Biography
Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Andy Hummel and Jody Stephens.[1] Chilton had previously been the lead singer of the Box Tops, whose hit "The Letter" reached number one when he was sixteen.[1][2]
Their debut, #1 Record (1972), was recorded at Ardent Studios with producer John Fry and praised for its harmonies, but poor distribution kept sales low.[3] Radio City followed in 1974 to similar acclaim and similar neglect, and Third/Sister Lovers was recorded in 1974, shelved, and released in 1978.[1]
Bell left the group in 1972 and died in a car accident in 1978. Hummel and Chilton both died in 2010.[1] A reunion lineup that paired Chilton and Stephens with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies formed in 1993 and released In Space in 2005.[1] The band is regarded as a cornerstone of American power pop and an influence on R.E.M., the Replacements, the Posies and Teenage Fanclub.[1]
References
- Wikipedia: Big Star — Formation, members, albums, reunion and influence.
- Critics at Large: Soul Deep in Consideration of Alex — Chilton's Box Tops years and career arc.
- Wikipedia: #1 Record — Recording and release details of the debut album.