The Memphis power pop cult act whose broken-hearted melodies quietly rewired a generation of indie rock.
MOODS · bittersweet · melodic · wistful · jangly · introspective · cult classic · heartfelt · understated
BIOGRAPHY
Big Star formed in Memphis in 1971 when former Box Tops singer Alex Chilton joined Chris Bell, Jody Stephens, and Andy Hummel, taking their name from a local supermarket chain. Their sound fused Memphis soul grit with British Invasion melody and a scrappy, pre-punk energy.
Their 1972 debut #1 Record earned glowing reviews but stalled commercially due to Stax's weak distribution. Internal conflict led Bell to quit and the band to dissolve by late 1972; a third album, Third/Sister Lovers, followed with little initial success. Chilton and Stephens later reformed the band in 1993 with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies. Bell died in a car crash at 27.
WHY THEY'RE COOL
Big Star made a career of commercial invisibility and artistic influence running in opposite directions. Ignored on release, #1 Record and its follow-ups were rediscovered by R.E.M., the Replacements, and countless indie bands who cited the group as a foundational influence. Critics have called them the quintessential American power pop band, and Third/Sister Lovers, once a commercial afterthought, became a cult classic. Three of their albums later landed on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, cementing a legacy built almost entirely after the fact.
GEORGE'S PLAYS
George has played this artist 5 times.
PLAYED ON WOKE1
