I'm different. I'm very individual. I don't contour to society in any way and that scares the hell out of everybody. I mean, you can call me a social outcast and I'll be damned proud to admit to those words. You gotta be able to stand out on your own to make a difference, right or wrong. Lately it's been wrong. But when I'm on, watch out. What
comes around goes around.
"We all knew that it was coming, but that didn't soften the blow one bit," - Paul Westerberg
From their beginnings as a hard core band in 1979 until their demise in 1991, the Replacements managed to create some of the rawest and most uncompromising rock music of all-time. The band earned a reputation for being one of the finest and most unpredictable live acts of 1980s indie scene by juxtaposing cathartic, punk- influenced shows with drunken tomfoolery. Stinson's struggle with drug and alcohol abuse led to his dismissal from the Replacements in 1986.
The Replacements line-up before Bob's dismissal: Paul Westerberg- Vocals, Rhythm Guitar; Chris Mars- Drums; Tommy Stinson- Bass Guitar; Bob Stinson- Lead Guitar.
Stinson developed a reputation as a lightning-wristed, wholly unconventional lead guitar player, inspired by his six-string heroes Steve Howe, Johnny Winter and Prince.
It was instinctual. He just played weird things that he admired, filtered through the weird Bob Stinson brain. As a performer, Stinson took to playing gigs wearing skirts, tutus, trash bags, make-up and/or nothing at all. As one observer once wrote, Stinson was, for many, "the lunatic guitarist for the only American band that ever mattered."
Bob Stinson was found dead Saturday, Febuary 18, 1995 in his Uptown (Minneapolis) apartment. Stinson's body was found about 7 p.m. by a friend. A syringe was found next
to the couch in the apartment. Immediate speculation was that Bob had either succumbed to his drug habit or had committed suicide. I read that the syringe had no needle, or trace residue of any type, was not found next to the body and was insullin in type. It would seem that after years of abusing his body, he just "wore it out." It was not an overdose, but the years of substance abuse had to be a factor.
Bob Stinson is survived by his son, Joey of Minneapolis, his mother, Anita Stinson Kurth of Minneapolis; his father, Neil Stinson of Mound, his brother, Tommy of Los Angeles, and two sisters, Lonnie of Monticello and Lisa of Big Lake. He is also survived by many adoring fans world-wide (of which I am one...), and will be sorely missed.
