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 ig Star is one of those bands that everyone has heard of, and no one will admit they haven't heard. Formed in the early 1970s in Memphis, the group had a rather strange introduction to the world in that singer Alex Chilton was previously known as a member of the Box Tops, the band behind "The Letter." Also, the theme to That '70s Show, is cribbed from the Big Star song "In the Street," but that's neither here nor there. Big Star is known as not only a critics' darling, but also a band that other bands really dig. The Replacements wrote a song called "Alex Chilton." REM, Teenage Fanclub and Ryan Adams all consider themselves fans. When the group reunited in 1993, original members Chilton and Jody Stephens were joined by Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer of The Posies. Playing good ol' fashioned pop-rock, Big Star winds between the near-psychedelic/prog track "Daisy Glaze," to the soft and vulnerable acoustic ballad "Thirteen" (also featured on the Gilmore Girls soundtrack!). Hooksexup called up drummer Jody Stephens at Ardent Studio in Memphis, where we found that the life of a rock musician can be downright pleasant. — Ryan KennedyBeing in a band for so long — does it become a marriage, and what kind of marriage is it? Certainly it can very much be like a marriage, but having said that, this band is unlike most marriages, in that, I live in Memphis, Alex lived in New Orleans . . . and I guess will be moving back soon, John's base is in Seattle, and I don't know where Ken lives . . . maybe Paris. It's not like we share time together on a daily basis. But anytime there's something emotional involved — which I think the creative process is — it becomes like a marriage or a relationship. We're all kind of dependent on each other.
"Groupie" has a connotation to me — you know, I've been around long enough to have seen the film Groupies — and that doesn't really exist with this band. At least not that I know of. People either really like the band a lot and are passionate about it, or don't like it, there's no in between, and that's how I like it. I'd rather be hated than someone think it's just okay. How about other bands that looked up to you, like The Posies? Well they're a part of the band now, they joined in 1993. Everybody is an integral part of the group. But again, it's always been someone liking our music that has been a bridge to meet with them and have a common denominator. I get to meet people I respect a lot, like REM. Mike Mills and Peter [Buck] have always been wonderful, I just spent some time with Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream, Matthew Sweet . . . I just see it as a mutual respect. What was it like hanging out with Primal Scream? Did they behave, or do they still get wild? Well, from what I understand, Bobby has settled down; he has a wife and children, so his time, his behavior has probably changed a bit. They recorded here at Ardent a couple of years ago. And you know, they like to drink now and again. I was having lunch with Bobby and Robert, the guitarist with the band, about ten years ago, and Robert said, "Gee I've been eating and drinking too much, I've got to cut back," and then there was a pause, and he said, "So I guess I'll quit eating," and he ordered a margarita. So yeah, those guys have a lot of great war stories that are funny now, but maybe weren't so funny at the time. I think they've all calmed down a bit. They're all great guys. Actually, I've never met a Scot who wasn't nice. In terms of debauchery, do you think things are settling down in the music industry because there's more at stake? I don't know. It seems that the folks that pass through here . . . once upon a time, bands would come in — this was twenty-five years ago — and from time to time, someone would have a birthday, and there would be a stripper, and that was like, part of the lifestyle, but in the past fifteen years I can't think of anything. You know, when we play a gig, or play a festival, I don't normally see that. Not like everybody pictures Led Zeppelin or The Who or Kiss. Not so much with REM or Teenage Fanclub? No, not at all. When it comes to making music, do you still get that initial thrill? Oh sure. I wouldn't be around if I didn't. It's addictive. It's like an awakening. You have this gamut of emotions that are instilled in you, and every once and a while, someone comes along and awakens one of them. Or you so it yourself, and that's what attracted me to music. Has anyone ever come up to and said they got laid because of Big Star, or named their kid Daisy after the song? There's a quote being thrown around by Ryan Adams, but not that I know of. Oddly enough, I've had people come up and say the Third album comforted them in a time of despair, and initially I thought that was a bit odd, because I always considered that a dark and melancholy record, but it's always nice to know that when you're going through those periods, you're not going nuts, it could be just a part of what life hands you. So I assume you don't put on your own records when you're in a romantic mood. Oddly enough, Thirteen is an amazingly romantic song, because love doesn't get much more scary or tentative or new than when you're thirteen, because you're still trying to find yourself and find out if other people like you. So yeah, I've never thought to put on one of our records. n°
© 2005 Ryan Kennedy and hooksexup.com. |
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