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Alex Chilton, Rock Musician, Dies By DAVE ITZKOFF Alex Chilton of the rock band Big Star performed at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple last November. Chad Batka for The New York Times Alex Chilton of the rock band Big Star performed at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple last November.
Alex Chilton, the mercurial if influential rock musician, whose work spanned an eclectic gamut from the soul songs of the Box Tops to the multiple incarnations of his pop band Big Star, has died, The Commercial Appeal of Memphis reported. He was 59. The cause of death is believed to have been a heart attack.
The Commercial Appeal said that Mr. Chilton, who lived in New Orleans, had recently been complaining of health problems, and was taken on Wednesday by paramedics to an emergency room in New Orleans where he was pronounced dead. His death was confirmed to the Commercial Appeal by Jody Stephens, his longtime band mate in Big Star. The group was scheduled to perform on Saturday at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin.
Mr. Chilton, who grew up in Memphis, was just 16 years old when the Box Tops, in which he sang and played guitar, had a No. 1 hit with “The Letter” in 1967. When that group broke up in 1970, Mr. Chilton formed Big Star with Mr. Stephens, a drummer, and the musicians Chris Bell and Andy Hummel. The band’s first album, “#1 Record,” in 1972, did not come close to fulfilling the commercial promise of its title, nor did the followup releases “Radio City” and “Third/Sister Lovers.” But their music – gentle and introspective songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo” and “September Gurls,” and exuberant anthems like “In the Street” – had a profound impact on generations of pop and indie acts that followed.
Perhaps the surest measure of the tug that Mr. Chilton exerted on subsequent artists can be found in the lyrics of the Replacements – another malleable rock act that moved more hearts than retail units – who sang in their song “Alex Chilton”: “Children by the million / Sing for Alex Chilton / When he comes ’round / They sing, ‘I’m in love / What’s that song? / I’m in love wit
Post by ziggyandthemonkeys on Mar 18, 2010 4:18:10 GMT -5
Damn, seems like a ton of people are dying this past year. This is yet another loss. For those unfamiliar with his work he wrote and performed what became the theme song for That 70's Show as a member of Big Star.
Damn, seems like a ton of people are dying this past year. This is yet another loss. For those unfamiliar with his work he wrote and performed what became the theme song for That 70's Show as a member of Big Star.
Your right Ziggy. Jim Carroll, Alex Chilton two giants who had an impact on today's culture and being under recognized.
Yeah, living in Memphis, I got to see Alex a number of times with the Box Tops & Big Star. Big Star were supposed to play at the Levitt Shell in May, too. Truly a huge loss for the music world. RIP Mr. Chilton.
RIP Alex. This has had me bummed out all day. Big Star have become one of my favorite bands in the past few years. He was such a brilliant musician, really had a fantastic vision. All I can do now is try to spread the magic of Big Star and let the legacy live on. About a week ago I'd stumbled into a tiny little record store in Madison, WI and saw #1 record on vinyl and I just had to pick it up.. I don't even have a record player, I just wanted to have it... haha.
And personally, I think Ballad of el Goodo slightly edges out Thirteen for my favorite Big Star song, but its a close call.