Tommy Stinson

by Peter Jesperson [for Better Propaganda.com]
(Spring 2004)

Few would dispute that Tommy comes from one of the most influential and respected schools of rock there ever was. In 1980, at the age of 13, along with his brother/mentor Bob, Chris Mars and Paul Westerberg, he founded legendary Minneapolis band The Replacements. Together they bulldozed tradition and along their merry way created some outrageously fun and fabulous rock n' roll. Tommy was responsible for huge slabs of what made that band special, through his spirited bass playing, sense of style, co-writing and bullshit detector among other things.

In 1986, he found himself in the excruciatingly difficult position of playing a part in Bob's dismissal from the group, over musical and personal differences. By the time The Replacements broke up in 1991, after eight totemic releases and hundreds of live shows, he'd had several careers' worth of experience - and he was still only 24. Without missing a beat, he switched to rhythm guitar and formed the Stones-ey, Faces-esque group Bash & Pop, recorded an album and hit the road again. In 1993, Tommy moved to Los Angeles and discovered a new community of musicians. Looking for something "poppier" and more collaborative, he formed a new band and called it Perfect (at first playing guitar, then moving back to bass).

In February of 1995 his brother Bob passed away. Though not entirely unforeseen, it was devastating nonetheless. Part of Tommy's therapy was to immerse himself in his work. Perfect played live regularly around L.A., toured some, cut an E.P. in 1996 and an album in late 1997. In a classic case of record label fumbling, the album was shelved and Perfect disbanded. It was then that Tommy was invited to join Guns N' Roses, a position he holds to this day - rehearsing, co-writing, recording a soon-to-be-released album and playing live whenever called upon to do so.

As it turns out, in the complex world of GN'R, Tommy has a fair amount of downtime. He's learned a lot these last six years and his musicianship has improved in leaps and bounds. There's a sophistication and maturity that will surprise a lot of people who, perhaps, weren't expecting it from the boy spark-plug. But before we get too serious about it all, let's not forget - Tommy Stinson still plays rock n' roll 'cos it's fun, and that's downright contagious.