The Gin and Tonic Is Hereby Dedicated to the Late, Great Alex Chilton

Alex Chilton, the legendary voice and songwriter behind the Box Tops and Big Star, has died, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. He was 59.This is a very sad event for many fans of Chilton's work, as well as the countless artists -- Uncle Tupelo, Matthew Sweet, Elliott Smith, the...

By Reed Fischer

March 17, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Alex Chilton, the legendary voice and songwriter behind the Box Tops and Big Star, has died, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. He was 59.

This is a very sad event for many fans of Chilton's work, as well as the countless artists -- Uncle Tupelo, Matthew Sweet, Elliott Smith, the Replacements, the Jayhawks, Superdrag, among others -- that created music based upon his country/rock/pop fusion.

His Big Star bandmate Jody Stephens confirmed the news this evening.

"Alex passed away a couple of hours ago," Stephens said from Austin,

Texas, where the band was to play Saturday at the annual South By

Southwest Festival. "I don't have a lot of particulars, but they kind of

suspect that it was a heart attack."

In honor of the biggest Big Star, raise a cold gin and tonic. The cocktail is already synonymous with Chilton for its reference tucked within the vivid "The India Song" off 1972's near-perfect #1 Record. When he gets to that final line, "and let no one know when I'm gone," take an extra big swig.

"The India Song"

I'd like to go to India
Live in a big white house in the forest
Drink gin and tonic and play a grand piano
Read a few books
Far from what saddens my heart
Try to live away from it

Find a new girl
Who says she feels the same
Get to know her after the trip
Bathe in a forest pool
Her life a part of mine
And let no one know until I'm gone

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.