Their impressive debut album, '#1 Record', mixed British pop, 60's style Californian harmonies with a dash of hard rock and is considered a 'forgotten' classic by many musicians and journalists. It's release in 1972 was certainly at odds with the excesses of most successful bands that year, and its simplicity was far more accessible. Unfortunately, poor distribution ensured that the release was virtually ignored at the time, and internal friction led to the departure of Chris Bell in 1972.
The band split in 1973, but reformed for a one-off date later in the same year at a rock writer's convention. The reaction to their performances inspired a re-think, and the decision was made to continue rather than disband.
The second album, 'Radio City' was slightly less polished than the debut, but retained the urgency and passion of their earlier songs and consolidated their reputation as writers of timeless classic guitar pop. Once again the industry showed little interest, and the band returned to Memphis following the subsequent tour feeling embittered, and without founder member Hummel.
Chilton and Stephens began recording a third album, but the final split occurred before work was completed, and the material was not officially released until many years later. The songs displayed a darker, more desperate songwriting style, with less of the 'summer' feel that had characterised the first two albums. Nonetheless, even the most depressing song from the set, 'Holocaust', has received praise, with Placebo choosing to cover the song as a b-side in 2001.
Chris Bell released a solo single 'I Am the Cosmos', and was killed in a car crash in 1979, with further recordings eventually seeing light of day on an album many years later. Alex Chilton has continued with sporadic solo releases on many different labels, which have characteristically displayed an erratic yet mainly charming approach to songwriting, resulting in (incorrect) assumptions that his talent was burned out by the late 70's. He also worked with Tav Falco's Panther Burns and produced early releases by the Cramps. A modern version of Big Star has performed occasionally, featuring Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens with members of the Posies.
The influence of Big Star on guitar music should not be underestimated. Bands such as The Pixies, Nirvana, Teenage Fanclub, Husker Du, and the Cramps have all displayed heavy influences at various stages of their respective careers, and have in turn influenced new generations of guitar bands. Another equally influential US guitar act, The Replacements, actually wrote a song about them titled 'Alex Chilton'.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE BIG STAR: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Nirvana, Hole, Husker Du, The Replacements, The Cramps, The Pixies, Teenage Fanclub, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, R.E.M., Paul Westerberg, The Posies, The Who, Velvet Underground, Marc Bolan & T.Rex, Wilco, Ryan Adams.
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