Beloved Indie Rock Musician, Inspiration for the Replacements' Alt-Rock Anthem 'Left of the Dial,' Dies

Lynn Blakey, who played in the bands Let's Active, Oh-OK and Tres Chicas, has died in her early 60s.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 5:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lynn Blakely, an indie rock musician who played with Let's Active, Oh-OK and Tres Chicas, has died. Her cause of death wasn't immediately known. In 2025, she was fighting a recurrence of cancer. Blakely inspired The Replacements' college rock anthem 'Left of the Dial' about Paul Westerberg's infatuation with her.

Why it matters

Blakely was a beloved figure in the indie rock scene of the 1980s, and her influence on the Replacements' classic song 'Left of the Dial' cemented her legacy as an important figure in alternative music history. Her passing is a loss for the music community.

The details

Blakely returned to college in 2024 to pursue a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, where she had attended three decades earlier before leaving to join the band Let's Active. Last March, Blakely's friends in the band the dB's posted on Instagram that her cancer had returned, and they shared a link to a GoFundMe to raise money for her treatment.

  • In 2025, Blakely was fighting a recurrence of cancer.
  • In 2024, Blakely returned to the University of North Carolina, Greensboro to pursue a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies.
  • Last March, Blakely's friends in the band the dB's posted on Instagram that her cancer had returned.

The players

Lynn Blakey

An indie rock musician who played with the bands Let's Active, Oh-OK and Tres Chicas.

Paul Westerberg

The lead singer of the band The Replacements, who wrote the song 'Left of the Dial' about his infatuation with Blakey.

Bob Mehr

The author of the acclaimed book 'Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements', who reported the news of Blakey's death on social media.

Lynda Stipe

The sister of R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, who played in the band Oh-OK with Blakey.

Ecki Heins

Blakey's husband, who had also been diagnosed with colon cancer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“On one level 'Left of the Dial' celebrated the '80s American indie scene and paid tribute to the tiny-watt college stations at the far end of the FM dial, where the Replacements got most of their airplay. But it was also a love song, an evocation of Paul Westerberg's infatuation with Blakey.”

— Bob Mehr, Author of 'Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements'

“I think Paul decided he had a crush on me.”

— Lynn Blakey

“I was in love with the idea of being in love with her. I used that to pine with.”

— Paul Westerberg

“The song is about that first year of Paul and I meeting and hitting it off and logistically it not working out.”

— Lynn Blakey

“If I don't see ya in a long, long while/I'll try to find you, left of the dial.”

— Paul Westerberg

The takeaway

Blakey's passing is a significant loss for the indie rock community, as she was a beloved figure who inspired one of the Replacements' most iconic songs. Her influence and legacy will continue to be felt in the music she created and the artists she inspired.