October 4, 2012 9:06

The Replacements reunite for covers EP

Four-song record released to help pay guitarist Slim Dunlap's medical bills

The Replacements' Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson have reunited to record a four-song EP to help pay guitarist Slim Dunlap's medical bills.

The singer and bassist of the US punk band spent a day in a Minneapolis studio late last month to cut four cover songs that will be released as a limited-edition 10-inch vinyl, reports Rolling Stone.

250 copies of the EP will be auctioned online and the proceeds will be donated to Slim Dunlap, The Replacements' guitarist from 1987 to 1991, who had a severe stroke in February this year.

However, it has been reported original Replacements' drummer Chris Mars has played no part in the reunion, as Westerberg explained: "(Chris) didn't want any part of this. I was not surprised but I was a little disappointed."

Mars has been replaced Peter Anderson on drums and Kevin Bowe (who toured with Westerberg on his last solo album) plays guitar on the EP. The band recorded Dunlap's 'Busted Up', 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' from the Broadway musical Gypsy, Gordon Lightfoot's 1965 song 'I'm Not Sayin' and 'Lost Highway' by Hank Williams.

Speaking about whether the one-day reunion has sparked interest for a proper reformation tour and album, Westerberg teased: "It's possible. After playing with Tommy last week, I was thinking, 'All right, let's crank it up and knock out a record like this'. I'm closer to it now than I was two years ago, let's say that."

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