Power-Pop Icon Alex Chilton of Big Star Dies at 59
Alex Chilton, who topped the charts as a teen with the Box Tops and later became a cult hero with Big Star, died Wednesday. He was 59. Chilton died at a hospital in New Orleans after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems, said his longtime friend John Fry. Fry said Chilton's wife, Laura, was very distressed by the unexpected death.
"Alex was an amazingly talented person, not just as a musician and vocalist and a songwriter, but he was intelligent and well read and interested in a wide number of music genres," said Fry, the owner of Memphis-based Ardent Studios.
Listen to His Best-Known Songs:
As the teenage singer for the pop-soul outfit the Box Tops, Chilton topped the charts with the band's song 'The Letter' in 1967. Their other hits were 'Soul Deep' and 'Cry Like a Baby.' Chilton grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and formed the band with friends from school.
His short run with Big Star brought less mainstream success but made him a cult hero to other rock musicians, as evidenced by the title of the 1987 Replacements song, 'Alex Chilton.' Big Star's three 1970s albums all earned spots on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest.
Chilton said in a 1987 interview with The Associated Press that he didn't mind flying under the radar with Big Star and later as a solo artist.
"What would be ideal would be to make a ton of money and have nobody know about you," he said. "Fame has a lot of baggage to carry around. I wouldn't want to be like Bruce Springsteen. I don't need that much money and wouldn't want to have 20 bodyguards following me."
"If I did become really popular, the critics probably wouldn't like me all that much," he said. "They like to root for the underdog."
Chilton had been scheduled to perform with Big Star on Saturday at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.
"Alex Chilton always messed with your head, charming and amazing you while doing so. His gift for melody was second to none, yet he frequently seemed in disdain of that gift," the festival's creative director, Brent Gulke, said in an e-mail.
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Big Star was quite a band...they influenced everyone from the Replacements to Cheap Trick (probably why the latter was tapped to cover "In the Street" for "That 70's Show" - yep, the theme song is an old Alex Chilton number).
Too bad he never got the credit he deserved. Big Star was one of those bands that only musicians and a few eclectic souls (or their lucky friends) knew about, but if you knew them you loved them.
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Big Star never had the success of the Box Tops.
Gonna miss Alex. Made some real good music, but now gets to sit in with the greatest band of them all.
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...you are an idiot.....
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This is ironic. I had heard Alex had expired during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. I'm glad that proved untrue, but am sad his death is now confirmed. While serving in the Army shortly before being deployed to Vietnam, I used to proudly tell my buddies The Box Tops were from Memphis where I now live. Wow, we can now all "Cry Like A Baby".
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I knew Alex and loved him in a very strange emotional way. He was a wonderful musician and a cherished friend. I will miss him all the days of my life.
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I'm saddened, but not surprised. Alex lived a hard life.
Man! So sorry to see him go. Now he and Big Star's Chris Bell can make beautiful music together in the sky.
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My heart goes out to his wife and family all through i did not know of him but it is a tragic when you lose some one that you hold so close and dear to your heart. I wish his family nothing but a speedy recovering of his death although you never get over something like this when it is so sudden may god protect them from the seen an unseen things of this world. god bless
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I was lucky enough to see him 20 years ago. "The Letter" is a great song in in under 2 minutes,
but Big Star, wow, if you don't know them you should. What a great band well ahead of their time
with beautiful and thoughtful songs that still stand up to what's going on today. Thanks, Alex.
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the letter, one of the greatest songs of all time rip alex
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This is very sad news, I honestly can't believe he's gone. Just got into Big Star recently and I can say that they are one of the greatest bands of all time. Never had much success, but they wrote some of the best songs in the world. Gonna miss this guy. RIP, Alex.
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#1 Record is and will always be my favorite album of all time. Alex will be missed by those close and those who heard his voice exit the speakers of their stereos and touch something inside them. Those songs changed my life and I'm sure many others as well. Thanks, Alex.
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My first exposure to Big Star was his song, "Thank You Friends." It's one I always close a party on.
A great loss, but a life well lived and a legacy anyone would be proud of.
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What a Sad day for the music industry, Alex was so under rated but huge in the music scene. I was lucky enough to see him perform solo in the Bay Area about 20 years ago. He was a huge influence on other bands and will be sorely missed.
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I was sad to hear this news today. Alex, Big Star and The Box Tops have been favorites of mine since I first heard them back in high school twenty years ago.
We'll miss you Alex, you left too soon.
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Britney , is just fine she is NOT going to kill her self so get off of her , and leach off of somone else . NOT FOR MARKETING PROFITABILITY.
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Big Star was quite simply one of the most influential bands in rock 'n' roll history. Their three albums are fantastic, & anyone who hasn't checked them out should absolutely do so. R.I.P.- Alex, & now you can jam again with Chris Bell......
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its really sad that a man with great music died and i heard of him through one of my friends and loved his songs and he had a firm dedication to music...may his soul rest in peace...
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i am so sorry to here that!
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