“. . . [an]  assured and studiously researched book. . . Jovanovic does a fine job of tracing the ins and outs of the Memphis scene that the band sprang from, as well as casting a good deal of light on the creative process that the band went through. . .  the author covers the band’s life with authority and a clear eye, an insightful and loving account of one of rock’s lost greats.”

- DOUG JOHNSTONE, Scotland On Sunday, October 31st 2004

Synopsis
"I want to make an album of real genius, to sit alongside the Stones' 'Exile On Main Street', and Big Star's 'Third'" (Peter Buck, R.E.M. 1991) The definitive biography of Big Star, the most influential band of the last 30 years. Although Big Star were together for less than four years and had little commercial success, the influence of their three albums -- #1 Record, Radio City and Third -- are still felt today. Big Star bucked the musical trend of the Seventies. In an era of glam and prog rock they wrote catchy, radio friendly Power-pop tunes that remain influential today. Artists such as Primal Scream, R.E.M., the Bangles, the Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Jeff Buckley, Garbage, St. Etienne, Pavement and Travis regularly speak of the Big Star legacy. After singing in 1960s boy-band The Box Tops, Alex Chilton joined up with Andy Hummel, Jody Stephens and Chris Bell to form Big Star in late 1970. Chilton and Bell quickly formed a Lennon-McCartney type partnership at the heart of band and began turning out tunes laced with the best pop sensibilities of the Beatles and Badfinger, the guitars of the Byrds and the harmonies of the Beach Boys. But creative tensions, haphazard distribution, and marketplace indifference sent the band into a series of splits, solo-projects and short-lived reunions that left them on the brink of oblivion. Thirty years later though, and most guitar bands in the world will admit a debt to Big Star and their three albums remain unqualified successes. Drawing on interviews from surviving band members (including Andy Hummel's first interview for 30 years) and the major players at the Memphis based record label Ardent, Rob Jovanovic has written the definitive history of Big Star, the forgotten band.

Avaiable at all UK bookshops (ask them to order it if it's not on the shelf!) and through amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007149085/qid=1100004480/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/202-0633774-7733452

US readers can order it from amazon.com at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0007149085/qid=1100005954/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-4667744-1120039?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Links

Be sure to check out http://www.frontlinearts.com/bigstar/ for all things Big Star in nature

and you can find 4th Estate at www.4thestate.co.uk

Please check back soon for more updates and further information.

All site content is (C) Copyright Rob Jovanovic 2004 unless otherwise noted. No site content may be reproduced in any form without first obtaining written permission.