Alex Chilton, the singer and guitarist with cult band Big Star has died, aged 59. Chilton passed away in hospital in New Orleans after apparently suffering heart problems yesterday, a family friend has confirmed.
After performing in the Box Tops and having the hit song The Letter as a teenager, Chilton formed Big Star in 1971 with co-songwriter and guitarist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel and drummer Jody Stephens.
Whilst they never found mass commercial success, their infectious brand of jangley heavily melodic guitar pop, sometimes contrasted with darker subject matter, has had a lasting musical legacy, with bands as diverse as R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, The Replacements, Wilco and Elliott Smith all citing them as a major influence.
They disbanded in 1974 after the tumultuous sessions that produced their third album titled both Third and/or Sister Lovers upon it's subsequent release in 1978. Chilton re-formed a version of Big Star (minus the late Chris Bell and featuring two of The Posies) in the early '90s and in 2005 a new album entitled In Space was released.
Chilton also assisted The Cramps early on, producing their debut record Songs The Lord Taught Us. He had been scheduled to perform at SXSW 2010 this coming weekend. He is survived by his wife, Laura and son Timothy.
Do you have any Big Star or Alex Chilton memories? Leave them below in the comments.
A Big Star primer:
A beginner's guide to Big Star, from the bright, thrashing, teenage years evoking pop sound of September Gurls, to the picking tender ballad Thirteen, slow building Ballad Of El Goodo and the polished but dark Holocaust.
September Gurls
Thirteen
The Ballad of El Goodo
Holocaust
12:50 PM | 18/03/2010
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LEGEND,ICONIC + GENIUS...TNX FOR THE MUSIC ALEX...GODSPEED.
[alex chilton isn't in the ROCK'N'ROLL HALL OF FAME !!!].
Posted by haris.kavadias,athens,greece at 10:45 PM | 18/03/2010 | Report Abuse
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