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Infobox musical artist | name = Tommy Stinson| image = Tommy Stinson at Download Festival 2006.jpg| caption = Tommy performing with Guns N' Roses at the Download Festival in 2006| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Thomas Eugene Stinson| alias =| birth_date = Birth date and age|1966|10|6| death_date =| origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States|U.S. | instrument = Bass guitar|Bass , guitar , Drum kit|drums , tuba , synthesizers , Singing|vocals | genre = Pop rock , hard rock , alternative rock | occupation = Musician , songwriter | years_active = 1979& ndash;present| label = Twin/Tone Records|Twin/Tone , Sire Records|Sire , Reprise Records|Reprise , Medium Cool Records|Medium Cool , Restless Records|Restless , Rykodisc , Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary , Legacy Recordings|Legacy , Geffen Records|Geffen | associated_acts = The Replacements (band)|The Replacements , Guns N' Roses , Bash & Pop , Perfect (American band)|Perfect , Soul Asylum , Alien Crime Syndicate | website = http://www.tommystinson.com/ tommystinson.com| current_members =| past_members =| notable_instruments = Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender Precision Bass Special Fender Jazz Bass Rickenbacker 4001 Music Man Stingray Gibson Thunderbird Fender Mustang Bass Thomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson (born October 6, 1966) is an United States|American musician best known for his work as the bassist for The Replacements (band)|The Replacements and Guns N' Roses as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop , where he performed guitar duties, and Perfect (American band)|Perfect . He released his debut solo album, Village Gorilla Head in 2004 and also joined Soul Asylum for the completion of their album, The Silver Lining (Soul Asylum album)|The Silver Lining , and the subsequent tour in 2006.
Main|The Replacements (band)After beginning to learn the bass at the age of 11, Michael Azerrad|Azerrad, Michael . Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 p. 198-9 Stinson began playing and covering songs with his brother, Bob Stinson , and drummer Chris Mars Azerrad, 2001. p. 198 under the name "Dogbreath" without a singer. After recruiting singer Paul Westerberg , Dogbreath changed their name to The Impediments and played a drunken performance, without Tommy, at a church hall gig in June 1980. Michael Azerrad|Azerrad, Michael . Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 p. 200 After being banned from the venue for disorderly behaviour, they changed their name to The Replacements.cite web | url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5255|pure_url=yes | title=The Replacements > Biography | accessdate=2008-02-03 | author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas | publisher=Allmusic
After signing to Twin/Tone Records , by label owner Peter Jesperson who also became the group's manager, they released their debut album, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash , in 1981 with an Extended play|EP , Stink (album)|Stink , following in 1982. Michael Azerrad|Azerrad, Michael . Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 p. 206 The Replacements began to distance themselves from the hardcore punk scene after the release of Stink and, inspired by other rock subgenres, released their second album, Hootenanny (The Replacements album)|Hootenanny , in April 1983. Hootenanny was played on over two hundred radio stations across the country, with critics acclaiming the album; The Village Voice 's Robert Christgau deemed it "the most critically independent album of 1983". Michael Azerrad|Azerrad, Michael . Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 p. 210 The band embarked on their first tour of the U.S. in April 1983, during this time Tommy dropped out of tenth grade to join the rest of the band on tour. The band toured cities such as Detroit, Michigan|Detroit , Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland and Philadelphia , but their intended destination was New York City , where they played at Gerde's Folk City and Maxwell's . Michael Azerrad|Azerrad, Michael . Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 p. 216
For the recording of their next studio album, The Replacements decided to return to Blackberry Way Studios in late 1983 with the result being Let It Be (Replacements album)|Let It Be , released in October 1984. A live album, The Shit Hits the Fans , was released in 1985.
Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Sire Records , eventually signed The Replacements Michael Azerrad|Azerrad, Michael . Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 p. 227 with their first major-label release being the Tim (album)|Tim album, produced by Tommy Ramone|Tommy Erdelyi , released in 1985. After the release of Tim , The Replacements fired Tommy's brother, Bob Stinson, as well as Jesperson the same year. The remaining Replacements carried on as a trio for Pleased to Meet Me , released in 1987, recorded in Memphis with producer Jim Dickinson . Guitarist Slim Dunlap took over lead guitar duties for the subsequent tour and soon became a full member of the band.
They released '' Don't Tell a Soul '', in 1989, which featured the song " I'll Be You ", which topped Billboard's Modern Rock chart. Following a disastrous tour opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers , Westerberg recorded a new album largely with session musicians but was persuaded to release it as a Replacements album. All Shook Down , released in 1990, won critical praise and more mainstream attention, though the many guest players and Mars's quick departure from the band following the album's release led many to wonder about the band's future.
Drummer Steve Foley (drummer)|Steve Foley was recruited as Mars's replacement in 1990, and the band embarked on a long farewell tour which lasted into the summer of 1991. On July 4, 1991, the band officially broke up following a Taste of Chicago performance in Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park , referred to by fans as "It Ain't Over 'Til the Fat Roadie Plays" because each member disappeared during the set, their respective roadies taking their places. This show was broadcast by Chicago radio station WXRT .
In December 2005, he reunited with his surviving Replacements bandmates Paul Westerberg and original drummer Chris Mars to record two new songs for a greatest-hits collection. Stinson further collaborated with Westerberg on the soundtrack to the Sony feature film Open Season , recording bass tracks for 'Love You in the Fall' and 'Right to Arm Bears'.
Bash & Pop (1992& ndash;1994)
Main|Bash & PopWith a name selected from a contest hosted by New York radio station WDRE,cite news|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR103978.html? categoryid=16& cs=1|title=L.A. revs up for the Grammys|publisher= Variety (magazine)|Variety |date=Feb. 16, 1993 | first=Bruce | last=Haring Stinson, on guitar and lead vocals, formed his first post-Replacements group Bash & Pop in 1992cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p37313|pure_url=yes|title=Bash & Pop > Overview|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010 with drummer Steve Foley (drummer)|Steve Foley being added to the group,cite news|author=Jacobson, Don|title=RIP: Replacements drummer Steve Foley, in RockNotes: AC/DC vs. Oasis|url= http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/music/rocknotes_back_back_back_in_bl.php|date=August 29, 2008|publisher= The Beachwood Reporter also formerly of The Replacements, along with his brother Kevin on basscite news|author=Riemenschneider, Chris|title=Steve Foley played with the Replacements|url= http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/27511854.html|date=August 26, 2008|work= Star Tribune |publisher=Avista Capital Partners and guitarist Steve Brantseg. Rumors were that Bash & Pop were a band in name only with Stinson recording the album, Friday Night Is Killing Me , mostly by himself along with a number of guest musicians. Steve, Kevin and Brantseg all contributed to the album, Friday Night Is Killing Me , along with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers members Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell , Wire Train 's Jeff Trott as well as other musicians Greg Leisz , Brian McCloud, Phil Jones and Tommy Steelcite web |url= http://www.discogs.com/Bash-Pop-Friday-Night-Is-Killing-Me/release/2075125 |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010 |work= Discogs |title=Bash & Pop - Friday Night Is Killing Me with the album being released in January 1993, through Sire Records|Sire / Reprise Records , to mainly mixed reviews.
A tour in support followed along with the recording of the track "Making Me Sick" which was included on the Clerks (soundtrack)|soundtrack , released in 1994, to the movie Clerks cite web |url= http://www.discogs.com/Various-Clerks-Music-From-The-Motion-Picture/release/564843 |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010 |work= Discogs |title=Various - Clerks - Music From The Motion Picture however the group disbanded later in 1994.
Perfect (1995& ndash;1998)
Main|Perfect (American band)Stinson, switching back to bass, formed Perfect along with the group's guitarists Marc Solomon and Dave Philips as well as drummer Gersh.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p23126|pure_url=yes|title=Perfect > Overview|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=Mar. 30, 2010cite web |url= http://www.discogs.com/artist/Perfect+%282%29 |accessdate=Mar. 23, 2010 |work= Discogs |title=Perfect (2) Discography After playing a number of shows, they were soon signed to Medium Cool Records by label head Peter Jesperson, who was also an old manager of The Replacements, were they began recording for a debut Extended play|EP to some critical acclaim.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r238014|pure_url=yes|title=When Squirrels Play Chicken > Overview|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=Mar. 30, 2010
In 1997 the group entered the studio with producer Jim Dickinson to produce their debut album, tentatively titled Seven Days a Week . Despite completing the album, it was shelved by Regency Pictures, who had acquired Medium Cool distributors Restless Records , which led to the group's eventual breakup in 1998.
In 2004, a remixed and resequenced version of Seven Days a Week , retitled Once, Twice, Three Times a Maybe , was released by Rykodisc ,cite web|url= http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/67h15.html|title=INTERVIEW: Tommy Stinson|publisher= In Music We Trust |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010 which was, much like the EP, well received.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r708714|pure_url=yes|title=Once, Twice, Three Times a Maybe > Overview|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=Mar. 30, 2010
Guns N' Roses (1998& ndash;present)
Main|Guns N' RosesAlso in 1998, Stinson joined Guns N' Roses , and he has been their bass player ever since. His bass playing is featured prominently on the track '' Oh My God (Guns N' Roses song)|Oh My God , featured on the soundtrack to the movie End of Days (film)|End Of Days , as well as their long-delayed Chinese Democracy album which was eventually released in 2008.
On November 24, 2006 at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena , Axl Rose called the Eagles of Death Metal (one of Guns N' Roses' opening acts) the "Pigeons of Shit Metal." Jesse Hughes (musician)|Jesse Hughes , the Eagles of Death Metal's lead singer, told the New Musical Express that Stinson took his bass off and threw it on the floor saying "Fuck you, that's it" and threatened to leave the band.cite news | url= http://www.nme.com/news/eagles-of-death-metal/25270 | title=Eagles of Death Metal Lash Out at Guns and Roses | publisher= NME | date=November 29, 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-11-18 Stinson did not leave Guns N' Roses; however, the Eagles of Death Metal were fired from the tour. On December 2, 2006, Stinson issued a statement reading, in part: "Eagles of Death Metal were a suggestion of mine a while ago. Turns out they were the wrong band for our crowd. They were booed and did not play for as long as they were scheduled to. ... In the past I have thrown my bass. I have never thrown it at Axl or anyone else in the band nor has anyone thrown my bass back at me... yet. Axl has been a dear friend to me for nine years. We have no problem communicating and wish that people would stay the fuck out of shit they don't know anything about."cite news | url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=63200 | title=GUNS N' ROSES Bassist: We Are 'Getting Along Better Than We Ever Have'| date=December 2, 2006 | publisher= Blabbermouth.net|Blabbermouth | accessdate = 2006-11-18
During the ongoing Chinese Democracy world tour, Tommy plays several punk songs during his solo spot, such as Sonic Reducer by The Dead Boys , and My Generation by The Who .
First Solo Album (2004)
Main|Village Gorilla HeadStinson began writing what would become Village Gorilla Head in the late 90's,cite web|url= http://www.staticmultimedia.com/music/features/feature_1100465956|title=Tommy Stinson: A Rock N Roll Legend|publisher= Static Multimedia |date=Jan. 18, 2005 and after Black Francis|Frank Black , of the Pixies , gave Stinson the use of his mobile recording studio and his studio space for free he began recording in 2003 with Philip Broussard who co-produced the album.
Stinson played most of the instruments on the album, with the exception of drums, but featured contributions by Guns N' Roses band mates Richard Fortus and Dizzy Reed , who contributed guitars and keyboards respectively,cite web|url= http://www.blender.com/guide/new/52382/village-gorilla-head.html|title=Village Gorilla Head|publisher= Blender (magazine)|Blender |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010 along with drummers Gersh, who played with Stinson in Perfect (American band)|Perfect , and Josh Freese , who was also previously a member of Guns N' Roses, as well as Josh's brother Jason Freese|Jason , who provided saxophone, and Dave Philips, also of Perfect, providing guitar and pedal steel. The album was released on Jul 27, 2004 to positive reviews from music critics.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r700647|pure_url=yes|title=Village Gorilla Head > Overview|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010cite web |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tommystinson/albums/album/6377712/review/6391243/village_gorilla_head |work= Rolling Stone |accessdate=Mar. 29, 2010 |title=Tommy Stinson: Village Gorilla Head
For the tour supporting the album, Stinson enlisted Alien Crime Syndicate to be his support act during the tour as well as his backing band during the shows.cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=24281 |work= Blabbermouth |date=June 30, 2004 |title=GUNS N' ROSES Bassist To Tour With ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE
Soul Asylum (2005& ndash;present)
Main|Soul AsylumIn the fall of 2005, Tommy joined Soul Asylum for a few gigs in tribute to Karl Mueller . Stinson and Dave Pirner (founding member of Soul Asylum) were friends in high school in Minneapolis, MN.cite web|url= http://www.staticmultimedia.com/music/features/feature_1100465956|title=Tommy Stinson: A Rock N Roll Legend|publisher= Bass Player (magazine)|Bassplayer.com |date=Mar 12, 2009 He also helped finish the rest of the recording for the album The Silver Lining (Soul Asylum album)|The Silver Lining released in 2006. He is now a permanent member and continues to write and tour with them.
One Man Mutiny (2011)
In May 2011, Stinson announced the release of his second solo album, "One Man Mutiny," on August 30, 2011. Described as his most fully realized work in both production quality and craftsmanship of song, Tommy will release the album on his own and play sporadic dates across the country with Pete Donnelly from The Figgs , Tim Schweiger, and Jon Phillip from Limbeck .
In May 2011 Tommy played three shows in the Midwest; Milwaukee, WI on the 19th; First Aveune Mainroom in Minneapolis on the 20th (Where he was joined onstage by local Minneapolis frontman Dave Pirner of Soul Aslyum for the encore. With Dave smashing guitars before Tommy plays a cover of Teenage Kicks. The last song of the night a cover of The Who's My Generation with Pirner taking a shot on vocals) and at The Double Door In Chicago on the 21st.
Gear
On stage with Guns N' Roses, Stinson uses a lineup of ESP Vintage-4 basses (with the P/J pickup configuration) in different colors, all of which are equipped with EMG PJ-Set pickups. An exception to this is the song "Better", during which he uses a Fender Jaguar bass. For live amplification he uses two Ampeg Heritage B-15 reissues that are situated at the rear of the stage facing away, only one of them being mic'd. In the studio, it is unclear what basses he has used for individual tracks, but he has admitted to using a Gibson Thunderbird Bass on the title track of "Chinese Democracy". As of 2011 Stinson is endorsing ESP guitar co. Notably using the ESP Vintage-4 with EMG PJ-Set pickups.
Stinson has stated that all his basses have EMG pickups, saying that "they give him a lot of growl and grit when they hit the preamp of an SVT." During recording, Stinson has used SWR amps, a Matchless combo and DI. Early live shows during his tenure with Guns N' Roses featured the SWR amps, but Stinson soon realized that it wasn't suitable for their situation (apparently, it was deemed too loud to be used at full capacity). Since then, he has been using the Ampeg Heritage B-15 Reissue 1x15 combo with a few Ampeg 8x10 cabinets for low-end.cite news | url= http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp? id=2066 | title=Tommy Stinson Bass Player Magazine Interview | date=March 19, 2009 | first= | last= | accessdate =
EMG lists Stinson as a user of their PJ Set Pickups on their website.
s-startincumbent succession box| title= Guns N' Roses bass guitarist| before= Duff McKagan | start=1998| s-endTommy StinsonGuns N' RosesReplacementsSoul Asylum Persondata | NAME =Stinson, Tommy | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =October 6, 1966 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Stinson, Tommy Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:American rock bass guitarists Category:People from Minneapolis, Minnesota Category:Musicians from Minnesota Category:The Replacements members Category:Guns N' Roses members Category:American heavy metal bass guitarists
