Memorial and concert planned for late Replacements guitarist 'Slim' Dunlap
Local musicians, artists, and fans are giving Bob "Slim" Dunlap the tribute he deserves.
Following his death in December at age 73, a memorial and tribute concert has been organized by members of his family and will be held at First Avenue on May 19, the venue announced on Tuesday.
Dunlap was a solo artist in the Twin Cities, best known for his time playing guitar in The Replacements. He joined the group in 1987, replacing founding guitarist Bob Stinson.
The Celebration of Life will feature performances from Trailer Trash, The Cactus Blossoms (duo), an ensemble going by the Slimboree Singers, and other special guests, including Curtiss A, Dave Boquist, Gini Dodds, John Eller, The Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead, Brad Zellar, and members of the Slim Dunlap Band.
Dunlap may be best known for his time in The Replacements, a run where his distinctive guitar work put fresh life into one of the most iconic rock bands to come out of the state.
However, he had a lengthy career playing with other groups in the '70s and '80s and released a pair of solo albums in the '90s that became quietly beloved records. Fans of that solo work include Bruce Springsteen, who praised Dunlap's solo work in an NPR interview in 2014.
"Check out the two Slim Dunlap records because they're just so beautiful, they're just beautiful rock 'n' roll records," Springsteen said. "I found them to be deeply touching and emotional."
The memorial event and concert will feature Dunlap's music, as well as music from artists he loved, per the Star Tribune. The memorial will also feature Dunlap's own recordings and spoken word tributes.
Tickets for the memorial and concert cost $12 and are on sale now. Proceeds will benefit the Slim Dunlap Fund, helping to pay for the cost of his burial site at Lakewood Cemetery, the Star Tribune reports.
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