Bob Stinson, seminal guitar player in the original line up of the
Replacements is dead.  Bob's mother is certain it was an accident, not
intentional.  She said he had been having a hard time the past year -- he was
diagnosed as manic depressive a year ago. But generally, she said, "he was
Bob."
 
While the Connells content here is low (clearly the 'mats were an influence
on the Connells), I thought that this was important enought to share with the
group.  I don't know about others on the list, but I went through  my
difficult years (read: late adolescence) listening the 'mats and this comes
as a shock.
 
The following article appeared in this morning's news section of the
Minneapolis Star Tribune, dated Monday, February 20, 1995
 
Head: Replacements' ex-guitarist found dead
 
By Jon Bream
Staff Writer
 
Bob Stinson, 35, founding guitarist for the influential Minneapolis rock band
the Replacements, was found dead in his Lake St. apartment Saturday night in
south Minneapolis. No cause of death was available.
 
Stinson, his younger brother Tommy, Paul Westerberg and Chris Mars formed the
Replacements in 1980. The group became a national sensation on the rock
underground, known for their freewheeling and often inebriated performances.
 
Bob Stinson was widely regarded as the band's spirit, the chaotic force who
took the band over the edge. He was kicked out of the band in 1986 because he
couldn't curb his out-of-control lifestyle.
 
After his departure, the Replacements achieved greater renoun on Warner Bros.
records and performed on TV's Saturday Night Live. Among their better-known
songs were "Bastards Of Young" and "Achin' To Be." The Replacements' punkish
spirit was considered an inspiration to the 1990s grunge scene that spawned
Nirvana and other hit-making groups.
 
The Replacements disbanded in 1991. After his stint with the band, Stinson
played with the Bleeding Hearts and other local rock bands.
 
"Bob was a sad person in life," said veteran Minneapolis guitarist Slim
Dunlap, who replaced Stinson in the Replacements. "Bob just needed a little
peace and never found it."
 
Dunlap said that he saw Stinson about two weeks ago and that Stinson
"wouldn't tell me what was going on," he said. "He's had a rough time the
last year or so. He'd been bumped out of every band he'd joined. He was one
hell of a guitar player when he was on. But it's hard to get old as a guitar
player. Bob was finding that out."
 
Dunlap said that Stinson was "incapable of anything vicious toward anyone
else. He was a nice person, which doesn't jive with his wild man reputation."
 
Steve Groseth, Stinson's neighbor, said that the guitarist moved into an
apartment above a Lake St. business about a week ago and that he was found by
a friend Saturday night.
 
Stinson is survived by his mother, brother, sister and a son. Funeral
services are pending.
 
(Reprinted without permission of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.)
 
Take care all,
 
Art
 
"...there ain't much to rake anyway in the fall."
    -P Westerberg
 
"They tell you, you're uninspired."
    -M Connell