Alex Chilton, RIP

[steverok]

What a loss, I love Big Star.

[steverok]

Very sad. An absolute legend in my eyes.

[wmthor]

RIP Alex

[jingle_jangle]

OMG!!! Man, that's terrible...a sad good-bye to one of pop's unique raw voices.

I remember when the rumors were circulating that he went missing in Katrina...when he resurfaced, I celebrated by buying a few more of his albums...

RIP, Alex.

Addendum: I don't know if this is going to translate or not, but I'll try...

Years ago, one of the music magazines (Rolling Stone? Guitar Player?) used to commission art that was inspired by album lyrics. As you'd expect, some were good, some terrible.

One really snagged my attention: It showed a scene in twilight, with 1/3 grey sky above and 2/3 black, flat plain below. A blue airfield marker light told you that it was a runway at an anonymous airport. In the middle ground was a pale pink rectangle, resting on the runway. Upon closer inspection, you could see that it was an empty envelope, with the flap open.

That's all. Try to picture this in your mind's eye, as I am now.

The title: "The Letter".

I tore this out of the magazine and kept it in my files for at least 20 years. It's probably still there, somewhere.

[cestlamort]

Really, really sad. A unique and complex artist voice.



I only listened to Chilton's work far after it was new (thanks to the foibles of time, age, and era), but that didn't lessen my admiration for him or his work.

Taking a line from the DJ on KEXP last night, I first heard him through This Mortal Coil, which dates me to an extent. But it made the process of discovery all the more interesting. The Posies' obsession with Big Star just inspired me more.

There was an interesting discussion of Big Star and interview with Jody Stevens on Sound Opinions a few months back:
http://www.soundopinions.org/shownotes/ ... notes.html

[jingle_jangle]

Terry Gross ("Fresh Air") will air an interview with Alex tomorrow in her usual broadcast.

My favorite work of Alex's, aside from the early Box Tops stuff (how can you NOT sing along with "The Letter"?), is some of his NY stuff from the late '70s. "Bangkok" and "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" are my fave tracks from that period.

Supposedly he was a huge Roger McGuinn fan, too...

[octagon]

Certainly the end of an era. Very sad.


One of my favs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAtb65Z_bkA

I wonder how many people who watch "That 70's Show" know that Alex Chilton wrote that song?

[wayang]

Boy, I sure didn't...thanks, Mitch. I always loved that tune, and wondered who the genius was who was able to parody 70's rock that completely. Well, now we know, and it makes perfect sense.

[robbo63]

I wasn't really familiar with Alex Chilton, but in the 1980s I was vaguely aware of him and Big Star. I saw him play at the old 9:30 Club in DC, it was a great show, and when they started playing "The Letter", I was floored to realize this was the guy who sang that familiar song that I knew from my 1960's childhood.

[1a12]

I wonder how many people who watch "That 70's Show" know that Alex Chilton wrote that song?

Im gonna have to go for about 8%.

I wonder if Alex liked the version??

I remember standing below him cranking out that "In the Street" lick with that tobacco ES 135 and a deluxe reverb....floored me.

[batchainpuller]

Very sad news indeed. Third/Sister Lovers had a profound impact on me in my formative years. Still does, for that matter. RIP.

[octagon]

Op-Ed in the NYT:

Beyond the Box Tops

By PAUL WESTERBERG
Published: March 20, 2010


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.”

On Big Star’s masterpiece third album, Alex sang my favorite song of his, “Nighttime” — a haunting and gorgeous ballad that I will forever associate with my floor-sleeping days in New York. Strangely, the desperation in the line “I hate it here, get me out of here” made me, of all things, happy. He went on to produce more artistic, challenging records. One equipped with the take-it-or-leave-it — no, excuse me, with the take-it-like-I-make-it — title “Like Flies on Sherbert.” The man had a sense of humor, believe me.

It was some years back, the last time I saw Alex Chilton. We miraculously bumped into each other one autumn evening in New York, he in a Memphis Minnie T-shirt, with take-out Thai, en route to his hotel. He invited me along to watch the World Series on TV, and I immediately discarded whatever flimsy obligation I may have had. We watched baseball, talked and laughed, especially about his current residence — he was living in, get this, a tent in Tennessee.

Because we were musicians, our talk inevitably turned toward women, and Al, ever the Southern gentleman, was having a hard time between bites communicating to me the difficulty in ... you see, the difficulty in (me taking my last swig that didn’t end up on the wall, as I boldly supplied the punch line) “... in asking a young lady if she’d like to come back to your tent?” We both darn near died there in a fit of laughter.

Yeah, December boys got it bad, as “September Gurls” notes. The great Alex Chilton is gone — folk troubadour, blues shouter, master singer, songwriter and guitarist. Someone should write a tune about him. Then again, nah, that would be impossible. Or just plain stupid.

Paul Westerberg, a musician, was the lead singer of the Replacements.

[steverok]

Wow this is awesome. Paul W always had a sense of humor, and a heart.

[sloop_john_b]

Great write-up by Westerberg. I've been listening to pretty much nothing but Big Star this week.

[steverok]

Thought I'd share this version of "Nighttime" I did last night. I feel like I owe this guy for the rest of my life. Check it out, I hope you like it, Steve.