Alex...

A local music magazine after finding out that we had played with Lx.. asked me to write a piece.. it's rather generic but will have to do


Alex Chilton 1950-2010

I met Alex Chilton in 1974 at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. My wife Jill , and I were playing a gig with our band Confederation and guest artist Jim Dickinson, along with Waylon Jennings. As we sang the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses", a thin skiddish figure dressed in a bright yellow rain coat, with hood up and walked up to the microphone and started singing with Jill and I. At the end of the gig Dickinson, who had played on the the Stones' cut of "Wild Horses, introduced us to Alex.

For some years we had been enjoying the Boxtops and the songs they recorded. Songs like "Cry Like A Baby", "Neon Rainbow" and perhaps the most famous "The Letter", produced by the legendary Dan Penn. Alex sang "The Letter" in 1967 when he was only 16 years old. It became an immediate smash "Boxtops" hit. At first, it was hard to realize that this unassuming and quietly introspective man had already attained worldwide acclaim.

Over the next 35 years Alex would remain both a friend, a collaborator and a musical inspiration. During the same time that we became friends with Alex, he and friend Chris Bell had a newly formed group called "Big Star". Big Star went on to record 3 critically acclaimed, melodically beautiful power pop albums at the famed Ardent Recording Studio in Memphis. Big Star did not sell a lot of albums initially, however the group had a major influence on on up and coming post punk bands such as the Replacements and R.E.M. Always the innovator and "quiet rebel", Alex experimented with alternative sounds writing and recording several solo albums.

Alex moved to New Orleans in the early 80's. He continued to perform, play guitar and write until his unexpected passing. In the past few years "Big Star" has been finally gaining the recognition deserved with the release of a box set and a new revival of the band. Alex was preparing to travel to Austin, Texas to perform with the group at the SxSX music festival only a few days prior to his death.

We will always remember Alex as a friend, excellent guitarist, singer writer and a major influence on American music culture.

Jim and Jill Lancaster