<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Star</span>

Big Star

<p><b>Big Star</b> was an American rock band formed in <a href="/en/Memphis,_Tennessee" title="Memphis, Tennessee" class="wl">Memphis</a>, Tennessee, in 1971 by <a href="/en/Alex_Chilton" title="Alex Chilton" class="wl">Alex Chilton</a> (vocals, guitar), <a href="/en/Chris_Bell_(American_musician)" title="Chris Bell (American musician)" class="wl">Chris Bell</a> (vocals, guitar), <a href="/en/Jody_Stephens" title="Jody Stephens" class="wl">Jody Stephens</a> (drums), and <a href="/en/Andy_Hummel" title="Andy Hummel" class="wl">Andy Hummel</a> (bass). The group broke up in early 1975, and reorganized with a new lineup 18 years later following a reunion concert at the <a href="/en/University_of_Missouri" title="University of Missouri" class="wl">University of Missouri</a>. In its first era, the band's musical style drew on <a href="/en/The_Beatles" title="The Beatles" class="wl">the Beatles</a>, <a href="/en/The_Rolling_Stones" title="The Rolling Stones" class="wl">the Rolling Stones</a>, and <a href="/en/The_Byrds" title="The Byrds" class="wl">the Byrds</a>. Big Star produced a style that foreshadowed the <a href="/en/Alternative_rock" title="Alternative rock" class="wl">alternative rock</a> of the 1980s and 1990s. Before they broke up, Big Star created a "seminal body of work that never stopped inspiring succeeding generations", in the words of <i><a href="/en/Rolling_Stone" title="Rolling Stone" class="wl">Rolling Stone</a></i>,<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-BigStarBio_2-0"><a href="#cite_note-BigStarBio-2" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 2;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[2]</span></a></span> as the "quintessential American power pop band", and "one of the most mythic and influential <a href="/en/Cult_following" title="Cult following" class="wl">cult acts</a> in all of rock &amp; roll".<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Ankeny_3-0"><a href="#cite_note-Ankeny-3" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[3]</span></a></span> Three of Big Star's studio albums are included in the Rolling Stone's list of the Top 500 Albums of All-Time.</p>

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">American rock band</div>
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles mw:Transclusion">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1066479718" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}</style><div class='mobile-collapse'><header class="mobile-collapse-header mobile-collapse-btn"><b>Quick facts: Big Star, Background information, Origin, Gen...</b> <span class='arrow'>▼</span></header> <table class="infobox vcard plainlist mobile-collapse-element"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above notheme" style="background-color: #b0c4de; font-size: 125%;"><div class="">Big Star</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span><a href="/en/File:Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" title="Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens of Big Star perform on stage." data-hash="File:Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg"><img loading="lazy"alt="Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens of Big Star perform on stage." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg/267px-Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg" decoding="async" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="1944" data-file-type="bitmap" height="200" width="267" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg/400px-Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg/533px-Big_Star_at_Hyde_Park_7.jpg 2x"></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">Big Star on stage at <a href="/en/Hyde_Park,_London" title="Hyde Park, London" class="wl">Hyde Park</a>, London, England in 2009</div></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header notheme" style="background-color: #b0c4de">Background information</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Origin</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="nowrap"><a href="/en/Memphis,_Tennessee" title="Memphis, Tennessee" class="wl">Memphis, Tennessee</a>, United States</span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Genres</th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><div class="hlist ">
<ul><li><a href="/en/Rock_music" title="Rock music" class="wl">Rock</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Power_pop" title="Power pop" class="wl">power pop</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Jangle_pop" title="Jangle pop" class="wl">jangle pop</a><span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="#cite_note-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a></span></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><span class="nowrap">Years active</span></th><td class="infobox-data">1971–1975, 1993–2010</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Labels</th><td class="infobox-data"><div class="hlist ">
<ul><li><a href="/en/Ardent_Records" title="Ardent Records" class="wl">Ardent</a>/<a href="/en/Stax_Records" title="Stax Records" class="wl">Stax</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Rykodisc" title="Rykodisc" class="wl">Rykodisc</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header notheme" style="background-color: #b0c4de"></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><span class="nowrap">Past members</span></th><td class="infobox-data">
<ul><li><a href="/en/Alex_Chilton" title="Alex Chilton" class="wl">Alex Chilton</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Jody_Stephens" title="Jody Stephens" class="wl">Jody Stephens</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Andy_Hummel" title="Andy Hummel" class="wl">Andy Hummel</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Chris_Bell_(American_musician)" title="Chris Bell (American musician)" class="wl">Chris Bell</a></li>
<li>John Lightman</li>
<li><a href="/en/Jon_Auer" title="Jon Auer" class="wl">Jon Auer</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Ken_Stringfellow" title="Ken Stringfellow" class="wl">Ken Stringfellow</a></li></ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table> <footer class='mobile-collapse-footer mobile-collapse-btn'><b>Close</b> <span class='arrow'>▲</span></footer></div>
<p>Big Star's debut album, 1972's <i><a href="/en/Number_1_Record" title="Number 1 Record" class="wl">#1 Record</a></i>, was met by enthusiastic reviews, but ineffective marketing by <a href="/en/Stax_Records" title="Stax Records" class="wl">Stax Records</a>, and limited distribution stunted its commercial success. Frustration took its toll on band relations: Bell left not long after the first record's commercial progress stalled, and Hummel left to finish his college education after a second album, <i><a href="/en/Radio_City_(album)" title="Radio City (album)" class="wl">Radio City</a></i>, was completed in December 1973. Like <i>#1<span>&nbsp;</span>Record</i>, <i>Radio City</i> received excellent reviews,<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Still2014_4-0"><a href="#cite_note-Still2014-4" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 4;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[4]</span></a></span> but label issues again thwarted sales—<a href="/en/Columbia_Records" title="Columbia Records" class="wl">Columbia Records</a>, which had assumed control of the Stax catalog, likewise effectively vetoed its distribution.</p>

<p>After a third album, recorded in the fall of 1974, was deemed commercially unviable and shelved before receiving a title, the band broke up late in 1974. Four years later, the first two Big Star LPs were released together in the UK as a double album. The band's third album was finally issued soon afterward; titled <i><a href="/en/Third/Sister_Lovers" title="Third/Sister Lovers" class="wl">Third/Sister Lovers</a></i>, it found limited commercial success, but has since become a cult classic. Shortly thereafter, Chris Bell was killed in a car accident <a href="/en/27_Club" title="27 Club" class="wl">at the age of 27</a>.</p>

<p>During the group's hiatus in the 1980s, the Big Star discography drew renewed attention when <a href="/en/R.E.M." title="R.E.M." class="wl">R.E.M.</a> and <a href="/en/The_Replacements_(band)" title="The Replacements (band)" class="wl">the Replacements</a>, as well as other popular bands, cited the group as an influence. In 1992, interest was further stimulated by <a href="/en/Rykodisc" title="Rykodisc" class="wl">Rykodisc</a>'s <a href="/en/Reissue" title="Reissue" class="wl">reissues</a> of the band's albums, complemented by a collection of Bell's solo work.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Borack_5-0"><a href="#cite_note-Borack-5" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 5;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[5]</span></a></span><sup class="reference nowrap"><span><span>:</span><span> </span>13<span> </span></span></sup></p>

<p>In 1993, Chilton and Stephens reformed Big Star with recruits <a href="/en/Jon_Auer" title="Jon Auer" class="wl">Jon Auer</a> and <a href="/en/Ken_Stringfellow" title="Ken Stringfellow" class="wl">Ken Stringfellow</a> of <a href="/en/The_Posies" title="The Posies" class="wl">the Posies</a>, and gave a concert at the <a href="/en/University_of_Missouri" title="University of Missouri" class="wl">University of Missouri</a>.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Jovanovic_6-0"><a href="#cite_note-Jovanovic-6" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 6;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[6]</span></a></span><sup class="reference nowrap"><span><span>:</span><span> </span>253<span> </span></span></sup> The band remained active, performing tours in Europe and Japan,<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Jovanovic_6-1"><a href="#cite_note-Jovanovic-6" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 6;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[6]</span></a></span><sup class="reference nowrap"><span><span>:</span><span> </span>253–260<span> </span></span></sup> and released a new studio album, <i><a href="/en/In_Space" title="In Space" class="wl">In Space</a></i>, in 2005. Chilton died in March 2010 after suffering from heart problems.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-chiltondeath_7-0"><a href="#cite_note-chiltondeath-7" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 7;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[7]</span></a></span> Hummel died of cancer four months later.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-hummeldeath_8-0"><a href="#cite_note-hummeldeath-8" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 8;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[8]</span></a></span> These deaths left Stephens as the sole surviving founding member. Big Star was inducted into the <a href="/en/Memphis_Music_Hall_of_Fame" title="Memphis Music Hall of Fame" class="wl">Memphis Music Hall of Fame</a> in 2014.</p>

<p>Since December 2010, several surviving members have appeared in a series of live tribute performances of the album <i><a href="/en/Third/Sister_Lovers" title="Third/Sister Lovers" class="wl">Third/Sister Lovers</a></i>, under the billing "Big Star's <i>Third</i>".<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-VillageVoice2011_9-0"><a href="#cite_note-VillageVoice2011-9" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 9;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[9]</span></a></span><span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian2012_10-0"><a href="#cite_note-Guardian2012-10" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 10;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[10]</span></a></span> <span>As of 2017</span><sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a rel="mw:ExtLink" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Star&amp;action=edit" class="external text" target="_blank">[update]</a></sup>, that project has remained active.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-BigStarThird2017_11-0"><a href="#cite_note-BigStarThird2017-11" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 11;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[11]</span></a></span></p>



Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton , Chris Bell , Jody Stephens , and Andy Hummel . The group broke up in early 1975, and reorganized with a new lineup 18 years later following a reunion concert at the University of Missouri. In its first era, the band's musical style drew on the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Byrds. Big Star produced a style that foreshadowed the alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s. Before they broke up, Big Star created a "seminal body of work that never stopped inspiring succeeding generations", in the words of Rolling Stone, Three of Big Star's studio albums are included in the Rolling Stone's list of the Top 500 Albums of All-Time. Big Star's debut album, 1972's #1 Record, was met by enthusiastic reviews, but ineffective marketing by Stax Records, and limited distribution stunted its commercial success. Frustration took its toll on band relations: Bell left not long after the first record's commercial progress stalled, and Hummel left to finish his college education after a second album, Radio City, was completed in December 1973. Like #1 Record, Radio City received excellent reviews, but label issues again thwarted sales—Columbia Records, which had assumed control of the Stax catalog, likewise effectively vetoed its distribution. After a third album, recorded in the fall of 1974, was deemed commercially unviable and shelved before receiving a title, the band broke up late in 1974. Four years later, the first two Big Star LPs were released together in the UK as a double album. The band's third album was finally issued soon afterward; titled Third/Sister Lovers, it found limited commercial success, but has since become a cult classic. Shortly thereafter, Chris Bell was killed in a car accident at the age of 27. 