Alex Chilton, Musician And Producer, Dies At 59
by Stephen Thompson
Some sad news in the midst of South by Southwest's opening night: The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., is reporting the death of Big Star frontman Alex Chilton. Chilton, 59, died at a New Orleans hospital Wednesday after complaining of an illness earlier in the day.
UPDATE: Chilton was mowing the lawn when he suffered a heart attack, according to his widow, Laura Chilton. He showed no symptoms prior to collapsing. A full autopsy is pending.
A reconfigured Big Star -- with Chilton, original drummer Jody Stephens, and Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies -- was scheduled to perform at SXSW Saturday night. (Original guitarist and songwriter Chris Bell died in a 1979 automobile accident, while original bassist Andy Hummel left after Radio City.)
While still in his teens, Chilton -- who relocated to New Orleans in the 1980s after a lifetime in Memphis -- became a hitmaker as lead singer of The Box Tops. He later helped form Big Star, whose power-pop sound made it a major influence on countless bands in the '70s and beyond; The Replacements immortalized Chilton's name in the 1987 single "Alex Chilton," while Big Star's albums #1 Record (1972), Radio City (1974), and Third/Sister Lovers (recorded in 1974 and released in 1978) are common entries on critics' lists of the greatest albums in rock 'n' roll history. Last year, Rhino released a box set, Keep an Eye on the Sky, for which Big Star received a fresh round of critical adulation.
Though he was best known for his work with Big Star, he was most proud of his solo work and for being the producer for The Cramps. According to Laura Chilton, Alex liked certain Big Star songs, but "he could care less about the whole Big Star thing." Laura Chilton also said that he loved playing with The Box Tops.
Later in life, he turned his attention to classical guitar, and specifically Baroque music. His widow, a flutist with whom he frequently duetted, said it comprised most of his recent listening.
We'll have more tributes to Chilton in the days to come.
Tom Cole contributed to this report.
9:46 PM ET | 03-17-2010 | permalink
comments (11) | Recommend (20)
Comments
Edd Hurt (Eddhurt) wrote:
Yeah, the coverage of Chilton, like so much of the "entertainment reporting" these days, is so superficial. Not the above, so much. But, you got a fact wrong, Mr. Thompson: Chris Bell died on Dec. 27, 1978 in Memphis, not in 1979. That was the day before Chilton's 28th birthday. I think it's a sad culture that goes ape over the death of Michael Jackson and doesn't recognize the contributions of Chilton or another Memphis great who died last year, sometime Chilton collaborator Jim Dickinson.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 6:14:03 PM
Carlos R Pastrana (singlemalttheory) wrote:
Clarifying my previous post, and addressing what a later poster wrote about it, it is well-known that Chilton and Chris Bell, at the outset of Big Star, really thought they would become rich and famous. Even after Bell left after the first album, Chilton clearly harbored commercial aspirations for the second album, "Radio City". The third album clearly shows a man who is disappointed and frustrated in the inverse correlation between his music's quality and his commercial and financial fortunes. The fact of the matter is that Stax dropped the ball big time in marketing and distributing Big Star's music and that that fact scarred Bell, Chilton and even Andy Hummell, who quit after the second album.
Though Chilton's fate is a far cry from, say, Vic Chesnutt's, I do find it incredibly disappointing that his death is getting zero coverage from the mainstream press, in spite of the fact that, any way you slice it, he was a legend and a huuuuuuugely influential artist.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 1:05:10 PM
Mark Cooley (Lachi) wrote:
Alex was easily one of the greatest musical discoveries of my life. That first Big Star cassette that a friend made for me was played hundreds of times, and even 20 years later with no working cassette deck, I still couldn't throw it away. The only time I saw Alex in concert was in 1985 when he opened for The Replacements. I had no idea who he was and I was slightly curious as to why the notoriously wild Replacements all left the bar and watched Alex play with rapt attention. A year later The 'Mats released "Pleased To Meet Me" with the homage "Alex Chilton". That friend heard it and in turn, had to induct me into the cult of Big Star. I have followed Alex's work ever since. I was overjoyed years later when Ken and John from the Posies join Alex and Jody to reform Big Star. I always thought I'd have an opportunity to see them play. I'm absolutely crushed today.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 12:11:23 PM
Kristin Ray (daytripper_27) wrote:
I'm so sad about this. I only discovered the music of Big Star and Alex Chilton about seven years ago due to the death (and discovery) of another great artist...Mr. Elliott Smith. Hope they are somewhere making some beautiful music together...the world is a more beautiful place because they were here.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 12:00:26 PM
Tim Page (RevPage) wrote:
I do think it is sad that he died. But I didn't really no of him. I recognise a couple of his songs. But another guy commented that its so sad that relatively few will moarn him. But if another main stream Celebs the earth would shatter. Its because he wasn't as well knowen because he didn't put him self in the spot light regularly like a lot of the untalented celebs do. He must have been good enough that he didn't need the extra attention.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 11:17:54 AM
adam elesh (pfundt) wrote:
I first discovered Alex Chilton's music through covers of his work in Big Star by artists on the 4AD label out of Britain. 2 of these covers "Kangaroo" and "Siren Song" were favorites until I heard his original versions years later. Simply amazing. I play his originals now; the covers languish on my shelves. Rest in Peace Alex Chilton.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:58:01 AM
Cherri Brown (cherribrown) wrote:
The less publicized persons are sometimes the ones we remember the most, and Alex Chilton was one of those persons whose contributions I will never forget.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:26:13 AM
Damian Griffin (Damianbx) wrote:
Please ask the NPR hourly to stop playing the letter and referring to Mr. Chilton as though that was his biggest contribution. This article would be a much better intro to the news, maybe playing "Big Star" or even "Paradise"
Thank you,
DamianThursday, March 18, 2010 8:12:59 AM
Carlos R Pastrana (singlemalttheory) wrote:
My feelings exactly, Nick.
So sad that so relatively few of us will mourn him, while the Earth would shake if any of today's ridiculous and untalented pseudo-celebrities died.
RIP.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 7:49:02 AM
Lifestrand net (lifestrand) wrote:
Memorial for Alex Chilton. Express your memories
http://lifestrand.net/alex_chilton
Thursday, March 18, 2010 5:02:37 AM
Add a Comment
Please note that all comments must adhere to the NPR.org discussion rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Register
Posted via web from DOGMEAT
