah Chrome playing and working together.. then add to that I was no angel and you start to get a glimpse of the mercurial energy and intense chaos that we lived in, it didn't last long but it was like living in a constant lightning storm and the sound was the same, tight and concentrated but always exploding over the edge."
Stinson also played with local band Dog 994 around this time. His last band was The Bleeding Hearts, which he formed with his roommate Mike Leonard. One of their most high-profile performances was opening for his brother Tommy's band Bash & Pop in 1993. His last public performance was playing with Minneapolis Countryswing band Trailer Trash at Lee's Liquor Bar in late 1994. They performed a version of Lefty Frizzell
's "Lil 'Ol Wine Drinker Me".
In 2010, Sonny Vincent compiled all the songs he recorded with Bob over the years and it is available as a Euro import. The Artist name on the album is 'Model Prisoners Featuring:Sonny Vincent And Bob Stinson' and the name of the album is 'Cow Milking Music'
This album was released on Vinyl with Cd included along with many photos of Bob from Sonny's archives as well as a 4 Page story detailing the history of their collaboration and friendship.
and drug addict, died in 1995; according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Report, he did not die of a drug overdose (as is frequently reported) but rather his body simply wore out after years of abuse. His body was found in his Uptown, Minneapolis
apartment, with an unused insulin
syringe next to it. His obituary appeared in the print edition of the New York Times on February 24, 1995.
Bob Stinson (baseball)
Gorrell Robert Stinson III is a former switch-hitting catcher in Major League Baseball from -. Stinson played for six major league franchises, most notably the Seattle Mariners....
Bob Stinson (born Robert Neil Stinson, December 17, 1959–February 18, 1995) was the founding member and lead guitarist for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band The Replacements.
The Replacements
Stinson formed The Replacements (formerly Dog's Breath) in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1979 with drummer Chris Mars
Chris Mars
Chris Mars is an American artist and musician. He was the drummer for seminal Minneapolis, Minnesota alternative rock band The Replacements and later joined informal supergroup Golden Smog before launching a solo career. He is also a painter, and has more or less left music behind to concentrate...
and Bob's younger half-brother Tommy
Tommy Stinson
Thomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson is an American musician best known for his work as the bassist for The Replacements and Guns N' Roses as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop, where he performed guitar duties, and Perfect...
, then just 12 years old; a year later, Stinson brought in Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg is an American musician, best known as the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s. He launched a solo career after the dissolution of that band...
on second guitar and vocals.
In 1985, a long-running power struggle between Stinson and Westerberg reached a breaking point, and Stinson was forced out of the band sometime in late 1986. Though the exact circumstances of the split remain murky, published explanations include Westerberg's commercial aspirations, pressure from Sire Records for more mainstream records, and Stinson's increasing substance abuse problems. "Whether he was thrown out for the way his alleged alcohol problems had destroyed his skills or he left voluntarily due to creative tension is a moot point," according to Prefix Magazine. "What matters is this: Stinson was gone, and with him went much of the band's edge." With the departure of Stinson, "Pleased to Meet Me" and all subsequent recordings by the band were increasingly more pop-oriented, dominated by Westerberg's pop stylings. Stinson's last stint in the band was on the demos for the Pleased to Meet Me
Pleased to Meet Me
Pleased to Meet Me is the sixth full-length album by The Replacements. It was released on July 7, 1987 .The album to some degree maintains the style of the previous album, and major label debut, Tim...
album.
Later projects
Stinson's first band after leaving The Replacements was an outfit called Model Prisoner, which broke up in 1988.Model Prisoner's line up consisted of Sonny Vincent (Testors)-Vocals and Guitar, Bob Stinson -Guitar, Eric Magistad-Bass, Jeff Rogers-Drums. Other members included Jim Michels and Mike Henderson. The band performed live and they recorded an album at Nicollet Studios (Twin Tone).
Bob later formed Static Taxi
Static Taxi
Static Taxi was a post-punk band formed in the late 1980s by Bob Stinson, former lead guitarist of The Replacements, and members of Uptown from Minneapolis, Minnesota....
in 1988. They recorded two albums Stinson Boulevard (released in 2000) and Closer 2 Normal (released in 2003) before folding in the summer of 1991.
Again in alliance with Sonny Vincent, Bobby Stinson was a member of the band 'Shotgun Rationale' and they appeared together on Shotgun Rationale's Time Is Mine single (in 1991 on Dogmeat Records)( a remake of the original 'Testors' song). The new version of the song with Bob on guitar also featured future Bash & Pop
Bash & Pop
Bash & Pop were an American alternative rock group formed in 1992 by Tommy Stinson in Minneapolis, Minnesota following the breakup of previous group, The Replacements...
guitarist Steve Brantseg. Bob also appears on sought after European releases that featured him together with Sonny.
An interesting aspect of the band 'Shotgun Rationale' was its constantly changing line up. At one point Bob and Sonny invited Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys) to join the band and Cheetah moved to Minnesota to play guitar with them. According to Sonny that was "quite insane for a while"...
"You have to imagine a band consisting of both Bob Stinson and Cheetah Chrome playing and working together.. then add to that I was no angel and you start to get a glimpse of the mercurial energy and intense chaos that we lived in, it didn't last long but it was like living in a constant lightning storm and the sound was the same, tight and concentrated but always exploding over the edge."
Stinson also played with local band Dog 994 around this time. His last band was The Bleeding Hearts, which he formed with his roommate Mike Leonard. One of their most high-profile performances was opening for his brother Tommy's band Bash & Pop in 1993. His last public performance was playing with Minneapolis Countryswing band Trailer Trash at Lee's Liquor Bar in late 1994. They performed a version of Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
's "Lil 'Ol Wine Drinker Me".
In 2010, Sonny Vincent compiled all the songs he recorded with Bob over the years and it is available as a Euro import. The Artist name on the album is 'Model Prisoners Featuring:Sonny Vincent And Bob Stinson' and the name of the album is 'Cow Milking Music'
This album was released on Vinyl with Cd included along with many photos of Bob from Sonny's archives as well as a 4 Page story detailing the history of their collaboration and friendship.
Death
Stinson, a long-term alcoholicAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and drug addict, died in 1995; according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Report, he did not die of a drug overdose (as is frequently reported) but rather his body simply wore out after years of abuse. His body was found in his Uptown, Minneapolis
Uptown, Minneapolis
Uptown is a popular commercial district in southwestern Minneapolis, Minnesota, centered at the Uptown Theater at the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lagoon Avenue. It has traditionally spanned the corners of four neighborhoods, Lowry Hill East, ECCO, CARAG and East Isles neighborhoods, within...
apartment, with an unused insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
syringe next to it. His obituary appeared in the print edition of the New York Times on February 24, 1995.