U.S. House Representative Recognizes Alex Chilton

There's nothing cool about the passing of Alex Chilton and many fans are continuing to make sense of a legendary performer taken from us too soon.
If there can be one moment that provides some levity in Chilton's passing, it's that the U.S. House Representative from his former district took to the podium in Washington and announced Alex's accomplishments into the public record.
No politics.
No posturing.
Just a brief acknowledgement to one of Rock & Roll's most acclaimed performers.

I must confess to knowing very little about Congressman Steve Cohen before his eulogy on Chilton, but now that I do, I'm ready to declare him the hippest Congressman in the house.
The Democratic Congressman from Tennessee's 9th District did a quick interview with Craig Marks over at Billboard to discuss his ties with Chilton and demonstrate that his hipness didn't end there.

How did you meet Alex?
I met Alex the first time at his father’s funeral. Sidney Chilton was an early supporter of mine. He was a jazz musician himself, but his business was the lighting business. His crew of people helped shepherd me into the political scene years back. The last time I saw Alex, ironically enough, was at Thomas Boggs’ funeral. Thomas was the drummer for the Box Tops and one of my dear friends. He was beloved in Memphis.

You seem to have some real musical chops.
Well, I’m from Memphis. We know music. You know, Warren Zevon and I were best friends.

Really?
Yes. In fact, I gave one of the eulogies at Warren’s funeral in L.A. I bring this up because one time Warren and I were driving up to Memphis from New Orleans, doing the Highway 61 trip, and we listened to Alex ‘cause he was one of my favorites. It was interesting because they were so much alike: Iconoclastic, rebellious, more loved among the aficionados and musicians. I didn’t put together until recently how R.E.M. really loved both Warren and Alex.

Do you have a favorite Alex song?
I guess my favorite is “Free Again.” Because, unfortunately, it relates to my social life. I've been single all my life. I can just relate to “Free Again.”

Interview originally appeared in Billboard.biz

Alex Chilton R.I.P.

My sophomore year in college was the first year I discovered Alex Chilton. It was the The Replacements album Pleased To Meet Me and the tune was, of course, “Alex Chilton.”
From there it was just a short hop next door to a friend who happened to be recording Like Flies On Sherbert from another friend who endlessly provided us with all of the vinyl answers to our obscure rock questions.
And from there, it was just down the street to the radio station where we were playing Chilton’s High Priest.
Ironically, it wasn’t until a few years later that I was curious enough to learn more about Westerberg’s line “I never travel far without a little Big Star.” (Side note: I was at a party on a visit to my hometown during college break when a couple drunk high school chicks came in and properly took over the stereo. They had to play this awesome new song they just discovered and we were treated to a drunken karaoke version of “Alex Chilton.” I felt hope for the younger generations, even though technically they were only a few years younger than me.)
I started with the wrong Big Star album-Third/Sister Lovers-but loved it anyway. As a matter of fact, I was so used to the disjointed melodies of that third record that when I did end up moving to #1 Record and Radio City, it took several spins to get used to the perfect power-pop of those first two Big Star records.
And finally, I actually met Alex Chilton. My girlfriend and I were working at a radio station that sponsored a summer music festival. We were required to go on stage and introduce the bands. That year, I drew Molly Hatchet. My girlfriend drew the Rock & Roll Nostalgia show, featuring four acts. I remember that one of them was Question Mark-the image of his the tighty-whiteys protruding from his gold lame suit is permanently burnt in my mind forever.
Another performer was Alex Chilton.
He played all the Box Top hits; nothing from his solo albums and nothing from Big Star. The backing band played for all of the artists on the bill.
We waited back stage for him. And when he did make it to the dressing room, he didn't stay long. I asked him four incredibly stupid questions:
1.) How come you didn’t play any Big Star songs tonight?
“Because nobody came here to hear me play Big Star songs!”
2.) You could have played something from Like Flies On Sherbert! (not really a question, but a lame attempt to prove how hip I was to Chilton)
polite chuckle
3.) You ever keep in touch with Westerberg?
(Again, another attempt to appear hip. Notice how I didn’t use a first name?)
“No. I don’t really talk to him much.”
4.) How did it feel to have someone like Paul Westerberg write a song about you, man?
“It was nice…It was an honor.”
It wasn’t an interview, mind you, but then again it wasn’t a very good way to engage a legendary performer like Alex Chilton either. Just at that moment, his roadie/soundman/partner/whatever came in and they spoke in some form of code. My original thought was that they scored some pot or something-but in looking back, I think that he was merely acknowledging that he had gotten the cash for the gig and it was safe to get the fuck out of our little town.
I wish I would have spoken more respectfully to him, but I was young. And there’s no guarantee that he would have engaged with me in the way that I wanted him to. There are reports that Alex wasn’t the nicest guy in the world and there are even more reports that Alex had some challenges with the drink.
So it is with a bit of irony that he passed on Saint Patrick’s Day, a day known for drinking. Ironic, perhaps, but a shame none the less. Because the world should indeed never travel far without a little Big Star.