The Replacements guitarist and songwriter, Slim Dunlap, died at the age of 73 on Wednesday, December 18. According to a statement shared by Dunlap's family, his health began declining over the past week, as a result of complications he experienced due to a previous stroke Dunlap suffered back in 2012.
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"Bob passed at home today at 12:48 p.m. surrounded by family," reads the statement published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "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 poignant. It was a natural decline over the past week. Overall it was due to complications from his stroke."
According to The Guardian, the 2012 stroke left Slim Dunlap paralyzed, leaving him only to be able to move his head. This led him to be hospitalized more than 100 times, but Dunlap remained positive and even gave his blessing to his Replacements bandmates to continue touring without him.
Fans Mourn Slim Dunlap
Following the news of his passing, thousands of Sim Dunlap's fans shared their musical and personal experiences with the musician in "The Slim Dunlap fan club," a Facebook group that houses 4.3 thousand members.
"I am so grateful I got to know him a little bit. His presence in my life, just a couple years after my dad died, was so meaningful to me," one user wrote. "His influence on me may have started with how to play guitar, but it ended up being how to be a good man, a good person."
A second user, who personally knew Dunlap and was his friend, also shared his experiences with the other fans. "I feel lucky I knew him. I feel lucky I got to visit him and Chrissie last week in their cozy little hideaway, and to feel their love," the user said. "I'll miss my friend Slim so much. I loved him, and I always told him so"
Slim Dunlap, born in 1951 in Minnesota, joined The Replacements in 1987 to replace former guitarist, Bob Stinson, due to his addiction problems. To avoid confusion, since Slim's actual name is Bob too, he was named "Slim," and he became a great addition to the band thanks to his songwriting skills, praised by the likes of Bruce Springsteen.
After the band broke up in 1991, he went on to release two solo albums during the '90s, and he continued to tour until he suffered his stroke in 2012.
