Thread: Alex Chilton RIP

I'm a Big Star fan and an Alex Chilton fan. I saw him a few times live once in a very small bar in Minneapolis. There was something about his music that was hard to pin down or quantify. My wife thinks Big Star is downright awful.

My wife mentioned to me this morning that he had died and I asked her if he died in Memphis. He didn't fulfill the line in the Replacements song "Alex Chilton" at any rate: "If I died in Memphis that'd be cool".

Incidentally, at that small Minneapolis venue I mentioned, someone yelled out a request for him to play "In the Street". Alex was irritated by that and made a comment about how, sure, he could play a song that was written so long ago, etc, or he could play something more interesting. Either at that moment, or sometime shortly after I yelled out a request for the song "What's Your Sign" and he literally went right into that song within seconds. My own personal connection with him.

Chris L

Speaking of That 70's Show - it's weird that when it first came out, the 1970's were only 19 years in the past. Today, "19 years ago" is 1991! Isn't that weiiiiird?

I saw Alex Chilton as few times in years passed as well. He definitely carried a chip on his shoulder in the late 80s to early 90s about being asked to play Big Star tunes when he was still releasing his own new material. But later he reformed a Big Star band (more like a tribute band) with the Posies and I think he started to appreciate more how his fans loved his 70s stuff. The songwriting in those three Big Star albums is incredible.

@BW -- that IS weird. If there was a 'That 90s Show' now, what would the theme tune be? Smells Like Teen Spirit? Give It Away Now? Screamadelica?

Originally Posted by majurey

I saw Alex Chilton as few times in years passed as well. He definitely carried a chip on his shoulder in the late 80s to early 90s about being asked to play Big Star tunes when he was still releasing his own new material. But later he reformed a Big Star band (more like a tribute band) with the Posies and I think he started to appreciate more how his fans loved his 70s stuff. The songwriting in those three Big Star albums is incredible.

@BW -- that IS weird. If there was a 'That 90s Show' now, what would the theme tune be? Smells Like Teen Spirit? Give It Away Now? Screamadelica?

"Live in London" is a great album. I had it on vinyl and sold it on Ebay awhile back. I should have kept it.

A friend of mine has Bach's Bottom on vinyl, a very sloppy but cool album. I wish I had that one since I haven't been in touch with that friend in years.

Chris L

I've got many of his songs on my iPhone. He was great, but definitely before my time(I was born in '83). My Dad was a fan of his and I eventually started to appreciate and listen to the stuff he listens to, such as Donovan, Dylan of course, Beatles, Clapton and loads of others. I probably wouldn't have gotten the chance to hear if not for him listening to it while driving me and friends around before I could drive. Great times...

Originally Posted by ChrisL

"Live in London" is a great album. I had it on vinyl and sold it on Ebay awhile back. I should have kept it.

A friend of mine has Bach's Bottom on vinyl, a very sloppy but cool album. I wish I had that one since I haven't been in touch with that friend in years.

Chris L

I've got both those albums on vinyl! LiL has that unofficial bootleg look to it. I saw him in one of the London gigs at that time, but not the night it was recorded unfortunately.

I also have Like Flies on Sherbert, High Priest, and a few others on vinyl, including an original white vinyl 12" of September Gurls which sounds amazing compared to the CD -- much more base in the vinyl mix.

ChrisL -- if you haven't got them already, I can highly recommend two box sets: the Big Star one and the Ardent Studios one. The latter has some great other similar bands from that time.

Bit of a later comer to his stuff and most certainly before my time, but a great artist none the less. 60 is no age really.