930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: HoyaSaxa03 on March 18, 2010, 09:33:11 am
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This deserves its own thread. Listened to "Watch the Sunrise" this morning on the walk to work, always thought it was on the super-cheesy end of Big Star songs, but it made a lot of sense today.
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You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Ac_rTU62c&feature=player_embedded#
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I'm listening to Disc1 of the boxset at the moment and as usually their stuff just does my head in...
Big Star were a influence in many the bands that have provided the soundtrack to my life.
R.E.M., Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Posies, El Goodo, Elliot Smith, etc.
A musician friend of mine once said "If you want to learn how to write a perfect pop song listen to Big Star"
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You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
And the point of this is to prove what exactly? Other than that you should return to the children's table, while the rest of us adults discuss music...
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I know you guys love my stories, so here's my Alex Chilton story.
I was living back home with my parents briefly after grad school in the early 90's in hicktown upstate New York. It was July 4, and there was one of those oldies reunion tours playing in some field for free complete with fireworks. I figured, what the hell, go listen to some oldies with the rednecks.
One of the acts on the bill was billed as Alex Chilton and the Boxtops. Sadly, my knowledge of Alex Chilton didn't go beyond "The Letter" and the Replacements' song at that point. But hey, those two things in an of themselves are great.
Anyway, I'm standing near the back of the crowd, taking in one of the preliminary acts, and this slight looking guy, a youthful 40ish, comes up and starts talking to me...about the show, the sound...just small stuff. Seemed like a nice guy. He didn't tell me what his name was.
So later that evening, Alex Chilton and the Boxtops come on, and lo and behold, the guy who I had been talking to WAS Alex Chilton. I would have never guessed. He seemed too young to be fronting an oldies band, and too cool to be playing for a bunch of drunk rednecks in a hayfield.
"The Letter" was awesome live, and will always be one of the greatest songs in rock history, imo. RIP, Alex Chilton.
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I was living back home with my parents briefly
likely story ::)
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You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
And the point of this is to prove what exactly? Other than that you should return to the children's table, while the rest of us adults discuss music...
Sorry, I lifted that from the comments section of the youtube video.
Here it is in its complete context (I'm with Paul):
Wayzataboy
ZZzzzzzz,self-important,indy-p ussy-rock.
ratbasket
yeah dude Megadeath, no wait, Pantera!
paulsmartialarts
You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
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So so so freaking blown about this... Arg! just Arg! :'(
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You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
And the point of this is to prove what exactly? Other than that you should return to the children's table, while the rest of us adults discuss music...
Sorry, I lifted that from the comments section of the youtube video.
Here it is in its complete context (I'm with Paul):
Wayzataboy
ZZzzzzzz,self-important,indy-p ussy-rock.
ratbasket
yeah dude Megadeath, no wait, Pantera!
paulsmartialarts
You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
Apology accepted, I thought that was directed at hoya...
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paulsmartialarts
You aren't even worthy to suck Alex Chilton's arsehole
Apology accepted, I thought that was directed at hoya...
i think he should apologize to "paulsmartialarts"
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I loved the shot NME used of him for 20 greatest cult heroes...
He clocked in at #2.
http://www.nme.com/photos/20-greatest-cult-heroes/168036/20/1 (http://www.nme.com/photos/20-greatest-cult-heroes/168036/20/1)
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So here's a classic story involving the Butthole Surfers and Alex Chilton
The key except...
Moments later a man entered the dressing room and asked if he could borrow a guitar. ?BORROW A GUITAR??!!! WELL, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU???!!! Haynes screamed, eyes flashing in delerious anticpation of forthcoming violence. But the man was totally unfazed.
?I?m Alex Chilton,? the man answered calmly.
Haynes was flabbergasted. After a long pause, he methodically opened the remaining guitar cases one by one and guestured at them as if to say, ?Take anything you want.?
The rest of the story involves acid, nick cave and a dutch rock festival. I'm only stating the obvious but the language is STRONG.
http://www.tynansanger.com/2009/05/brain-detox-friday-butthole-surfers
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thank you kosmo . . . that might be the greatest rock n roll story i have ever read.
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saw him open for robyn hitchcock and the egyptians in 1992, or so (for xneverwherex, at the edge in palo alto). . .one of only a very few times where the opener came back for an encore. seemed awfully embarrassed by the attention.
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thank you kosmo . . . that might be the greatest rock n roll story i have ever read.
While this is the key part of the story with regards to Chilton, it's made even more dramatic by the fact that Gibby was raging naked prior to this encounter taking place.
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what an awesome place to see him at :) I forgot they had shows there. I wonder why I wasnt there -- I used to love robyn hitchcock.
saw him open for robyn hitchcock and the egyptians in 1992, or so (for xneverwherex, at the edge in palo alto). . .one of only a very few times where the opener came back for an encore. seemed awfully embarrassed by the attention.
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thank you kosmo . . . that might be the greatest rock n roll story i have ever read.
While this is the key part of the story with regards to Chilton, it's made even more dramatic by the fact that Gibby was raging naked prior to this encounter taking place.
and the dutch loved it
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Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) gave a really worthy recognition today on the House Floor honoring Alex. He went so far as to even mention the Replacements' song, and he described Alex's contribution to the Memphis music scene. His adjectives included "hard" and "independent". By far the most rock'n'roll thing I've ever seen in the House of Reps. So cool.
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Lots of video from the last Big Star Concert :-[
http://vimeo.com/album/197531
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Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) gave a really worthy recognition today on the House Floor honoring Alex. He went so far as to even mention the Replacements' song, and he described Alex's contribution to the Memphis music scene. His adjectives included "hard" and "independent". By far the most rock'n'roll thing I've ever seen in the House of Reps. So cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9LGwzGnx5w
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Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) gave a really worthy recognition today on the House Floor honoring Alex. He went so far as to even mention the Replacements' song, and he described Alex's contribution to the Memphis music scene. His adjectives included "hard" and "independent". By far the most rock'n'roll thing I've ever seen in the House of Reps. So cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9LGwzGnx5w
More info on tribute
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010031805095.html
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Anyone know of lesser known covers of Alex Chilton/Big Star? The ones tucked away on b-sides, etc?
Bangles, Cheap Trick, Elliot Smith are a given. I've heard the recently released tribute album with Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub is just ok. Anyone else heard it?
A friend of my directed me Jenny Wolfe's version of Thirteen
http://www.myspace.com/jennywolfeandthepack
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Nice cover of "Ballad of El Goodo by Jeffrey Dean Foster backed by Mitch Easter handling the drums and bass
http://www.blurt-online.com/video/view/244/
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Saw him at the 930 club, 85 or 86 (not sure), opened for the Go Betweens. I was a youngin' then, wanted to see the headliner, and he kept playing. I admit I had no appreciation for music that I didn't come to see, so my friend and I went to the basement and watched on the TV. He played a *long* time, but I can't say what as I was irked it went on so long.
I would say at least 1/2 the people left before the Go Betweens came on and did a killer set.
I was just to young to know who the opener was and appreciate it. Oh well.
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Anyone know of lesser known covers of Alex Chilton/Big Star? The ones tucked away on b-sides, etc?
Pianosaurus did a fun cover of The Box Tops' "The Letter" on Groovy Neighborhood.
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There's a live cover of Nighttime as a hidden track on the end of one of Epic Soundtracks' albums...
Anyone know of lesser known covers of Alex Chilton/Big Star? The ones tucked away on b-sides, etc?
Bangles, Cheap Trick, Elliot Smith are a given. I've heard the recently released tribute album with Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub is just ok. Anyone else heard it?
A friend of my directed me Jenny Wolfe's version of Thirteen
http://www.myspace.com/jennywolfeandthepack
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Kristin Hersh did "Jesus Christ" on a Christmas themed ep as I recall...
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Found this listing of artists of doing Big Star covers and songs Big Star covered...
http://www.coversproject.com/artist/big%20star/
Garbage's cover of "Thirteen" is quite nice.
http://www.myspace.com/garbage
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There was a great issue of Mojo in February 2000 with a cover story on Cult Heroes which included Big Star (their story got really sad/weird . . .and I remember it involved Dilaudid, the drug of choice in Drugstore Cowboy), The La's and the Velvet Underground. A few days ago I was listening to There She Goes and I thought that that song in a way proves the Big Bang theory, since I think all the matter that comprises Brit Pop burst forth from that song. Its so simple, but the underlying vibe is this feeling that resonates and resonates. The impact of Big Star is obviously well documented, but I just think its interesting how Big Star's Thirteen and In The Streets and September Gurls et al are so simple, and may sound a lot like others (Gram Parsons/Byrds mixed with . . .) but they contain such a strong underlying vibe (heart) that resonates and resonates. When I hear those songs it evokes, for example, nights out at the 9:30 Club in high school . . .having a drink in the basement (not sure how I got it) with a girl I liked. . . I didn't know those songs, but Its related. That vibe permeated what was 'college music' and at the time 9:30 represented a temple to that music. Alex Chilton, Lee Mavers, VU Lou Reed . . .Syd Barrett . . .even Johnny Thunders . . . they all seem to come from a similar place - too weak/strong romanticism which imploded/exploded? - and all had a similar impact.
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You can also add Nick Drake to that list... Another artist whose influence on musicians and fans is still being made, despite the fact that few heard his records when they were first released. It would appear that lots of Musician's Musicians fall in that Cult Hero category and they are often to first to embrace them. In addition to those mentioned one can add Arthur Lee/Love and Roky Erickson.
For me and probably others Drake, Love and Big Star are classic examples of artists that come to us later in life, even though they impacted artists we listened and enjoyed all along.
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http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/obituaries/alex-chilton-an-appreciation-1.1014708
Francis Macdonald Teenage Fanclub drummers shares his thoughts.
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from beck's website:
http://www.beck.com/news/
little tribute to alex.
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Entire show of Teenage Fanclub backing Chilton:
http://popdose.com/bootleg-city-alex-chilton-1950-2010/ (http://popdose.com/bootleg-city-alex-chilton-1950-2010/)
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thanks for the heads up, i need to move these up to the front of the mp3 listening queue
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I was in Austin for SXSW when Chilton died. I sensed the shock and sadness throughout that day, especially since Big Star was set to play on Saturday night. At first, we weren't sure if the band would still play, would want to play, how they could play, etc. Then we got word that a bunch of other musicians would step in to help the remaining members of the band. I was lucky enough to be there, and it was a brilliant way to end SXSW and pay tribute to Chilton. It was special. The band and audience members were teary-eyed at times. I am so glad I could be there.
There's some coverage of it here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/21/big-stars-sxsw-show-turns-into-powerful-tribute-to-alex-chilton/
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/03/21/alex-chilton-sxsw-big-star-tribute/
http://pitchfork.com/news/38232-sxsw-sat-alex-chiltonbig-star-tribute/
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2010/03/sxsw-2010-alex-chilton-big-star-tribute-concert.html
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Superdrag - September Gurls
http://hypem.com/track/897099/Superdrag+-+September+Gurls+Big+Star+cover+