Overview
Available for the first time as a traditional paperback, this revised and updated edition contains new and archival interviews with those closest to Chris Bell and the Big Star circle: their friends, family, former bandmatesāeven fans, exes, classmates, and coworkers.
āBellās and Big Starās existence was short, but the wealth of stories and quotes here provides a healthy sustenance for the truth seekers. A top-notch biography.ā āSan Francisco Book Review
The varied cast of voicesāmany from the bandās hometown of Memphisācomprises all the members of Big Star, including Chris Bell, the iconic Alex Chilton, Andy Hummel, and Jody Stephens. In the following decades after its 1975 breakup, the obscure group somehow reached and inspired some of rockās most important bands, including R.E.M., the Replacements, Yo La Tengo, Teenage Fanclub, Beck, and Wilco.
With Chris Bell at the center of the Big Star universe, this book carefully reveals the production of the bandās masterful 1972 debut LP, #1 Record, for Ardent/Stax Records. Despite stellar reviews, the record suffered abysmal sales. Soon after, toxic personality conflicts and turmoil tore the band apart while Bell battled drug abuse and depression. There Was A Light then delves into Big Starās second and third albums, while recounting Bellās second act as a struggling solo musician and born-again Christian. During several trips to Europe, he produced ambitious recordings and pitched himself to record labelsāeven crossing paths with Paul McCartney. From this fertile era arose Bellās lone solo album, the posthumously released I Am the Cosmosāhis swan song and masterpiece.
There Was A Light details the pop culture phenomenon that made Big Star legendary and divulges how its staunch fanbase saved the band from obscurity.
ā... an encyclopedic compendiumā¦illuminating Bellās life from a thousand angles.ā āMemphis Flyer
This book title, There Was A Light (The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star), ISBN: 9781682619285, by Rich Tupica, published by Permuted Press (September 22, 2020) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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