I was totally shocked to hear about his death today. Our plane had just touched down in Indy and I saw this news come through my Twitter feed. A heart attack, 59, New Orleans.
I first heard Big Star when I was 19 which was about 1991. My buddy and bandmate and the time, Doug Shawhan, played a worn out cassette of "Third/Sister Lovers". He played Big Black Car, Holocaust, Dream Lover... I was hooked. It sounded like a realization of what the Velvet Underground had hinted at. It was incredibly sad and beautiful music. Big Black Car haunted me. A rare song that perfectly married the lyrics to the music. You could see a post fame, disillusioned Chilton driving in this huge black car around Memphis, probably a little stoned and medicated, pulling off to stay at a hotel for no real reason. It was thick and beautiful. That album changed the way I thought about music. Few albums ever do that.
I got sucked in deep. Picked up both available CDs including the double CD comp of their first two records "#1 Record" and "Radio City".
I studied the crystal clear pop of "#1 Record" and obsessed over Chilton's track Thirteen which still stands as an unparalleled classic. It is the rare perfect song and perfect recording. Many have covered it but no-one has surpassed the original.
Then I really got into "Radio City". To this day I still claim that as my favorite album, my island record. "What's Going Ahn" and "Daisy Glaze" changed how I thought about songwriting. I listened to "Oh My Soul" over and over, it was like a wonderful song puzzle. The guitar sounds on that record sound almost 3-D at times. No-one made a Strat ring & sing like Alex Chilton. He was a masterful guitarist and underrated I think. I would take Chilton over a Clapton or other "big name" guys anytime.
I met Chilton a couple times in the early to mid 90s. First time he was on tour with the Box Tops. In reality he may have been the only original member. It was at a fair in Mishawaka, Indiana. I was still living in South Bend, the summer before living in Bloomington so it must have been 1992. It was hard to see him in that arena of corn dogs and 40 something Hoosiers waiting for "The Letter". I snuck backstage, if you can call a loosely roped off area that, and introduced myself. I was a fawning fan boy at first but then told him something like "I didn't come for the Box Tops, I'm a Big Star fan. When is that going to happen again?" He kinda perked up and said some stuff about "well it's me and Jody now and I don't, we might be doing something soon." I know my conversation was not reason he started playing those songs again or restarted Big Star but I like to think it was part of a growing chorus that eventually led to him returning to that material and, unfortunately, trying to write some new material under the name. (not a fan of "In Space", noble but failed effort)
The second time I met him was at Second Story when he played there around 1994-5. By then Big Star had gotten together again for a couple gigs (with the Posies) and the wheels were in motion. He played a mixed set of Big Star, solo and cover tunes. He was really good. Strat running into a small Fender amp. No effects. Three piece band I think.
Although his output in recent years was often questionable at best he was still an amazing live performer. He only had the golden muse for a few years but he made good use of it. He changed my life for the better and I'm sure many of you feel the same way. He will be missed. RIP Alex.
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