Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Alex Chilton 1950-2010

Total downer.

I would have never heard of Alex Chilton if it hadn't been for Paul Westerberg. Chilton and his band Big Star were a bit before my time, but when Westy said that "children by the million sing for Alex Chilton," I paid attention. No Alex Chilton = no Paul Westerberg = Rockstar Aimz.

Chilton passed away tonight (3/17) from an apparent heart attack, as reported in the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

The best thing that I ever read about Alex Chilton was written by Chuck Prophet on Prophet's blog. I bet you got a little choked up by the end of it.

Big Star - When My Baby's Beside Me.mp3
Big Star - I'm in Love With a Girl.mp3
Buy: #1 Record/Radio City (1972/1974, reissued 2009)

Alex Chilton - Let Me Get Close to You.mp3
Buy: High Priest/Black List (1987/1990, reissued double album 2004)
The Replacements - Alex Chilton.mp3
Buy: Pleased to Meet Me (1987, reissued 2008)

2 comments:

simon2307 said...

A great shame indeed.
Thanks for the reminder on the Chuck Prophet article - says it all.

Ryan Export said...

Just got around to reading this. Great article. If you haven't already, you should check out this Westerberg one for the NY Times. Pretty heartwarming.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21westerberg.html