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.
Kurt Moss you can absolutely see that clear as day here. It’s sad because I’ve seen another interview where he talks about the influences in Big Star not really being his. He saw it as him joining a band, Chris’ band, and they (Chris) had a set of influences that he liked, but black music was not one of them. He and Alex both loved British Invasion stuff, but Alex truly loved black music and mostly older music. After Chris left, they continued doing music within the confines of those influences (meaning they still excluded a lot of the music Alex loved.) The 3rd album wasn’t a Big Star album at all and he clearly states that. My point is this, he got famous for a style of music that he didn’t feel very connected to. Even worse, he became kind of worshiped by a small cult following as the originator of a style of music he didn’t like much and was only his thing filtered through Chris’ template (besides 3rd). He did the gigs for the money, but I have a feeling that the last 20 years of his life, he was happier doing Box Tops oldies shows than Big Star shows. I’m looking forward to the documentary. He was a complicated man, but also tremendously talented. He really had that muse for a time there. Liza brought a lot out of him.
@@thomasminarchickjr.7355 he was a musical chameleon . Box Tops as a kid, then Big Star. The songs he wrote on those first two Big Star albums were great songs . When I saw him in NY around 77 he had the ORK ep out,” the singer not the song”, then in the mid eighties it was a different show. Glad I saw him and had a chance to meet and speak to him in the 70’s and 80’s
Alex was long past all the broken promises by the time of the BS tour back in 1974. He was no longer cynical but realistic. He enjoyed the Box Top reunions more as well as his own solo shows. AC equals eclectic.
He did the same thing with me, after a show, until I asked him a question about his drummer Doug Garrison. He talked about him for at least 20 minutes!!
@love when I met him after a show, I was a bit drunk. I would say very laid back, a bit bitter when he spoke to the audience. He hadn't hit the 2nd fame with Big Star yet. Just like the video.
@@scottdavis0801 that’s so cool thank you sm for sharing what year was it? What did he say to the audience & to you? sadly there aren’t many interviews of him :( i love him
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.
@@goetia13 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.
@@BacknMetro 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.
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!
When I first watched this it was awkward cause I thought Alex was being rude. But after watching it a few times I realized he just seems tired. He's actually being pretty patient and polite. The MTV interviewer asked a stupid question and misquoted the song lyrics. That and Alex didn't care for interviews so I get why he said he didn't have anything to say.
He wasn't tired. The whole interview/poser backstage shit insulted his intelligence., especially in regards to Big Star. His face didn't reflect tired, it reflected disdain. He's seen it with The Box Tops, his trust of the corporate music industry I'm sure was still at a low.
@@rickbort7875 Alex looked to me like he was trying not to laugh at the interviewer's incomprehensible word salad. Was that *really* the best person MTV could have sent to do an interview? Alex did that guy a favor by not giving him any usable answers, saving the interviewer the embarrassment of having his incompetence at his job broadcast on MTV to tens of millions of people (though MTV probably would have been smart enough to redub coherent/understandable questions to replace the embarrassing word-salad of that interviewer before airing it). Was there really nobody that MTV could have sent who had even the slightest clue of who Alex/Big Star even were? (since this guy clearly didn't)
Thanks for posting this! I'm producing a Big Star documentary and would love to speak to you about using this. How can we get in touch? Thanks! Danielle
Nobody does it better, makes feel sad for the.......something. Nobody didn't care as much as he did then. Nobody can touch him now. He treated mTV the worst. He understood.
I see your point, but to be pedantic, the first Big Star reunion show was a free show for SpringFest at the University of Missouri. I doubt Alex got paid anything beyond travel expenses.
@@chasejohnston5240Not exactly true. It started off with the college only offering expenses, but a deal was made to record and film it for a live album and video, and they received a decent upfront advance on that. You can be assured that Alex was only there because of that advance money, and everyone else in that version of the band has confirmed it.
@@chasejohnston5240Yeah, he was always pretty honest about the fact that he thought Big Star's work was embarrassing. I'm sure many musicians are annoyed about fans focusing on their early work and ignoring what they've done since, but they pretend to enjoy it to make fans happy. He was like "Whatever, just give me the check".
The first time I watched his band lipsyc to the letter. I noticed his body language. He gave the impression he was put off by not really getting to sing the song.
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.
He's jaded here. Maybe he loosen up a little when you shared a pizza
Kurt Moss you can absolutely see that clear as day here. It’s sad because I’ve seen another interview where he talks about the influences in Big Star not really being his. He saw it as him joining a band, Chris’ band, and they (Chris) had a set of influences that he liked, but black music was not one of them. He and Alex both loved British Invasion stuff, but Alex truly loved black music and mostly older music. After Chris left, they continued doing music within the confines of those influences (meaning they still excluded a lot of the music Alex loved.) The 3rd album wasn’t a Big Star album at all and he clearly states that. My point is this, he got famous for a style of music that he didn’t feel very connected to. Even worse, he became kind of worshiped by a small cult following as the originator of a style of music he didn’t like much and was only his thing filtered through Chris’ template (besides 3rd). He did the gigs for the money, but I have a feeling that the last 20 years of his life, he was happier doing Box Tops oldies shows than Big Star shows. I’m looking forward to the documentary. He was a complicated man, but also tremendously talented. He really had that muse for a time there. Liza brought a lot out of him.
@@thomasminarchickjr.7355 he was a musical chameleon . Box Tops as a kid, then Big Star. The songs he wrote on those first two Big Star albums were great songs . When I saw him in NY around 77 he had the ORK ep out,” the singer not the song”, then in the mid eighties it was a different show. Glad I saw him and had a chance to meet and speak to him in the 70’s and 80’s
Alex was long past all the broken promises by the time of the BS tour back in 1974. He was no longer cynical but realistic. He enjoyed the Box Top reunions more as well as his own solo shows. AC equals eclectic.
@@thomasminarchickjr.7355 Totally agree, big star 1 & 2 was not him.
"You keep buying em I 'll keep signing em" - classic AC. Thank you for posting....
This is the best interview ever STILL
Miss you so much, Alex
I love Alex after all these years. I fell back in 69 ish with The Letter. He was a gem. Xx
The most honest rock musician ever. He refused to pretend that this was about anything other than the money.
He’s sumthin else. Hahaha 😆. The most unassuming rock star that cowrote 3 of the best albums ever made in the cosmos
He did the same thing with me, after a show, until I asked him a question about his drummer Doug Garrison. He talked about him for at least 20 minutes!!
What was he like in person?
@love when I met him after a show, I was a bit drunk. I would say very laid back, a bit bitter when he spoke to the audience. He hadn't hit the 2nd fame with Big Star yet. Just like the video.
@@scottdavis0801 that’s so cool thank you sm for sharing what year was it? What did he say to the audience & to you? sadly there aren’t many interviews of him :( i love him
sums up the experience of tour in one video
Alex was the coolest.
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.
Yeah he hated interviews. I always thought he was on the shy side
eh, he just mainly shit on the mtv guy, no harm, no foul
@@goetia13 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.
@@BacknMetro 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.
@@btrav667 Dark Star?
captured for rock history. thank you!
Chilton was such an oddity...but most geniuses are.
Just oozs cool.
We lost a good man, and a very cool man
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!
The sadness of a lost band mixed with tons of praise for it can be 😢
he’s so baby
Love Alex
I’m so in love with this man and I wasn’t even born lmaoooo
Reminds me of Kurt Cobain in a strange way. Kind of that easy charisma, yet finally distant....
Cobain..charismatic???
Like forever 21 even at 43...this was a different time...seeing AC/Big Star a college. Those Gen Xrs were way hip.
Fuck... what a cool man.
You´re welcome
If Travis Bickle was a rock star
When I first watched this it was awkward cause I thought Alex was being rude. But after watching it a few times I realized he just seems tired. He's actually being pretty patient and polite. The MTV interviewer asked a stupid question and misquoted the song lyrics. That and Alex didn't care for interviews so I get why he said he didn't have anything to say.
He wasn't tired. The whole interview/poser backstage shit insulted his intelligence., especially in regards to Big Star. His face didn't reflect tired, it reflected disdain. He's seen it with The Box Tops, his trust of the corporate music industry I'm sure was still at a low.
@@rickbort7875 Alex looked to me like he was trying not to laugh at the interviewer's incomprehensible word salad. Was that *really* the best person MTV could have sent to do an interview? Alex did that guy a favor by not giving him any usable answers, saving the interviewer the embarrassment of having his incompetence at his job broadcast on MTV to tens of millions of people (though MTV probably would have been smart enough to redub coherent/understandable questions to replace the embarrassing word-salad of that interviewer before airing it). Was there really nobody that MTV could have sent who had even the slightest clue of who Alex/Big Star even were? (since this guy clearly didn't)
I think he's also a bit shy. I understand that.
it kinda shows here that it was a bitter-sad memory for Alix Chilton that Big Star didn't crack the big time, LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE.
Probably tired at the time and wasn't feeling in an amiable mood, big deal...just human like the rest of us.
Thanks for posting this! I'm producing a Big Star documentary and would love to speak to you about using this. How can we get in touch? Thanks! Danielle
Danielle... Not sure if you are still around but wanted to say I loved your film and Thank YOU for making it!!
Nobody does it better, makes feel sad for the.......something.
Nobody didn't care as much as he did then.
Nobody can touch him now.
He treated mTV the worst. He understood.
More chatting with fans than an interview as such - until MTV shows up at 1:55 to make Alex's backstage experience even worse.
Leave it to MTV to have the dumbest questions imaginable.
That guy must have been mentally challenged.
A TRUE ARTIST ISNT REALLY LOOKING FOR FAME , AND MONEY IS COOL IF YOU CAN GET IT!
What song does the young woman mention at 0:39?
"Duke of Earl"
Alex was just shy of saying “I’m getting paid well to do this and that’s the only reason I’m doing this!”
I see your point, but to be pedantic, the first Big Star reunion show was a free show for SpringFest at the University of Missouri. I doubt Alex got paid anything beyond travel expenses.
@@chasejohnston5240Not exactly true. It started off with the college only offering expenses, but a deal was made to record and film it for a live album and video, and they received a decent upfront advance on that. You can be assured that Alex was only there because of that advance money, and everyone else in that version of the band has confirmed it.
@@zippymufo9765 Ah, right on! Thank you for the response. Yeah, I guess I was being overly cynical.
@@chasejohnston5240Yeah, he was always pretty honest about the fact that he thought Big Star's work was embarrassing. I'm sure many musicians are annoyed about fans focusing on their early work and ignoring what they've done since, but they pretend to enjoy it to make fans happy. He was like "Whatever, just give me the check".
The first time I watched his band lipsyc to the letter. I noticed his body language. He gave the impression he was put off by not really getting to sing the song.
Alex's first words as soon the video starts: "I don't know"..
Already giving a sh#&t about delivering a more elaborated answer.
AC no plused
Man this is hard to watch...
I agree, seems like he's in a lot of pain.
Yeah this is so sad.
That was sorta painful to watch. He didn't want to be there.
Wow the price of fame.