TD: The loss of an Indie Legend, Alex Chilton

 Goodbye Alex

As I sit here in my dorm room waiting for Michigan State to I'm going to reflect on the late Alex Chilton. Pat Taylor would certainly post something about Chilton and since he's in the African bush, I thought I'd fill the void. Chilton, the lead singer of the 70s rock band Big Star, is often considered amongst musicians as the king of "indie." And as this blog is mostly made up of counter culture yuppies I thought you folks would appreciate a little praise for a lesser known classic rock icon.

Chilton did solo work after Big Star and was in a pop band, Box Tops, before Big Star's formation in '71. His unique voice and melancholy lyrics make him an influence on several musicians including the late Elliott Smith and REM. He was considered a media recluse, unwilling to do interviews or appear in public throughout his years post Big Star. He was known amongst those who knew him as being blunt but charming, in a very southern way (he hailed form Memphis, TE). The bands' three albums in the 1970s were a definitive example of Big Star's short but influential stamp on rock music. They were set to reunite for a performance at South by Southwest which is currently happening in Austin as we speak.

It's too bad that he passed at only 59, just days before their show. The music world won't forget the voice of Chilton and I suggest, if you aren't familiar with Big Star's music, you download/youtube a couple songs in his passing honor. "Thirteen" and "Nighttime" are two of my personal favorites but they have many gems.

That being said, I hope everyone is having a wonderful time in their world travels. Those back at Loyola, enjoy the beautiful weather Baltimore's having.

That's all for now.

Taylor