The alternative world is going to be mourning this week/year/ etc.


http://blogs.houstonpress...ton_of.php

Breaking News: Alex Chilton Of Big Star Dies In New Orleans
By Katharine Shilcutt, Wednesday, Mar. 17 2010 @ 8:54PM
Comments (2)
Categories: This Just In

BigStar.jpg
​Alex Chilton, the influential and undeniably odd yet talented musician who fronted the Box Tops and later Big Star, has died in New Orleans at the age of 59. Originally from Memphis, Chilton was wildly prolific from his initial days as a 1960s teen idol and through the 1970s while he fronted Big Star. He embarked on a solo career after Big Star broke up in 1974, but never found the same commercial success as he'd previously experienced.

Nevertheless, Chilton's work with Big Star pioneered a darker, grittier sound that ushered in the still-active alternative rock scene beginning in the 1980s. From Rolling Stone to REM, Chilton was held up as one of the most important figures in modern music, with a legacy and body of work that is relevant and influential to this day.

Chilton was expected to reunite with Big Star on Saturday night, when the band was scheduled to close out the showcase at Antone's at 12:30 a.m. SXSW organizers referred to the rare show as one of the most "sought-after...performances around the world."

At this time, cause of death is unknown. Speculation is that Chilton, who had been feeling ill in the past few days, died of a heart attack.

Just saw this news and had to come here to pay my respects. I'm bummed by the news, but I knew the org would remember.

RIP Alex.


[Edited 3/17/10 23:51pm]

Stax said:

Prince really complimented the guitar sound on this track back on the Dirty Mind album.
Very sad news. There are not too many people as influential as him in the music world.

[Edited 3/18/10 6:50am]

That makes me very sad.

very sad indeed. Alex Chilton was amazing.

MendesCity said:

Agreed. Just posted this on a dupe thread.

I was first introduced to him through a Jeff Buckley cover of Kanga-roo. Defintiely an original guy.

bummer, I'm a huge Big Star fan, but this is the song most people will remember

Such an under-appreciated band, except for by their fans, of course

Of course The Replacements had a fantastic song called Alex Chilton!

Damn, he made great music... The Letter still holds up....
[Edited 3/18/10 20:28pm]

Rest in paradise/peace...

I first heard of Big Star when the Bangles covered "September Gurls" on their album Different Light. I loved the song and had to find out who Alex Chilton was. I bought #1 Record and Radio City (A double CD) then Third/Sister Lovers and Chris Bell's solo I Am the Cosmos. All terrific albums I would highly recommend to anyone. In a just world Alex Chilton would have been as healthy and wealthy as Paul McCartney. He was certainly as talented. We'll miss you Alex.

On the Big Star original of "September Gurls", Alex Chilton of course sings from a male point of view. On the Bangles version, Michael Steele (a female) changes the gender and one line. Both are interesting and excellent songs.
[Edited 3/20/10 13:48pm]