R.I.P. ALEX CHILTON – Former BIG STAR Legend Passed Away 15 Year Ago

18 March 2025

American rock-pop legend ALEX CHILTON started his career in the mid-60s.
As a teenager he fronted a band called The Box Tops who scored a No. 1 in
the US in 1967 with their cover of asong called The Letter.

Afterward, Chilton formed the highly influential band
BIG STAR (1971–1975, 1993–2010) and released also
solo work now and then.

He passed away 15 years ago following a heart
attack, on 17 March 2010, aged 59. R.I.P.

TUTV picked 3 big tracks
to remember the genuine
singer-songwriter.

– THE LETTER –

No. 1 hit with
The Box Tops
1967

– THIRTEEN –

Best known Big Star song.
More than 52 million streams
on Spotify.

– BANGKOK –

His first ever solo single.
It came out in 1978.
Stellar stroke.

ALEX CHILTON: Biography

UNCUT Magazine – New Issue With Cover Star JIMI HENDRIX And Free ‘BIG STAR’ CD

17 August 2024

This month British glossy music magazine UNCUT visits some of the music JIMI HENDRIX made in his final creative outpouring and digs into his fecund, if ultimately tragic, 1970.

Also news about Gillian Welch, Neil Young, Fontaines D.C., John Mayall RIP, Yes, Jack White, Chris Bell, Nick Cave, Mercury Rev, Thurston Moore, Lone Justice, Paul Heaton, Cass McCombs, Brown Horse and more!

FREE CD
A 10-track one with BIG STAR
(the late Alex Chilton‘s band).
Tracklist here.

You can order a copy and let it be sent to your home. Info HERE.

A Celebration Of BIG STAR’s ‘#1 RECORD’ Released 50 Years Ago

27 September 2022

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of BIG STAR‘s debut LP #1 RECORD, members of
R.E.M.
(bassist Mike Mills), The DB’S (frontman Chris Stamey), The Posies (drummer
Jon Auer) and Wilco (guitarist/keyboardist Pat Sansone) along with Big Star‘s original drummer Jody Stephens will play the album in full (plus other Big Star gems) on
a short tour.

Big Star was fronted by the late great Alex Chilton,
who passed away in 2010, only 59.

AllMusic about that debut LP: “The problem with coming in late on an artwork lauded
as ‘influential’ is that you’ve probably encountered the work it influenced first, so its truly innovative qualities are lost. Thus, if you are hearing Big Star’s debut album for the first time decades after its release (as, inevitably, most people must), you may be reminded of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or R.E.M., who came after — that is, if you don’t think of The Byrds and The Beatles circa 1965. What was remarkable about #1 Record in 1972 was that nobody except Big Star (and maybe Badfinger and The Raspberries) wanted to sound like this — simple, light pop with sweet harmonies and jangly guitars.”
Score: 5/5..

Stream #1 Record here…

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BIG STAR: Bio – Discography

(Image Alex Chilton: cover of his ‘No Sex’ album, 1986)

7-Inch History – ALEX CHILTON And BIG STAR 50 Years Ago

Great 7″ vinyls from the past

23 August 2022

Band: BIG STAR (Memphis, Tennessee)
Led by the late great singer/songwriter Alex Chilton (1950-2010)
Active: 1971–1975, 1993–2010 / 4 studio LPs

Last April, 50 years ago, the highly influential/beloved band
released their sublime pop/rock debut album #1Record .

Although Thirtheen is its best known song, it was
rollin’ guitar cracker Don’t Lie To Me that was released
as a single.

STUDIO

LIVE

BIG STAR: Bio – Discography

Here’s KING BLACK ACID With Starry-Eyed Cover Of BIG STAR’s Timeless Pearl… ‘I’M IN LOVE WITH A GIRL’

10 April 2018

DANIEL RIDDLE, a Portland, Oregon based musician/songwriter has been creating music with his band KING BLACK ACID since the late ‘80s. With four studio albums, a multitude of singles and original musical score for productions such as The Mothman Prophecies, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, CSI and revered live performances, King Black Acid gained the status of legend in Portland.

Here’s King Black Acid‘s newest production. A magical cover of I’M IN LOVE WITH A GIRL. An affecting lovey-dovey gem by BIG STAR, the rock ‘n pop cult band formed in the 70s
by the late, great ALEX CHILTON. On first hearing, I was convinced that this starry-eyed version was actually an interpretation by psych junks ‘The Flaming Lips’ as it has that misty fairytale Lips tone, but it’s definitely Riddle‘s sensitive, almost spiritual rendition. Press the button and dream away…

.
Original by cult legends BIG STAR

King Black Acid will release the song (with a The Carpenters
cover on the flip side) as a 7” on bubblegum pink vinyl 27 April.

KING BLACK ACID: Wesbite – Facebook – Twitter