R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

From Pitchfork:

Crushing news today from the Memphis Commercial Appeal: Alex Chilton, the legendary singer, songwriter, and performer who created music with the Box Tops, Big Star, and as a solo artist, died today. Chilton was in New Orleans and was scheduled to play in Austin this weekend with the reunited Big Star as part of SXSW. According to the paper, he complained of feeling ill and was taken by paramedic to the hospital. Cause of death has not been confirmed, but the Commercial Appeal reports that it is believed to be a heart attack. Chilton was 59. We'll update with further details when available.

http://pitchfork.com/news/38212-alex-chilton-rip/

This really sucks. Just last week, I was listening to # 1 Record while driving home from work. I pulled into the driveway just as "Thirteen" was starting. I sat in the car until it was over. Thanks, Alex.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

Sad news. Those first 3 Big Star albums are among my favorite albums of all time. RIP.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

I love the Replacements song, but can't say I'm familiar with the Big Star stuff.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

If you love the Replacements, you need to familiarize yourself with Big Star. Chilton is one of the most underappreciated songwriters of all time.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

Wow, that is awful....what a bummer. :(

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

This has just totally ruined my day. I've loved Alex Chilton ever since that Replacements song -- yep -- turned me on to Big Star back in the early 1990s. Too young to die, and man, it sucks.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

Sad news.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

This is the first time I remember a DVDTalk thread title making me gasp. Horrific news.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

:( x 1,000,000

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

I thought he died back in the '70s. I always confuse him with Tim Buckley for some reason.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

:(

December boys got it bad.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

R.I.P.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTSJYZyouek

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

Totally shocked. He went way too soon.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

RIP alex....thanks for everything.

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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BNKSs1J38EA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BNKSs1J38EA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="385"></embed></object>

and for the lazy...
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Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!! Ever since I got that two-fer of their first two albums on one CD back in 1991 I have been nothing but a huge fan of his music. I had heard the third album before with some of those amazingly weird and wonderful songs, but didn't know how incredible his pop side was before hearing the first two albums. To me, he is the king of power pop. Knowing that he was still touring and playing Big Star tunes makes this even sadder. Heartbreaking news.

Anyone who enjoys classic rock, The Beatles and tunes with melody and heart should definitely check out this fantastic deal:

http://www.amazon.com/1-Record-Radio...8902817&sr=8-3

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

also for the vinyl hounds....#1 record and radio city are both available on amazon for around $14 a piece:

#1 record - http://www.amazon.com/1-Record-Big-Star/dp/B001WIH17O/
radio city - http://www.amazon.com/Radio-City-Big...dp/B001WIH1FQ/

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

One of my favorite videos of all time. And one of the few videos of Alex performing in his early days (admittedly in a rather toasted condition). For some reason there is no video footage of the 70's Big Star performing. A sad day for music.

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Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

Sorry to hear. RIP Alex.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

probably because they weren't on any tv shows (at least that I'm aware of) there's this though:

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and these

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4lJgDL11lUk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4lJgDL11lUk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FM4xro6MAFA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FM4xro6MAFA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7Tgwr6tEES8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7Tgwr6tEES8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

Here's Big Star in 1993 performing my favorite one of their tunes:

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

No offense to Alex but that's an awful perfomance of that great great song.

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

The recording was lousy, but I thought the performance was fine.

Here's the studio version:

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

I gasped when I opened the thread about Corey Haim.

They say these things happen in "Three's." Corey Haim...Alex Chilton...and...?

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

oh, wait. It DID happen in three's, but this way:

Corey Haim...Peter Graves (no pun intended there)...and...Alex Chilton.
:(
:(

Re: R.I.P. Alex Chilton
 

:( Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round :(