I was really sad to hear that Alex Chilton passed away yesterday. He was a guitar genius and an excellent songwriter. He sang with the Box Tops in the ’60s when he was a teenager:
His power-pop band Big Star released three albums in the ’70s (one of their songs was even covered by Cheap Trick and used as the theme for That ’70s Show!) If you watch only one of these videos, watch this footage of Big Star recording their 1971 album #1 Record.
“Thirteen” – everyone loves this song, and everyone has covered it (Elliott Smith, Wilco, Mary Lou Lord, Garbage).
And one more, because this song rules: The Replacements – “Alex Chilton”. Just like Paul Westerberg, I never travel far without a little Big Star.
So so sad. I have many fond memories of seeing Alex at the Antenna Club in Memphis during the late seventies and early eighties, when he was either just hanging out or playing with the Panther Burns. Good times. We’ve lost a piece of Memphis history. RIP Mr. Chilton.
Wow, I am envious. It’s such a shame – and right before Big Star’s performance at SXSW, too.
Thanks, I hadn’t heard. Worthy of a moment of silence (with some Box Tops and Big Star in the background.
I’m so sad. I played on the same bill with Alex a few times in the mid eighties. I absolutely worshipped his work with Big Star. I even danced my “wedding dance” with my first wife to the song Thirteen. So sad. The world lost a big heart…. we need all the heart we can get….
Listening to the Big Star box set at work this afternoon and the demo version of “Thank You Friends” came up. I almost lost it. Chilton and Bell were vulnerable searchers who always seemed to be cognizant of their faults and mortality.
Without Alex and Big Star, so many other folks would never have been inspired to form their own bands.
I was a huge fan of Teenage Fanclub and the Glasgow guitar scene back in the late 80s, and discovered Big Star through them.
Many thanks for all you did, Alex. Your music will live forever.
R.I.P.
Really sad news. I heard about it this morning and it is now just sinking in.
I’ve loved Chilton’s music since back when I used to play guitar in bands as a teenager–almost twenty years ago.
You left us too soon Alex, we’ll miss you.
I echo your sadness. I share the path to Chilton of AlexH – via Teenage Fanclub. He was a thrill to find (especially the Big Star debut), and a shame to lose…
And you’ve made great video choices…
A sad day for rock. His longevity always impressed me… from the Box Tops through Big Star and onto his solo work…
Oh, that’s so sad! I’ve been a fan for a long time.
Tragic. He got so little recognition for the contribution he made, but he never seemed overtly bitter. In it’s own way, “The Letter” was as influential a pop song as “Stairway to Heaven” or “Free Bird” were to their genres. All of them sure made a lot of people want to be in a band.
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