It was sadly announced yesterday that cult rock star Alex Chilton had passed away. The singer and guitarist was best known for his involvement with band Big Star and had built up quite a following during the course of his career. He is actually acknowledged as one of the most underrated musicians to have ever lived. Chilton died in a New Orleans hospital following heart problems.
Chilton started out in the music industry at the tender age of 16. At the time, he was the singer in pop-soul band The Box Tops. It was with the band that he first achieved the number one spot in 1967 with “The Letter”. He went on to have several hits with the band before moving on and forming Big Star with Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel in 1971. Although he did not achieve the degree of success he deserved commercially during his time with Big Star and as a solo star, the cult following that emerged from it certainly guaranteed that he would end up a legend.
Since his death, tributes to Chilton have been pouring out, many of which have come directly from some of the biggest stars in music. Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream paid the following tribute to his hero: “Even if he’d only ever produced the first Cramps album, he’d still be one of my rock ‘n’ roll heroes. But he did a lot more than that. He just made so many great records, and they were crazy rock ‘n’ roll records. But they were also art records and beautiful records, mournful records, sad records, joyous records. What I’m trying to say is that Alex Chilton was one of the greats.”
The music industry is a much better place as a result of Chilton’s presence and influence over the years and so he will be remembered. Rest in peace.
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