5A: Big Star
Not every musician or band has to make it big to have an impact. Big Star didn’t have millions of fans. But they influenced a lot of bands.
Big Star was based in Memphis. (Question 1 — What state is Memphis in? Can you find it on a map?)
The leader of Big Star was Alex Chilton. He was born in 1950. His first band was called The Box Tops. In 1966, the Box Tops had a hit with the song “The Letter.” (Question 1 — How old was Alex then? How old does he sound? His voice was one of his distinctive features.)
Alex formed Big Star in 1971. They were together only four years. One magazine called them “one of the most mythical and influential cult acts in all of rock and roll.” (Question 3 — What is a “cult following”?)
Here’s one of their songs, called “Thirteen.” Who do you think he’s singing to?
They never made it big. A few years ago, a movie was made about them. Here’s a trailer for it.
Years later, after they had broken up, some newer musicians started talking about how much they loved Big Star. One of their songs, which you heard in the movie clip, was “September Gurls.”
Now, check out this version from the Bangles, from the 1980s.
The Replacements, a band from Minneapolis, loved Alex Chilton and Big Star much they wrote a song about him. (See if you can fill in the blanks of these lyrics: “Invisible man who can sing in _______.” And, “I never travel far without a little _______.”
Bonus video: Watch the Replacements talk about Alex Chilton (start at 2:30).
Answers:
1 — Memphis is on the western end of Tennessee.
2 — Alex Chilton was 16 when the Box Tops recorded “The Letter.”
3 — A “cult following” means the band had a small, but very devoted fan base.