Tommy Stinson
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson (born October 6, 1966) is an American
musician
best known for his work as the bassist
for The Replacements and Guns N' Roses
as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop
, where he performed guitar duties, and 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, and the subsequent tour in 2006.
, and drummer Chris Mars
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. After being banned from the venue for disorderly behaviour, they changed their name to The Replacements.
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 EP
, Stink
, following in 1982. 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, 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". 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
, Cleveland
and Philadelphia, but their intended destination was New York City
, where they played at Gerde's Folk City
and Maxwell's
.
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
, 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 with their first major-label release being the Tim
album, produced by 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
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
, 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'.
in 1992 with drummer Steve Foley
being added to the group, also formerly of The Replacements, along with his brother Kevin on bass 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, Wire Train
's Jeff Trott as well as other musicians Greg Leisz
, Brian McCloud, Phil Jones and Tommy Steel with the album being released in January 1993, through 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 soundtrack
, released in 1994, to the movie Clerks
however the group disbanded later in 1994.
by label head Peter Jesperson, who was also an old manager of The Replacements, were they began recording for a debut EP
to some critical acclaim.
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
, which was, much like the EP, well received.
, and he has been their bass player ever since. His bass playing is featured prominently on the track Oh My God, featured on the soundtrack to the movie 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
, 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. 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."
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
.
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, along with drummers Gersh, who played with Stinson in Perfect
, and Josh Freese
, who was also previously a member of Guns N' Roses, as well as Josh's brother 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.
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.
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. He also helped finish the rest of the recording for the album The Silver Lining released in 2006. He is now a permanent member and continues to write and tour with them.
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.
EMG lists Stinson as a user of their PJ Set Pickups on their website.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
best known for his work as the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for The Replacements and Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop
Bash & Pop
Bash & Pop were an American alternative rock group formed in 1992 by Tommy Stinson in Minneapolis, Minnesota following the breakup of previous group, The Replacements...
, where he performed guitar duties, and Perfect
Perfect (American band)
Perfect were an American alternative rock group formed in 1995 by Tommy Stinson, formerly of The Replacements, in Minneapolis, Minnesota following the breakup of previous group, Bash & Pop...
. He released his debut solo album, Village Gorilla Head
Village Gorilla Head
Village Gorilla Head is the debut album by Guns N' Roses and former The Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson released on Jul 27, 2004 through Sanctuary Records...
in 2004 and also joined Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
for the completion of their album, The Silver Lining, and the subsequent tour in 2006.
The Replacements (1979–1991)
After beginning to learn the bass at the age of 11, Stinson began playing and covering songs with his brother, Bob StinsonBob Stinson
For the baseball player, see Bob Stinson Bob Stinson was the founding member and lead guitarist for the American rock band The Replacements.-The Replacements:...
, and drummer Chris Mars
Chris Mars
Chris Mars is an American artist and musician. He was the drummer for seminal Minneapolis, Minnesota alternative rock band The Replacements and later joined informal supergroup Golden Smog before launching a solo career. He is also a painter, and has more or less left music behind to concentrate...
under the name "Dogbreath" without a singer. After recruiting singer Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg is an American musician, best known as the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s. He launched a solo career after the dissolution of that band...
, Dogbreath changed their name to The Impediments and played a drunken performance, without Tommy, at a church hall gig in June 1980. After being banned from the venue for disorderly behaviour, they changed their name to The Replacements.
After signing to Twin/Tone Records
Twin/Tone Records
Twin/Tone Records was a record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that operated from 1977 until 1994 and helped several local groups receive national attention. The label was born from the Minneapolis punk rock music scene, which included venues like Jay's Longhorn Bar. The label was begun by...
, 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
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take out the Trash
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash is the first studio album by the American punk rock band The Replacements. It was released on August 25, 1981.A considered album title was "Powertrash"....
, in 1981 with an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Stink
Stink (album)
Stink is an EP by the band The Replacements, recorded at Blackberry Way, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 13, 1982, and released on June 24, 1982 ....
, following in 1982. 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, in April 1983. Hootenanny was played on over two hundred radio stations across the country, with critics acclaiming the album; The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
deemed it "the most critically independent album of 1983". 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
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and Philadelphia, but their intended destination was New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where they played at Gerde's Folk City
Gerde's Folk City
Gerdes Folk City was a music venue in the West Village in New York City. Initially opened as a restaurant called Gerdes, by owner Mike Porco, it eventually began to present occasional incidental music. It was located at 11 West 4th Street , having moved in 1970 to 130 West 3rd Street before finally...
and Maxwell's
Maxwell's
Maxwell's is a music club in Hoboken, New Jersey that also has a restaurant. The intimate venue often attracts a wide variety of acts looking for a change from the New York City concert spaces across the river.-History:...
.
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
Let It Be (Replacements album)
Let It Be is the third studio album from the American rock band The Replacements, released in October 1984 on Twin/Tone Records. By 1983's Hootenanny, the band had grown tired of playing loud and fast exclusively and decided to write songs that were, according to vocalist Paul Westerberg, "a little...
, released in October 1984. A live album, The Shit Hits the Fans
The Shit Hits the Fans
The Shit Hits the Fans is a Twin/Tone Records cassette-only live album by The Replacements which was released January 25, 1985. It was recorded live at The Bowery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on November 11th, 1984. Cassette J-Card Cover Art by Chris Mars. According to the Twin/Tone website, 10,000...
, was released in 1985.
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
subsidiary Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
, eventually signed The Replacements with their first major-label release being the Tim
Tim (album)
Tim is an album released in October 1985 on Sire Records by the alternative rock band The Replacements. It was their first major label release...
album, produced by Tommy Erdelyi
Tommy Ramone
Tommy Ramone, also known as Thomas Erdelyi , is a Hungarian American record producer and musician...
, 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
Pleased to Meet Me
Pleased to Meet Me is the sixth full-length album by The Replacements. It was released on July 7, 1987 .The album to some degree maintains the style of the previous album, and major label debut, Tim...
, released in 1987, recorded in Memphis with producer Jim Dickinson
Jim Dickinson
James Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
. Guitarist Slim Dunlap
Slim Dunlap
Bob "Slim" Dunlap is an American rock musician. He is a Minnesota-based guitarist and singer-songwriter who is best known for replacing The Replacements's original lead guitarist, Bob Stinson in 1987...
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
Don't Tell a Soul
Don't Tell a Soul is an album released in 1989 by The Replacements.The album was a stylistic change from their previous albums. Where Tim and Pleased to Meet Me could be classified as alternative or punk, this album was more of a straightforward rock album. Reviewers noted the music's more mature...
, in 1989, which featured the song "I'll Be You
I'll Be You
"I'll Be You" was the lead single from The Replacements' seventh studio album Don't Tell a Soul in 1989 and was written by lead singer Paul Westerberg. It became the band's first and only Billboard Hot 100 appearance, peaking at #51 and reaching the top of both the album rock and modern rock...
", which topped Billboard's Modern Rock chart. Following a disastrous tour opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
, Westerberg recorded a new album largely with session musicians but was persuaded to release it as a Replacements album. All Shook Down
All Shook Down
All Shook Down is the final album by the band The Replacements, released on September 25, 1990 .This album was originally intended to be band leader Paul Westerberg's solo artist debut. As a result of its initial intent, All Shook Down is marked by numerous session, side and journeyman-musicians,...
, 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
Steve Foley (drummer)
Steven Foley was an American drummer who played for Curtiss A, Things That Fall Down, The Replacements, Bash & Pop, Wheelo and several other bands in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He played live for the most part but he recorded with songwriter Peter Lack and he appears in a Replacements video, "When It...
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
Taste of Chicago
The Taste of Chicago is the world's largest food festival, held annually for ten days in Grant Park, in Chicago starting the Friday before the 4th of July and ending the Sunday after . The event is the largest festival in Chicago...
performance in Grant Park
Grant Park (Chicago)
Grant Park, with between the downtown Chicago Loop and Lake Michigan, offers many different attractions in its large open space. The park is generally flat. It is also crossed by large boulevards and even a bed of sunken railroad tracks...
, 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
WXRT
WXRT, also known as WXRT 93.1, XRT, and 93-XRT is a AAA radio station in Chicago, Illinois. For many years their slogan has been "Chicago's Finest Rock". WXRT is a primary sponsor of the Chicago nonprofit Rock For Kids.-History:...
.
In December 2005, he reunited with his surviving Replacements bandmates Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg is an American musician, best known as the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s. He launched a solo career after the dissolution of that band...
and original drummer Chris Mars
Chris Mars
Chris Mars is an American artist and musician. He was the drummer for seminal Minneapolis, Minnesota alternative rock band The Replacements and later joined informal supergroup Golden Smog before launching a solo career. He is also a painter, and has more or less left music behind to concentrate...
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
Open Season
Open Season may refer to:* Open season , a hunting term* An annual enrollment period- Literature :* Open Season , a comic book series by Jim Bricker* Open Season , a 1992 novel in The Hardy Boys series, #59...
, recording bass tracks for 'Love You in the Fall' and 'Right to Arm Bears'.
Bash & Pop (1992–1994)
With a name selected from a contest hosted by New York radio station WDRE, Stinson, on guitar and lead vocals, formed his first post-Replacements group Bash & PopBash & Pop
Bash & Pop were an American alternative rock group formed in 1992 by Tommy Stinson in Minneapolis, Minnesota following the breakup of previous group, The Replacements...
in 1992 with drummer Steve Foley
Steve Foley (drummer)
Steven Foley was an American drummer who played for Curtiss A, Things That Fall Down, The Replacements, Bash & Pop, Wheelo and several other bands in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He played live for the most part but he recorded with songwriter Peter Lack and he appears in a Replacements video, "When It...
being added to the group, also formerly of The Replacements, along with his brother Kevin on bass 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
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
members Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
and Mike Campbell, Wire Train
Wire Train
Wire Train was a United States based group who produced six albums in the 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally formed as the Renegades in April 1983 in San Francisco...
's Jeff Trott as well as other musicians Greg Leisz
Greg Leisz
Greg Leisz is an American multi-instrumentalist, playing lap and pedal steel guitars, guitar, mandolin, and bass.- Biography :Leisz was influenced early on by the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, especially pedal steel player "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow...
, Brian McCloud, Phil Jones and Tommy Steel with the album being released in January 1993, through Sire
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
/Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
, to mainly mixed reviews.
A tour in support followed along with the recording of the track "Making Me Sick" which was included on the soundtrack
Clerks (soundtrack)
Clerks is the 1994 soundtrack album to the film of the same name. The soundtrack features alternative rock songs performed by various artists, as well as audio clips from the film. Famously, the cost of licensing the songs on the soundtrack cost more than the film cost to make.-Track listing:...
, released in 1994, to the movie Clerks
Clerks
Clerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
however the group disbanded later in 1994.
Perfect (1995–1998)
Stinson, switching back to bass, formed Perfect along with the group's guitarists Marc Solomon and Dave Philips as well as drummer Gersh. After playing a number of shows, they were soon signed to Medium Cool RecordsMedium Cool Records
Medium Cool was a United Kingdom independent record label that existed between 1986 and 1989. Specializing in jangly guitar-pop, it released records by bands such as The Raw Herbs, The Siddeleys, The Rain, The Waltones, The Popguns, and The Corn Dollies....
by label head Peter Jesperson, who was also an old manager of The Replacements, were they began recording for a debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
to some critical acclaim.
In 1997 the group entered the studio with producer Jim Dickinson
Jim Dickinson
James Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
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
Restless Records
Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute 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
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
, which was, much like the EP, well received.
Guns N' Roses (1998–present)
Also in 1998, Stinson joined Guns N' RosesGuns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, and he has been their bass player ever since. His bass playing is featured prominently on the track Oh My God, featured on the soundtrack to the movie End Of Days, as well as their long-delayed Chinese Democracy
Chinese Democracy
Chinese Democracy is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released in November 2008 on Geffen Records. It is the band's first studio album since "The Spaghetti Incident?" , released exactly 15 years before Chinese Democracy, and their first album of original studio...
album which was eventually released in 2008.
On November 24, 2006 at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
, Axl Rose called the Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre...
(one of Guns N' Roses' opening acts) the "Pigeons of Shit Metal." Jesse Hughes
Jesse Hughes (musician)
Jesse "The Devil" Hughes is an American musician from Greenville, South Carolina. Hughes is known for his role as frontman of the California-based rock band, Eagles of Death Metal. He cites Little Richard as his biggest musical influence and inspiration.-Early life:At age 7, Hughes' mother, Jo...
, 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. 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."
During the ongoing Chinese Democracy world tour, Tommy plays several punk songs during his solo spot, such as Sonic Reducer
Sonic Reducer
"Sonic Reducer" is a punk rock song written by Gene O'Connor and David Thomas during their tenure in Rocket from the Tombs, which made its debut on the Dead Boys 1977 album Young, Loud and Snotty...
by The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
, and My Generation
My Generation
My Generation is the debut album by the English rock band The Who, released by Brunswick Records in the United Kingdom in December 1965. In the United States it was released by Decca Records as The Who Sings My Generation in April 1966, with a different cover and a slightly altered track...
by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
.
First Solo Album (2004)
Stinson began writing what would become Village Gorilla Head in the late 90's, and after 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
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
band mates Richard Fortus
Richard Fortus
Richard Fortus is a professional guitarist who is most famous for being rhythm guitarist in Guns N' Roses.Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Fortus cut his teeth throughout the Midwest with his band, The Eyes. The four-piece alternative band independently released "Freedom in a Cage", which was...
and Dizzy Reed
Dizzy Reed
Dizzy Reed is a contemporary rock musician, and occasional actor. He is best known for his tenure as the keyboardist & pianist for the rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he has played, toured and recorded since 1990...
, who contributed guitars and keyboards respectively, along with drummers Gersh, who played with Stinson in Perfect
Perfect (American band)
Perfect were an American alternative rock group formed in 1995 by Tommy Stinson, formerly of The Replacements, in Minneapolis, Minnesota following the breakup of previous group, Bash & Pop...
, and Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
, who was also previously a member of Guns N' Roses, as well as Josh's brother Jason
Jason Freese
Jason Freese is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and recording engineer. As a professional studio musician he has performed on over 50 albums by more than 35 different artists, including multiple albums by the Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Jewel, NOFX, and Zebrahead...
, 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.
For the tour supporting the album, Stinson enlisted Alien Crime Syndicate
Alien Crime Syndicate
Alien Crime Syndicate, often abbreviated to ACS, were a rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1997. From 1999 to the band's breakup in 2005, the lineup consisted primarily of Joe Reineke , Jeff Rouse , Nabil Ayers , while guitarists Jason Krevey, Mike Squires and Mike Davis were also...
to be his support act during the tour as well as his backing band during the shows.
Soul Asylum (2005–present)
In the fall of 2005, Tommy joined Soul AsylumSoul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
for a few gigs in tribute to Karl Mueller
Karl Mueller
Karl Mueller was an American rock musician. He was the bass player and a founding member of the Minneapolis Alternative Rock band, Soul Asylum....
. Stinson and Dave Pirner
Dave Pirner
David Anthony "Dave" Pirner is an American songwriter, singer, and producer best known for being the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative rock/grunge band, Soul Asylum.-Biography:...
(founding member of Soul Asylum) were friends in high school in Minneapolis, MN. He also helped finish the rest of the recording for the 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 Mike Gent from The Figgs, Tim Schweiger, and Jon PhillipJon Phillip
Jon Phillip is an American musician, record label CEO, and whiskey connoisseur. He is perhaps best known as the drummer for the now-defunct California-based twangy rock band Limbeck...
from Limbeck
Limbeck
Limbeck was an alternative country band, with pop-punk roots, hailing from Orange County, California.-Background:Originating in Laguna Niguel, California, Limbeck featured Robb MacLean on lead vocals and guitar, Patrick Carrie guitar and backing vocals, Justin Entsminger on bass, and Jon Phillip,...
.
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 prominently uses a Fender Precision Bass Special (with the P/J pickup configuration). An exception to this is the song "Better", during which he uses a Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray, citing its "growl" as the right sound for that particular track. 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". Stinson has also 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 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 reissue B-15 1x15 combo with a few Ampeg 8x10 cabinets for low-end.EMG lists Stinson as a user of their PJ Set Pickups on their website.
with The Replacements
- Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the TrashSorry Ma, Forgot to Take out the TrashSorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash is the first studio album by the American punk rock band The Replacements. It was released on August 25, 1981.A considered album title was "Powertrash"....
(1981) - StinkStink (album)Stink is an EP by the band The Replacements, recorded at Blackberry Way, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 13, 1982, and released on June 24, 1982 ....
(1982) - Hootenanny (1983)
- Let It Be (1984)
- TimTim (album)Tim is an album released in October 1985 on Sire Records by the alternative rock band The Replacements. It was their first major label release...
(1985) - Pleased to Meet MePleased to Meet MePleased to Meet Me is the sixth full-length album by The Replacements. It was released on July 7, 1987 .The album to some degree maintains the style of the previous album, and major label debut, Tim...
(1987) - Don't Tell a SoulDon't Tell a SoulDon't Tell a Soul is an album released in 1989 by The Replacements.The album was a stylistic change from their previous albums. Where Tim and Pleased to Meet Me could be classified as alternative or punk, this album was more of a straightforward rock album. Reviewers noted the music's more mature...
(1989) - All Shook DownAll Shook DownAll Shook Down is the final album by the band The Replacements, released on September 25, 1990 .This album was originally intended to be band leader Paul Westerberg's solo artist debut. As a result of its initial intent, All Shook Down is marked by numerous session, side and journeyman-musicians,...
(1990)
with Perfect
- When Squirrels Play Chicken EP (1996)
- Once, Twice, Three Times a Maybe (2004)
Other appearances
| Year | Title | Artist | Record Label | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Clerks: Music from the Motion Picture Clerks (soundtrack) Clerks is the 1994 soundtrack album to the film of the same name. The soundtrack features alternative rock songs performed by various artists, as well as audio clips from the film. Famously, the cost of licensing the songs on the soundtrack cost more than the film cost to make.-Track listing:... |
Various Artists | Sony Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
Bash & Pop track "Making Me Sick" |
| 1998 | It's All about the Benjamins (Rock Remix) It's All about the Benjamins "It's All About the Benjamins" is the fourth single released from the Puff Daddy album No Way Out. The song is about living one's lifestyle as if one were rich, and the importance of being seen to have money. "Benjamins" are slang for $100 bills , a reference to Benjamin Franklin's image on the bills... |
Puff Daddy Sean Combs Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally... |
Bad Boy Bad Boy Records Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:... |
Bass |
| 1999 | End Of Days | Various Artists | Geffen Geffen Records Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:... |
Guns N' Roses track Oh My God |
| 2001 | Like a Butterfly 'cept Different Like a Butterfly 'cept Different Like a butterfly 'cept Different is an EP by the American alternative rock band MOTH.-Track listing:CD One# I See Sound – 3:10# Hearing Things – 3:17# Cocaine Star – 2:39# Burning Down My Sanity – 4:08CD Two# Stuff – 3:29... |
MOTH Moth (band) Moth is a U.S. alternative rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio formed in 1989. The band has released five albums including a major label release on Virgin Records. They have done live performances on The Late Late Show, AOL, and Mancow's Morning Madhouse, numerous national tours and a UK tour... |
Virgin Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... |
Bass |
| 2002 | Provisions, Fiction and Gear Provisions, Fiction and Gear Provisions, Fiction and Gear is the third album and major label debut by the American alternative rock band MOTH.-Track listing:# I See Sound – 3:10# Thinkin' Please – 3:36# Hearing Things – 3:17# Burning Down My Sanity – 4:08... |
MOTH | Virgin | Bass |
| 2006 | Catch and Release | Various Artists | Sony | Producer with BT BT (musician) Brian Wayne Transeau is a classically trained and Grammy-nominated American music producer, composer, audio technician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter better known by his stage name, BT. He is an artist in the electronic genre... - Original Soundtrack |
| 2006 | Catch and Release | with BT BT (musician) Brian Wayne Transeau is a classically trained and Grammy-nominated American music producer, composer, audio technician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter better known by his stage name, BT. He is an artist in the electronic genre... |
Varèse Sarabande | Original Score |
| 2008 | Unfurled | Bobot Adrenaline Bobot Adrenaline Formed in 2001, Bobot Adrenaline is a Los Angeles political rock band with punk aggressions, featuring Pepper Berry from now defunct Buck.After five songs released on several Geykido Comet Records compilations the band went into the studio and recorded their debut EP, Unfurled, in 2007... |
Geykido Comet Geykido Comet Records Geykido Comet Records began as a small and humble bedroom operation in 1998 seeing the first release in January 1999: Intro5pect 7-inch EP "Education".... |
Producer |
| 2010 | Dumb Bomb | Bobot Adrenaline | Basement Records | Producer (on three tracks) |