December Boy: On Alex Chilton

Great article. What a life. I enjoyed the Big Star documentary from a few years ago but had no idea how extraordinary his life was.

I always loved this Alex Chilton line from a Rolling Stone interview years ago (as article notes, Chilton wrote the theme song that Cheap Trick covered for That 70’s Show):

> What do you think of Cheap Trick’s take on “In the Street” [used as the theme to the Fox-TV sitcom That 70’s Show]?

I haven’t heard it.

> Really? Is it true that you only get $70 in royalties per airing?

Yeah. It’s actually ironic that the amount is $70. To me it’s “That $70 Show.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alex-chilton-s...

This appears to be the video referenced in the article, thanks for the post!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw @ 1:35 the keyboardist gives a good reaction...

Reminds me of another TV performance, Roger Miller... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI-Y0CMGwxo

If you haven't heard it, the Ork Records compilation is really good:

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21203-ork-records-new-y...

(Of course, all the Big Star albums are great too)