Alex Chilton passed away

[pepperbear]

The world has lost a genius.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031704456.html?hpid=artslot

For those not familiar, Alex Chilton was a member of the box tops (the letter, cry like a baby), who then formed Big Star with members of Icewater (including the late Chris Bell). starting in 1972, Big Star produced 3 albums that are considered landmark recordings. They didn't fare very well in their day. However, influential 80s and 90s bands began to sing their praises. alex was still performing with big star not too long ago. If you watch THAT 70s show, the theme is a cover of their song IN THE STREET.


THE BOXTOPS-the letter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD9mCp8SifM&feature=fvst

BIG STAR-13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pte3Jg-2Ax4

BIG STAR-in the street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx6XeBhZETg

BIG STAR-watch the sunrise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQqmnhSLOUQ

BIG STAR-ballad of el goodo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn1t6l7UUPc

BIG STAR-september gurls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNKSs1J38EA

BIG STAR-back of a car

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsPKKuQmJJQ



that's alex, right foreground. chris bell is next to him with the moustache. the other 2 members are jody stevens and andy hummel.

[miscsoc]

1. people need to listen to holocaust

by big star. best song about failure/depression! listen to it after you mess things up; you'll feel worse but will nod in appreciation at the same time because it's a tour de fuckin force of self pity/self hate and a work of art

son volt did a cover which i like as well and did really bring out some possibilities of the song, but the original's better on balance.

edit: here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQ977u8Wuk&feature=related

[Mojambo]

2. Bigger musical loss than Michael Jackson, IMHO. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

4. Make sure you mention that during his memorial okay?

:eyes:

[Mojambo]

5. It's an opinion. Get over it. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

6. And what a nice way to honor him.

I gave you my opinion on your opinion so get over that.

[Mojambo]

7. How is it not?

By saying that I consider his loss even greater than that of MJ in a musical sense.

Considering that most people consider Jackson one of the all-time greats I think that my saying that Chilton meant more (in MY opinion) is pretty high praise.

What is it that the cult of MJ finds so objectionable here?

[tonysam]

3. I love The Box Tops.

Chilton was "only" 59 years old, which means he was barely out of diapers when he became famous over forty years ago. He was like Steve Winwood or Peter Noone; they also started in rock music and hit fame very, very young.

A nice tribute is on the LAT music blog.

[mascarax]

8. "Beyond the Box Tops" - Alex op ed by Paul Westerberg

HOW does one react to the death of one’s mentor? My mind instantly slammed down the inner trouble-door that guards against all thought, emotion, sadness. Survival mode. Rock guitar players are all dead men walking. It’s only a matter of time, I tell myself as I finger my calluses. Those who fail to click with the world and society at large find safe haven in music — to sing, write songs, create, perform. Each an active art in itself that offers no promise of success, let alone happiness.

Yet success shone early on Alex Chilton, as the 16-year-old soulful singer of the hit-making Box Tops. Possessing more talent than necessary, he tired as a very young man of playing the game — touring, performing at state fairs, etc. So he returned home to Memphis. Focusing on his pop writing and his rock guitar skills, he formed the group Big Star with Chris Bell. Now he had creative control, and his versatility shone bright. Beautiful melodies, heart-wrenching lyrics: “I’m in Love with a Girl,” “September Gurls.”

Read the rest at link: www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21westerberg.html