Robert Neil Stinson (December 17, 1959 – February 18, 1995) was an American musician best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the American rock band The Replacements. Biography Early life Bob Stinson was born on December 17, 1959 in Waconia, Minnesota to Neil and Anita Stinson. They divorced when he was two years old. His father was largely absent from his life, and he was raised by his mother. His half-brother Tommy Stinson was born nearly seven years later. Despite Tommy's father being Anita's longtime boyfriend, Tommy was still given the last name "Stinson" by his mother. The pair also had two sisters, Lonnie and Lisa. The Replacements (1979–1986) Stinson formed The Replacements (formerly 'Dog's Breath' and also by some accounts as 'Dogbreath') in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979 with drummer Chris Mars and Tommy, then just 12 years old; a year later, the band brought in Paul Westerberg on rhythm guitar and vocals. Stinson won acclaim for his lead guitar on the band's first four albums. In 1985, a long-running power struggle between Stinson and Westerberg reached a breaking point, and Stinson was forced out of the band in the summer of 1986. Though the exact circumstances of the split remain murky, published explanations include Westerberg's commercial aspirations, pressure from [the band's label] Sire Records for more mainstream records, and Stinson's increasing substance abuse problems. "Whether he was thrown out for the way his alleged alcohol problems had destroyed his skills or he left voluntarily due to creative tension is a moot point," according to Prefix Magazine. "What matters is this: Stinson was gone, and with him went much of the band's edge." With the departure of Stinson, all subsequent recordings by the band were increasingly more pop-oriented, dominated by Westerberg's pop stylings. Stinson's last stint in the band was on the demos for the album Pleased to Meet Me. Later projects (1986–1994) Stinson's first band after leaving The Replacements was called Model Prisoner, which broke up in 1988. Model Prisoner's line up consisted of Sonny Vincent on vocals and guitar, Stinson on guitar, Eric Magistad on bass and Jeff Rogers on drums. Other members included Jim Michels and Mike Henderson. The band performed live and they recorded an album at Nicollet Studios (Twin Tone). Stinson later joined Static Taxi in 1988, who broke up in the summer of 1991, around the same time as the Replacements.