Slim Dunlap
Encyclopedia
Bob "Slim" Dunlap is an American rock music
ian. He is a Minnesota
-based guitarist
and singer-songwriter
who is best known for replacing The Replacements's original lead guitarist, Bob Stinson
in 1987. Dunlap also recorded two solo albums in the mid-1990s.
Dunlap was influenced by Hank Williams and Keith Richards
, and has been called "one of the last old-school cool guitar players". Ralph Heibutzki
at Allmusic said that he "epitomizes the journeyman musician who plays for the fun of it, when his day gig allows".
, also known as Curt Almsted, and together they formed Thumbs Up, an "unusual mix of rhythm and blues with pop [that] has been described as early new wave". He also joined Almsted's punk-rock group, Spooks, and featured on all but one of Spooks's albums. Dunlap's work with Almsted established himself as an "intuitive, reliable musician who could fit any situation", and he attracted the attention of Paul Westerberg
of The Replacements, a Minnesota
-based punk/alternative rock band. Westerberg was looking for a guitarist to replace Bob Stinson
, who had been asked to leave in the mid-1980s because of his drug and alcohol problems, and approached Dunlap. Dunlap initially turned down the offer, but joined The Replacements in 1987 on account of "his admiration for Westerberg's songwriting". Dunlap's day job at the time was working as a janitor
at First Avenue, a nightclub in Minneapolis, the same venue where The Replacements had launched their career in the early 1980s. Dunlap became the "replacement Replacement", and remained with the band until their breakup in 1991, featuring on their last three studio albums.
In 1991 Dunlap toured with ex-Georgia Satellites lead vocalist Dan Baird
to promote the Baird's solo album, Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired. Towards the end of 1992 Dunlap started recording his own first solo album, The Old New Me, which was released in 1993. It was followed by his second solo album, Time Like This in 1996. Allmusic called The Old New Me a "rootsy, engaging ride", and Time Like This "the opposite of the Replacements' rowdy, unscripted alt-rock vitriol [that] wins on its own unobtrusive terms". Dunlap performed at the Bottom Line
in New York City in December 1997, and is still active in the Minneapolis area.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
ian. He is a Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
-based guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who is best known for replacing The Replacements's original lead guitarist, Bob Stinson
Bob Stinson
For the baseball player, see Bob Stinson Bob Stinson was the founding member and lead guitarist for the American rock band The Replacements.-The Replacements:...
in 1987. Dunlap also recorded two solo albums in the mid-1990s.
Dunlap was influenced by Hank Williams and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, and has been called "one of the last old-school cool guitar players". Ralph Heibutzki
Ralph Heibutzki
Ralph Heibutzki is a musician from Michigan. He is the author of Unfinished Business: The Life and Times of Danny Gatton.-External links:**...
at Allmusic said that he "epitomizes the journeyman musician who plays for the fun of it, when his day gig allows".
Biography
Slim Dunlap was born in Minneapolis on August 14, 1951. He started playing guitar when he was about ten. In the early 1970s he teamed up with rock musician and visual artist Curtiss ACurtiss A
Curtiss A, the Godfather to the Minneapolis rock scene, is both a musician and a visual artist. One of the original artists on the Twin Tone label, he performs one of the most popular shows in the Twin Cities, an annual tribute to John Lennon held at First Avenue.Curtiss formed Wire, his first Twin...
, also known as Curt Almsted, and together they formed Thumbs Up, an "unusual mix of rhythm and blues with pop [that] has been described as early new wave". He also joined Almsted's punk-rock group, Spooks, and featured on all but one of Spooks's albums. Dunlap's work with Almsted established himself as an "intuitive, reliable musician who could fit any situation", and he attracted the attention of 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...
of The Replacements, a Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
-based punk/alternative rock band. Westerberg was looking for a guitarist to replace Bob Stinson
Bob Stinson
For the baseball player, see Bob Stinson Bob Stinson was the founding member and lead guitarist for the American rock band The Replacements.-The Replacements:...
, who had been asked to leave in the mid-1980s because of his drug and alcohol problems, and approached Dunlap. Dunlap initially turned down the offer, but joined The Replacements in 1987 on account of "his admiration for Westerberg's songwriting". Dunlap's day job at the time was working as a janitor
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
at First Avenue, a nightclub in Minneapolis, the same venue where The Replacements had launched their career in the early 1980s. Dunlap became the "replacement Replacement", and remained with the band until their breakup in 1991, featuring on their last three studio albums.
In 1991 Dunlap toured with ex-Georgia Satellites lead vocalist Dan Baird
Dan Baird
Daniel "Dan" John Baird was born in San Diego, California and is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist from the chart-topping 80s rock band The Georgia Satellites. Baird formed The Georgia Satellites in 1980 and left the band...
to promote the Baird's solo album, Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired. Towards the end of 1992 Dunlap started recording his own first solo album, The Old New Me, which was released in 1993. It was followed by his second solo album, Time Like This in 1996. Allmusic called The Old New Me a "rootsy, engaging ride", and Time Like This "the opposite of the Replacements' rowdy, unscripted alt-rock vitriol [that] wins on its own unobtrusive terms". Dunlap performed at the Bottom Line
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line was a music venue at 15 West Fourth Street between Mercer Street and Greene Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City...
in New York City in December 1997, and is still active in the Minneapolis area.
Solo discography
Source: Allmusic- The Old New Me (1993, Twin/Tone RecordsTwin/Tone RecordsTwin/Tone Records was a record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that operated from 1977 until 1994 and helped several local groups receive national attention. The label was born from the Minneapolis punk rock music scene, which included venues like Jay's Longhorn Bar. The label was begun by...
) - Time Like This (1996, Restless RecordsRestless RecordsRestless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
)