Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton (1950 – 2010), Chris Bell (1951 – 1978), Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel (1951 - 2010). The group broke up in 1974. By the 1980s, they were recognised as one of rock music's classic groups. After the death of Chris Bell in 1978 and the deaths of both Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel in 2010, Jody Stephens is the last surviving original member of the group.
Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
Interview
Big Star Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Interview' by these artists:
A.P.G. Crew I'm your girl Ano Damo And we right her on the…
Adam Pascal & Josh Groban Tonight's final item is a Global scoop. The former champion,…
Aposento Alto No era como niño normales No tenia amigos ni vecinos locales…
Artifacts [El Da Sensei] My characteristics be mistic, you ask who is…
B-Mad About Eazy Tell me how y'all felt, when you heard first That…
Big Sean I guess I'm on my... on my Don shit Somebody gotta…
Body Count [knock knock] Yeah 1,2,1,2 let me get this tape recorder…
Bushido Bushido, stimmt das Dass du keine Journalisten magst? Nein, …
C-Luv Yeah I don't know I don't know Yeah I don't know What you th…
Carpenters Yo, Ty cooked this shit up Yo, Listen up to when…
Charles Manson check this man, you're born with a survival instinct, to…
Chase Murphy Yeah (Alright) Times change, seasons change Anywhere I go co…
D-Block All my life I been underrated man This shit ain't nothing…
D-Boy Ladies and gentleman I would like to welcome stony boy Yeah…
D-Shaw All my life I been underrated man This shit ain't nothing…
Das EFX We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
Dickie Goodman & Friends All your marsupial annotations That you carry around may rin…
Eminem and D-12 All my life I been underrated man This shit ain't nothing…
Eric Nam Hey girl, hello 오늘 기분 어때요 이렇게 만나게 돼서 난 좀 설레요 우선 먼저…
Flint Town's F.O.D. All my life I been underrated man This shit ain't nothing…
G-Rizm I'm your girl Ano Damo And we right her on the…
Gentle Giant Yes it's been hard, going a long time And we're together…
Gleb Blow a hole in ya trunk - afraid of us You…
I-Culcha About Eazy Tell me how y'all felt, when you heard first That…
I.C.P. Yeah I don't know I don't know Yeah I don't know What you th…
IAM Si c'est une interview que vous voulez, je vais vous…
Insane Clown Posse "Hello! How ya doing? I'm here with the Insane Clown…
Iron & Wine Keith Wilfort: How did you feel when you finally learned tha…
J. Paul Jr And The Zydeco Nubreeds Say, We ain't gotta go no cinema. Shawty outta motion pictur…
Jadakiss Anthony Donahue here with the legendary (Ahaa!) Not Steven A…
James Brown What′s special about this album? What's special about it, i…
Kang Daniel Hello hello 널 알고 싶어졌어 Show me somethin′ 하나부터 열까지 물어볼게 넌 하고 싶…
KANGDANIEL Hello (hello) 널 알고 싶어졌어 So show me somethin', oh 하나부터 열까지 물어…
Karl Bartos Instant coffee Commercial break Marmalade Roller blades …
Kevin Ayers I have been called a down Yes you may write that…
L.O.X. The Yeah I don't know I don't know Yeah I don't know What you th…
Lefa Sora YoungK ta prod parle mal, j'vais la kicker Je vais fai…
Les Blérots de R.A.V.E.L что твой внутренний голос говорит тебе каждый день? честно …
Lino Sous les éclats de rire de la foudre et le…
M. Ward что твой внутренний голос говорит тебе каждый день? честно …
Mew You tell me in so many hushed words In your chrysalis…
Michelle Rocqet Did you know that magic needs a habit And this habit…
Notorious B.I.G. About Eazy Tell me how y'all felt, when you heard first That…
One on One All your marsupial annotations That you carry around may rin…
Peter and the Wolf Tonight's final item is a Global scoop. The former champion,…
Quality Control They say that nigga that don't talk much is that…
R. Nicol Entrea Ay, tantas cosas que quiero Decirte yo quiero Hacer p…
R.C. Sproul and John Duncan Yeah I don't know I don't know Yeah I don't know What you th…
Robert Calvert Officer: So you want to be a fighter pilot. Recruit: A…
roxette www.djdan18.com.ar Entrea Ay, tantas cosas que quiero Decirte yo quiero Hacer p…
S. N. Goenka Dominion Frozen Image had connections with a group from our …
Saga Good afternoon! May I introduce myself? With a story to be…
Shaimus In our lives, how do we perceive? Do we know what's…
Sido Hallo, Ich bin's wieder Frank Furz vom Schulradio Schlaue We…
Simon Bookish I find myself in an imposing boardroom lined in oak for a…
Slim Thug What's good everybody? It's your girl Alana D. Chillin' with…
So Yeon 소연씨, 그분에 대해 이야기 좀 들을 수 있을까요? 처음 느낀 감정…
Styles P & Jadakiss Anthony Donahue here with the legendary (Ahaa!) Not Steven A…
Sway & King Tech The most important artist of this Generation over 21 Grammy'…
TakeOff & Offset They say that nigga that don't talk much is that…
The Holloways Every little bit hurts Every little bit hurts Every night …
The Iron Maidens Keith Wilfort: How did you feel when you finally learned tha…
The Notorious B.I.G. About Eazy Tell me how y'all felt, when you heard first That…
Travi$ Scott Straight from Mexico called a Quintana I got diamonds on my…
U-Roy Ayo shoutout Mayor Penguin Music Who has 24 beats available …
v/a - FUCKED UP Mix Tape vol. 1 Say, We ain't gotta go no cinema. Shawty outta motion pictur…
Weezer Hey Hey, yeah, um, I would like to know Yes Yes Come on g…
WURZEL 5 FEAT. PHANTWO Müpf Phantwo hamer überleit dr name z wechsle wäge dir u…
Young Jeezy Im inside a boudoir Getting head I′m so raw You know why…
Yukarie 目覚えのない私 きっと どこかにひそんでいる ある朝 TVをつけたら いきなりインタビュー 私映ってる (インタビュー)…
Z Ro & Slim Thug What's good everybody? It's your girl Alana D. Chillin' with…
Zooey Deschanel feat. M. Ward что твой внутренний голос говорит тебе каждый день? честно …
강다니엘 Hello (hello) 널 알고 싶어졌어 So show me somethin', oh 하나부터 열까지 물어…
에릭남 Hey girl, hello 오늘 기분 어때요 이렇게 만나게 돼서 난 좀 설레요 우선 먼저…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Big Star:
06. Jesus Christ Angels from the realms of glory Stars shone bright above Roy…
07. Blue Moon Let me be your one light And if you'd like a…
09. For You Sometimes I can't help but worship you I love you and…
10. O Dana I rather shoot a woman than a man I worry whether…
All I See Is You I don't want a lot for Christmas There's just one thing…
Baby Strange I see you walking, I see you talking With all of…
Back Of A Car Sitting in the back of a car Music so loud, can't…
Ballad Of El Goodo Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh But I've…
Big Black Car Driving in my big black car Nothing can go wrong I'm going…
Blue Moon Let me be your one light And if you'd like a…
Come On Now Come on now Come on, let the music get you movin' Let…
Daisy Glaze I'm driving alone Sad about you Not going home What's to do?…
Don Don't lie to me Don't lie to me Don't lie to me Don't…
Downs Take downs Things sinkin' with a melody Someone's gonna ask …
Dream Lover You're a dream lover And I'm never gonna let you go And…
Feel Wondering, what are you doing? You're driving me to ruin The…
Femme Fatale Here she comes, you better watch your step She's going to…
For You Sometimes I can't help but worship you I love you and…
Give Me Another Chance You feel sad 'cause I got mad And I'm sorry, I'm…
Gone With the Light Now the time has come to leave Darkness fills the sky…
Holocaust Your eyes are almost dead Can't get out of bed And you…
Hot Burrito #2 Yes, you loved me and you stole my clothes I love…
I I'm in love with a girl Finest girl in the world I…
I Am The Cosmos (Bell) Every night I tell myself I am the cosmos, I am…
I Got Kinda Lost I got kinda lost I got kinda lost I got kinda lost…
I'm In Love With A Girl I'm in love with a girl Finest girl in the world I…
In The Street Hanging out, down the street The same old thing we did…
I’m In Love With A Girl I'm in love with a girl Finest girl in the world I…
Jesus Christ Angels from the realms of glory Stars shone bright above Roy…
Kanga Roo I first saw you You had on blue jeans Your eyes couldn't…
Kizza Me Dreams and wishes, like shooting stars Coming up rushes I wa…
Lady Sweet Lady Sweet, I declare That you're the troubled girl for me A…
Life Is White Don't like to see your face Don't like to hear you…
Lovely Day Woke up in the middle of the day Sun streaming in No…
Mod Lang I can't be satisfied What you want me to do? And so…
Morpha Too Morpha too small, you're going to hurt yourself I might call…
Motel Blues In this town, television shuts off at two What can a…
My Life Is Right Once I walked a lonely road I had no one to…
Nature Boy There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he…
Night Time At nighttime, I go out and see the people Air…
Nightime At nightime I go out and see the people Air goes…
nighttime At nighttime, I go out and see the people Air…
O Dana I rather shoot a woman than a man I worry whether…
O My Soul Oh, my soul mama I lose control Go ahead and shake if…
O, Dana I rather shoot a woman than a man I worry whether…
Oh My Soul Oh, my soul mama I lose control Go ahead and shake if…
September Girls September girls do so much I was your butch and you…
September Gurls September girls do so much I was your Butch and…
She She don't believe anything She can dance, oh, now all night …
Slut See that girl, watch her dance If I knew her…
ST 100-6 Love me again Be my friend I need you now I'll show you…
St 110/6 Well, I can see you're advertising 'Cause you keep…
ST100/6 Love me again Be my friend I need you now I'll show you…
Stroke It Noel Child will you come on down Come on in with me Morning…
Take Care Take care not to hurt yourself Beware of the need for…
Thank You Friends (Chilton) Thank you, friends Wouldn't be here if it wasn't f…
The Ballad Of El Goodo Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh But I've…
The India Song I'd like to go to India Live in a big white…
The Letter Give me a ticket for an airplane Ain't got time to…
There Was A Light There was a light So dear to me I wanted to live There…
Thirteen Won't you let me walk you home from school? Won't you…
Till the End of the Day Baby I feel good From the moment I arise Feel good from…
Try Again Lord, I've been tryin' to be what I should Lord, I've…
Watch The Sunrise I can feel it, now it's time Open your eyes Fears begone,…
Way Out West She's a schemer and she makes me mad But I love…
What I liked her face and oh, those eyes She left today,…
When My Baby Don't need to talk to my doctor Don't need to talk…
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Come over baby, whole lot of shakin' goin' on Come over…
You and Your Sister They say my love for you ain't real But you don't…
You Can't Have Me Espionage, the words to come back to me Sidewinder, you clep…
You Get What You Deserve Try to understand what I'm going through And don't blame me…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@Kate1Chopin
I love Alex after all these years. I fell back in 69 ish with The Letter. He was a gem. Xx
@mjanovec
I saw this clip used in the film the other night. It definitely stuck out as something I hadn't seen in an earlier screening. Overall, I think the film did a great job of not only telling the story of the band, but telling the story of those around the band who were just as important to the legacy of Big Star. I'm looking forward to the DVD!
@dnapier889
One gets the impression that Chilton wasn't a big fan of interviews, and he wasn't a big fan of Big-Star-adulation either, and I'd say this clip reveals that. He definitely marched to the beat of his own drum. RIP Alex.
@cydneypayne4025
Yeah he hated interviews. I always thought he was on the shy side
@goetia13
eh, he just mainly shit on the mtv guy, no harm, no foul
@BacknMetro
@eric knesz Yeah. He was trying to be polite but just...barely. Also, he wasn't big on praise. When a reporter asked him how he felt about the Replacement's tribute song to him, he replied that he didn't feel anything at all. Not being snarky. I think he was just telling the truth.
@btrav667
@A His wife said that he took pains to be honest and direct. That's an under-appreciated thing these days. He was tired of Big Star for whatever reason......and was unwilling to lie about it.
@BacknMetro
@B Trav Dark Star?
@fourbigstrings
"You keep buying em I 'll keep signing em" - classic AC. Thank you for posting....
@magavsschwaga7834
I was on the concert staff and shared a pizza w Mr. Chilton at a solo performance. He hated playing Big Star tunes and was so over it. I think he resented many of his fans that only asked for that stuff. My old N.A. buddy knew him well and said he was happy at the end. That's good to know.