Damnit… he was only 59… why?
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/18/obit.alex.chilton/index.html?hpt=T2
RIP Alex
Another one of my musical heroes is gone…
Wow!
One of the more overlooked acts in rock imo. The Boxtops where just a terrific band. I never really got into his later stuff. I’ll have to check it out.
"Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane…:
All day today man…
[i]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 with that song.[/i]I never travel far, without a little Big Star
The Replacements - Alex Chilton
and
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/popcandy/post/2010/03/rip-alex-chilton/1
[quote=“casstommy, post:2, topic:22799”]Wow!
One of the more overlooked acts in rock imo. The Boxtops where just a terrific band. I never really got into his later stuff. I’ll have to check it out.
"Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane…:[/quote]
Big Star are one of the most influential bands of the last 30 years. Cheap Trick, REM, The Replacements, Matthew Sweet, The Lemonheads/Evan Dando, The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Elliott Smith (thirteen), Jeff Buckley (Kanga Roo), Wilco (thirteen)… hell even Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz has said they are his favorite band of all time…
The theme song from That 70’s Show was Cheap Trick covering Big Star’s In the Street.
Definitely, definitely pickup that double album above Cass, and if you like it pickup Third/Sisters, Lovers and the Keep an Eye on the Sky box set that came out just last year.
September Gurls, Thirteen and The Ballad of El Goodoo are three of the best pop songs ever written. They’re amazing. Also, please listen to Chris Bell’s (also of Big Star) “I am the Cosmos” and “Speed of Sound”. Also wonderful.
The man’s passing gets Congressional mention:
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/03/18/alex-chilton-house-of-representatives-pays-tribute/
Below are thoughts from some of the artists touched by Chilton’s music, in addition to words from other friends and admirers. We’ll continue to add to this as more come in.
Ardent Studios owner John Fry: "It’s obvious to anybody that listens to his live performances or his body of recorded work, his tremendous talent as a vocalist and songwriter and instrumentalist."
Big Star’s Andy Hummel: "I hope people really understand and appreciate what a brilliant musician the guy was… He should be remembered in that way. He was really a creative genius, always testing the limits."
R.E.M.'s Mike Mills: "Alex Chilton’s music was a big part of my life and a huge influence on R.E.M. He will live on for us through all the great music he made."
The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg: "In my opinion, Alex was the most talented triple threat musician out of Memphis — and that’s saying a ton. His versatility at soulful singing, pop rock songwriting, master of the folk idiom, and his delving into the avant garde, goes without equal. He was also a hell of a guitar player and a great guy."
The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn: "As many people will and won’t admit, the Replacements turned me on to Alex Chilton. It wasn’t the song, though. ‘Nowhere is My Home’ is a song he produced for the Replacements on the Tim sessions, and I saw that as a kid and went and bought one of his solo records, and then worked backwards and found Big Star. I’m a huge fan. He’s one of my favorite guys."
Islands’ Nick Thorburn: "My first time with Alex Chilton was when my then roommate, @seripop_chloe, played me his “Bangkok”. I dug. RIP."
Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood: "[Big Star] should have been next to the Beatles and the Stones in popularity as well as influence. A lot of it sounded like it came from Britain or something, although you couldn’t deny the southern soulfulness of it, too. That’s what made it so great. It combined that pop sensibility that came over with the British invasion with that southern soul and grittiness. That’s the key. It’s like the Beatles with booty."
Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor: "RIP Alex Chilton, just heard. Everyone here very sad. Here he is covering “Alligator Man”."
Kristin Hersh: "baby wyatt used to dance to big star in the french quarter…r.i.p. alex chilton"
The Flaming Lips’ Steve Drozd: "I’ll always have “Blue Moon” by Big Star to warm my heart and make me cry. RIP Alex Chilton"
Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie: “He just made so many great records, and they were crazy rock ‘n’ roll records. But they were also art records and beautiful records, mournful records, sad records, joyous records. What I’m trying to say is that Alex Chilton was one of the greats.”
Sleater-Kinney/NPR’s Carrie Brownstein: "Musicians and fans have always passed around Big Star songs and albums like a secret handshake. When you found out someone hadn’t heard #1 Record or Radio City, you were so excited to provide that missing link, to pass on all the glimmer, the jangly guitar, the big chords, the melodies, the American anthems that let you keep your teenage self – for some of us long since faded – close, etched upon your skin. And suddenly, you realized that every great band or musician you love also loved Alex Chilton and Big Star."
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) on the House floor: "He wanted to play music, and he did it. And he did it his own way: independent. Iconoclastic. Innovative."
SXSW creative director Brent Gulke: "Alex Chilton always messed with your head, charming and amazing you while doing so. His gift for melody was second to none, yet he frequently seemed in disdain of that gift."
Former owner of Antenna club Steve McGehee: “He changed music. There’s no other way to say it. It’s just true.”
Videos from the SXSW tribute to Alex have been posted. They are both really good and very sad. Here are some of my favorites:
The Ballad of El Goodo (Big Star) Jon Auer & Sondre Lerche- 3-20-2010 SXSW
Evan Dando “Nighttime” - Big Star Tribute
I knew I remember this from somewhere.
I was playing grand theft auto a couple days ago and there is a character in the game named ‘Alex Chilton’. Your supposed to date her, but I ran her over by accident. But I saw the nme and I couldn’t remember where I had seen it before…
You killed Alex Chilton Gill - you bastard!