He wore a polo shirt with the collar up under a dinner jacket onstage. This is a man who did whatever the hell he felt like doing. And he had a terrific head of hair.
Doing what he wanted made Chilton a true artist, an iconoclast, and a real success much more than hacks that sold their soul just to make the charts. Look at The Lemon Twigs covering All Of The Time , 40 years after Chilton recorded it. Music from the heart and soul has staying power that pure commercialism does not have.
I saw Chilton live late 90s. His guitar playing was amazing. He could play rhythm and lead at the same time. The music he played was to dance to which the whole audience did all night.
+steelygray Thanks for that title. I basically knew it, but was too lazy to check on it, to be honest. Yes, it's been here for quite some time, but a nice performance, to be sure. All the best, my friend!
Steve Cropper as well. Alex studied his playing style because it had that perfect blend of rock/blues that he'd always wanted to achieve. I'd say he did so, and then some! Great artist, great guy.
Incredible thing is when he started out with The Box Tops he was a young singer and that was his role. He was their lead vocalist. He couldn't play guitar at that time. And since that time he taught himself and his guitar playing got better and better over the years. By the 90s he was kicking ass on the guitar. Yeah, there is definitely a lot of both Steve Cropper and Dave Davies in his guitar playing it's true.
What a great video! I saw him play in Chicago many moons ago very memorable! Who is the red headed background singer here? I've seen her before as well...
not sure who the singers are. However, they both look like heavier versions of Justine Bateman (Left, Family Ties era) and Leah Thompson (Right, John Hughes movie era)
Still think he missed the boat by not going for a straight rock sound. The beat is there. But to many chefs in the kitchen. Obviously his vocals on the letter were a bit of a put on. This is his real voice. Talented but never really commercial enough. I guess he did it his way.
You kinda don't get what you're hearing here. This is great guitar playing. It's in a rhythmic space you might not understand. Alex Chilton knew a fuckload about guitar playing, and also about what music is all about, which isn't like super-fast guitar wankery. This is boiled down into something that only seems simple, but few have ever had the taste and the musicality to appear so minimal and yet make it work.
Alex Chilton could do whatever the fuck he wanted to do and make it sound great. He is one of rock's true titans. Fools like Master Debater (sad username - it has to be said) who try to limit him and pigeonhole him to a single genre simply don't have a clue.
He wore a polo shirt with the collar up under a dinner jacket onstage. This is a man who did whatever the hell he felt like doing. And he had a terrific head of hair.
Margaret Browne Love his hair....yeah, he did what he wanted
Got the collar from Shemp Howard I think.
Doing what he wanted made Chilton a true artist, an iconoclast, and a real success much more than hacks that sold their soul just to make the charts. Look at The Lemon Twigs covering All Of The Time , 40 years after Chilton recorded it. Music from the heart and soul has staying power that pure commercialism does not have.
@@beastieboy9286 So??
Chilton was the Zelig of Rock and Roll.... He keeps popping up just when you think you've seen everything.
I keep coming back to this. So different , unfiltered, unpretentious, and GREAT man !
I do too
I feel like he’s a real underrated guitarist. Very idiosyncratic, but always effective.
His rhythm playing here melds so well with the horn chart.
Amazing guitarist
I saw Chilton live late 90s. His guitar playing was amazing. He could play rhythm and lead at the same time. The music he played was to dance to which the whole audience did all night.
There is Memphis coming out of him
I wish he recorded 100 Big Star Third-like records. I am so into that record right now
Third is an absolute masterpiece...as good as any album ever made.
Huge influence on the Replacements.Never realized that until I started watching these old videos,love the Replacements.
LIES is the name of the song. Excellent. Hey, i don't know how i missed this one!
+steelygray Thanks for that title. I basically knew it, but was too lazy to check on it, to be honest. Yes, it's been here for quite some time, but a nice performance, to be sure. All the best, my friend!
This song kinda sucks compared to some of his other songs.
@@chipgaasche4933 It's a cover of a 50s song.
Very thankful for this - saw him around this time, without the horns and singers - was stoked to see the big sound live (on TV)! One of a kind.
Happy to have provided a few minutes of satisfaction, with this AC clip. Thanks for the nod of appreciation, too!
Fucking awesome
It's pretty Impressive that he sang a massive hit when he was 16, stayed sane and created even better music.
God I LOVE HIS GUITAR PLAYING. You can tell Dave Davies really got to him. That is ROCK N ROLL pure n simple
Steve Cropper as well. Alex studied his playing style because it had that perfect blend of rock/blues that he'd always wanted to achieve. I'd say he did so, and then some! Great artist, great guy.
Incredible thing is when he started out with The Box Tops he was a young singer and that was his role. He was their lead vocalist. He couldn't play guitar at that time. And since that time he taught himself and his guitar playing got better and better over the years. By the 90s he was kicking ass on the guitar. Yeah, there is definitely a lot of both Steve Cropper and Dave Davies in his guitar playing it's true.
Lol..are you kidding? I've played with a LOT of guitarists and EVERYONE OF THEM was better than this mediocre player. He can sing, though.
Lol..are you kidding? I've played with a LOT of guitarists and EVERYONE OF THEM was better than this mediocre player. He can sing, though.
my hero
Good song !
What a great video! I saw him play in Chicago many moons ago very memorable! Who is the red headed background singer here? I've seen her before as well...
not sure who the singers are. However, they both look like heavier versions of Justine Bateman (Left, Family Ties era) and Leah Thompson (Right, John Hughes movie era)
the real grandfather of grunge alternative rock Alex Chilton
Freddy Zapata kg
My grandfather
@@kristinachilton7484 Big Star was like the most awesome band ever
He played on Johnny Thunders’ So Alone. That solidifies the case.
@@kristinachilton7484 Lies ;)
Hell yeah
i saw him on this tour....in boston....paradise lounge?
Shine on you krazy diamond.
Wow@💓💕
I would like this more if it was just Alex C and an acoustic.
Yes too good.
Superstar
he did a kinks cover-till the end of the day
He and Ray Davies were nabors in NOLA and played that song together.
Too much of a coincidence that Paul McCartney didn't rip this off with Try not to Cry off his Run devil run album.
Ever hear " You get what you deserve' or more of Chilton's BIG STAR stuff? debt paid.
jsilence418 I know and am a huge fan of all Big Star's stuff. There's a difference between emulating and plagiarism though. Just saying...
I just listened to Paul McCartney's 'Try Not To Cry' after reading your comment here. It sounds verrry similar to 'Lies'.
Alex crossin' the bar lines there at the end. Master class in guitar playing and some dirty shit.
You forget what a genuinely good singer he was.
Not a bad rock 'n roll tune / performance.
brutal
McCartney ripped this off.
Alex Chilton >>>>> Paul McCartney. It's not even close.
Still think he missed the boat by not going for a straight rock sound. The beat is there. But to many chefs in the kitchen. Obviously his vocals on the letter were a bit of a put on. This is his real voice. Talented but never really commercial enough. I guess he did it his way.
glad alex got his just desserts in the end
lucky three - What? I hope you don’t mean DYING YOUNG
This is kinda sad.
Chip Gaasche but it’s what makes it awesome.
@@josefk5659 for YOU, perhaps, joe. This song kinda sucks as does his guitar playing.
@@chipgaasche4933 you’re not wrong but that’s what I love about this album so much.
Fabulous guitar - Keith R, Dave D, Willie Johnson...loose, delicious tuning, funky.
You kinda don't get what you're hearing here. This is great guitar playing. It's in a rhythmic space you might not understand. Alex Chilton knew a fuckload about guitar playing, and also about what music is all about, which isn't like super-fast guitar wankery. This is boiled down into something that only seems simple, but few have ever had the taste and the musicality to appear so minimal and yet make it work.
What's up with that collar? Not to mention the backup singers. Jeez.
+amherstguitar
He's a soul man, dude!
amherstguitar That's just Alex being Alex!
Yuk. Soul did nothing for him. Should have kept with the gorgeous power pop
At the end of the day, it all comes from the same thing. And Alex was always deeper than just power pop.
Nah. It doesn't all come from the same thing
Thanks for your deep insight Master Debater.
Alex Chilton could do whatever the fuck he wanted to do and make it sound great. He is one of rock's true titans. Fools like Master Debater (sad username - it has to be said) who try to limit him and pigeonhole him to a single genre simply don't have a clue.
He hated power pop lol