Alex Chilton dead at 59
Written by admin on March 18, 2010 – 11:20 am - |
American singer and guitarist Alex Chilton has sadly died in New Orleans aged 59.
Chilton died yesterday (Wednesday March 17th) at the emergency room after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems, according to longtime friend and business associate John Fry. |
| Alex Chilton was best known for his work with the Box Tops and Big Star. In 1967, at just 16-years-old, Memphis-born Chilton topped the charts with the Box Tops’s track “The Letter.” And what a voice for 16! “The Letter” was recorded at Chips Moman’s “American” recording studio in Memphis, which produced a string of classic hits in the 1960s. |  |
The Box Top’s other main hits were “Soul Deep” and “Cry Like a Baby.” The band split up in 1970.
Box Tops – The Letter
Although less commercially successful than the Box Tops’ material, Chilton’s work with Big Star was critically acclaimed. All three of their albums are on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 500 greatest albums of all time. Big Star split in 1975.
Big Star – September Gurls
Chilton moved to New York in 1977 and performed as “Alex Chilton and the Cossacks.” In 1978, he released the solo single “Bangkok.” In this period, Chilton was altering both his performance style and recording style, with a move towards a looser, punk style and away from multi-layered pop.
 |
In 1979, Chilton formed Panther Burns with Tav Falco. He was less up front with Panther Burns, taking on the role of guitar sideman. He continued touring with the band over the next few years, as well as working on solo projects, such as the 1982 “Live in London” LP. |
Chilton stopped performing with the Panther Burns in 1984 and formed a trio with Memphis jazz drummer Doug Garrison and Panther Burns’ bassist René Coman. By this time he was living in New Orleans and had again modified his style; blending soul, jazz, country, rockabilly and pop. The trio released an EP in 1985 called “Feudalist Tarts” and another in 1986 called “No Sex.”
| From the late 1980s and through the 1990s, Chilton toured and recorded as a solo artist, with interesting and varied results, including an album of jazz standards called “Cliches.”
The last 15 years of Chilton’s life was spent touring and recording with the reunited Box Tops. There was also work with a new version of Big Star, which produced a 2005 album called “In Space.” |
 |
Although Alex Chilton reached his commercial peak as a teenager, he had a loyal following and influenced many artists, including Counting Crows, Jeff Buckley, Cheap Trick, Garbage, Graham Coxon and The Replacements, who wrote the song “Alex Chilton” as a tribute to him.
 |
Just last year, Big Star released “Keep An Eye On The Sky,” which is a comprehensive four-disc box set of demos, alternate takes, live songs and rarities.
The set features 98 tracks recorded between 1968 and 1975. |
Rest in peace Alex Chilton.
Tags: Alex Chilton, Big Star, Box Top
Posted in American Rock, Obituaries |
