"Run the Red Light!"

Most biographies, you know how it's gonna turn out. If it's a story of a life, usually you get to that point where it all ends. I knew that Alex Chilton died in 2010, but in the book, it still comes as a great shock. He was relatively(only 59 years old) young, and active, and seemingly full of energy and life. And you know he had more music in him, and well, you are reminded that you are really gonna miss him.  I grew to really admire Alex Chilton. He had a remarkable and confounding life and career, and he left us with years and years of interesting, beautiful, raucous and challenging music.

And his story is one that lots and lots musicians can relate to.  He played to lots of empty bars, and lots of low-paying shows, and he played with many different musicians, and he explored all kinds of music. And he was a man always a little bit "out of time." He was in a Top Forty band when it wasn't really cool to be in a Top Forty band. He was in a Power Pop band, before there was Power Pop, and when it wasn't really cool, he was a Punk Rocker, and a Roots Rocker, a Jazzman, and an Indie Rocker for years and years - which meant lots of obscure records, failed record companies, bad deals, little or no money.

Alex was sort of a legend to many other musicians and fans, but for years he had to do odd jobs just to get along - dishwasher, taxicab driver, tree trimmer. But he kept going. Chilton for years was a "critics darling" but rarely did that translate into a monied "career."  There's so many interesting facets to his story. I am on the hunt for records from his solo career, turns out so much of his music is rare and out of print, and if you want to snag a copy, you have to pony up lots of cool cash.

Anyway, one morning in 2010, Alex  "took ill," had "the chills," and his wife drove him to the hospital. He sort of slumped in the car, his last words were: "Run the red light!"  And then he went unconscious, and died en route.  That's how it happens. One day. The day. It happens. A life ends. The music stops. Sad.

In the meantime, I do think we should take his advice... "Run the red light!" 

Here's Alex in 1985, wandering around a cemetery in New Orleans... I like to think he's got his guitar with him even now, and he's still doing his thing. Rock on Alex Chilton...