On The Verge of a Supernova

You may not have heard of ‘70s power-pop band Big Star, but I’d be willing to bet that a lot of your favorite bands have. That said, half of Big Star is now dead.
   
Alex Chilton—a man whose name has been floating around in hip circles for the better half of four decades—was the first to go. He was 59. Yesterday, Andy Hummel, a second member of Big Star died of cancer. He was also 59.

    Not many bands form for a total of four years and weave such a tight-knit legacy, but Big Star was one of them. In four years together, Big Star cut three records, one of which didn’t even get released before guitarist Chris Bell died in a car accident. The reaper has not been kind to Big Star.

    I remember hearing Big Star for the first time three years ago. I didn’t like it then. Even today, I’m still kind of on the fence. However, my rampant music snobbery is not the issue here. A band that planted the seed of a musical influence tree has been dealt a horrific blow, and they will likely never recover.

    All you young kids, it’s easy to be able to bemoan your inability to ever see the Beatles. They broke up long before you were born, and two of the members died before you had drawn your first breath. In Big Star’s case, a reunion had occurred, and the possibility of seeing them presented itself a couple times. Now that half of Big Star has burned out, all hope is lost and Big Star is finished. Just like that.

    A lot of folks will pass on seeing one of their favorite bands when they roll through town with the excuse “they’ll play here again.” Not always. That happened to me with the criminally underrated band Supersystem.

    Though Supersystem is in no way on the same level as Big Star in the grand scheme of things, go to as many shows as possible. You’ll hate yourself if you miss out seeing one of your favorite bands play. Alex Chilton had “heart problems.” Then he died. Don’t risk it. Respect your elders.