Pictured in Memphis, 1972 are Big Star
founders (l-r) Chris Bell, Jody Stephens,
Andy Hummel and Alex Chilton.Memphis, TN (September 30, 2010)–Ardent Studios reports that Big Star fans have until October 3, 2010 to bid on a unique St. Blues guitar in an auction benefiting Alex Chilton’s family.
Ardent Studios in Memphis is calling on the community and Big Star fans worldwide to support a benefit auction for the family of founding member Alex Chilton, who died three days before the band’s reunion concert on March 20.
Chilton had been scheduled to play a concert with Big Star at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, TX. The show instead took place as a tribute to Chilton. The current Big Star lineup that night consisted of original member Jody Stephens, with Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer. They were joined throughout the night by special guests–Mike Mills of R.E.M., Brendan Benson of Raconteurs, Sondre Lerche, Amy Speace, Susan Marshall, Jimmy Stephens (Jody’s brother), and John Davis of Superdrag.
Backstage, St. Blues Guitars of Memphis had all the performers sign a Bluesmaster guitar to auction later to raise money for Alex Chilton’s wife, Laura. Supporters of Alex Chilton’s music, his family, Big Star, and Memphis music are now bidding on this one of a kind St. Blues guitar from that very special night. When the eBay auction ends on October 3, 2010 at 11:05 a.m. PDT, all the money for the guitar will be donated to the surviving family of Alex.
Chilton was a prolific songwriter and musician, and his years with Big Star produced four studio albums recorded at Ardent Studios, three of which have been listed in Rolling Stone’s Greatest 500 Albums of All Time.
To bid:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230529801695
