16 January 2012
Production Journal   Monday, January 16, 2012The New Year is upon us but we’ve hardly noticed here at Big Star Headquarters, or BS HQ as it’s affectionately known to those we’ve been wrangling up and chatting with lately.  In November we had the distinct honor to host internationally recognized video artist, author and musician Tav Falco right here in our Brooklyn office during a rare state-side visit.  Tav grew up in the same Memphis scene as Alex Chilton where the two became great friends and collaborators in the art damage band, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns.  We spoke with Tav about Alex’s unique voice, a mixture of Chet Baker, Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra.  We also learned about Alex’s love of baseball!  Tav is a true Southern gentleman and we’re so lucky to have his input for the Big Star story!Hot on the heels of Tav’s visit we also had the great fortune to sit down with uber-cool, renowned rock critic and author, Jaan Uhelszki.  Jaan began writing for Detroit’s legendary Creem magazine at the same time as the notorious Lester Bangs.  She got to see Big Star perform live in Memphis in 1973 at the now infamous International Rock Writers Convention, which plays an important role in our story as well.Stay tuned to the Big Star movie blog for more exciting updates and premiere information!

Production Journal   Monday, January 16, 2012

The New Year is upon us but we’ve hardly noticed here at Big Star Headquarters, or BS HQ as it’s affectionately known to those we’ve been wrangling up and chatting with lately.  In November we had the distinct honor to host internationally recognized video artist, author and musician Tav Falco right here in our Brooklyn office during a rare state-side visit.  Tav grew up in the same Memphis scene as Alex Chilton where the two became great friends and collaborators in the art damage band, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns.  We spoke with Tav about Alex’s unique voice, a mixture of Chet Baker, Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra.  We also learned about Alex’s love of baseball!  Tav is a true Southern gentleman and we’re so lucky to have his input for the Big Star story!

Hot on the heels of Tav’s visit we also had the great fortune to sit down with uber-cool, renowned rock critic and author, Jaan Uhelszki.  Jaan began writing for Detroit’s legendary Creem magazine at the same time as the notorious Lester Bangs.  She got to see Big Star perform live in Memphis in 1973 at the now infamous International Rock Writers Convention, which plays an important role in our story as well.

Stay tuned to the Big Star movie blog for more exciting updates and premiere information!

#
21 November 2011
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

The first official teaser for the upcoming feature documentary about the massive critical acclaim, dismal commercial failure and enduring legacy of pop music’s greatest cult phenomenon, Big Star.  For more information, please contact: info@bigstarstory.com.

#
3 November 2011

Production Journal - Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Flipping, turning, sifting and sniffing through cardboard boxes and multi-colored crates, there were all ages and all kinds of people shuffling around and weaving through the crowd at the West-side Manhattan convention hall this past weekend that hosted listener supported independent free-form radio station, WFMU’s, annual record fair.  Live music, live radio broadcasts and concert films playing on various portable viewing devices filled the air with snippets of garage band beats, man on the street interview sound bites and chords from bootlegged concerts.

And, of course, the Big Star movie team was right in the thick of it all with our camera and sound gear, searching out cool characters, rare records and stories about Big Star!

We met Keith Glass who ran the world renowned Missing Link Records in Melbourne, Australia.  The store he worked at in 1972 used to order #1 Record from their distributor every single week after the album’s original release but they never received one copy.

We also talked with dealer Scott Curean who has seven different pressings of the Third record, from both sides of the Atlantic, which he’s not willing to part with.

And then, of course, there’s the famed Brazilian pressing that’s still a mystery to dealers today!  What’s the story with that?

Are you a Big Star, Alex Chilton or Chris Bell super fan?  Do you have ticket stubs, footage or other holy relics relating to Big Star?  If so, we want to hear from you too! Please leave us a Facebook message or email us at: info@bigstarstory.com.

#
21 October 2011
Production Journal - Friday, October 21   One reason that Big Star’s story has endured and inspired fans since the band’s inception in the early 1970’s is the abundance of reviews and articles that rock writers have continued to produce the world over.  Big Star resonated with the critics who were disenchanted with overblown and megalomaniacal early 1970s rock stars.  They felt the soul had gone out of rock-n-roll and Big Star was the band with heart who could bring it back to it’s roots.   An important writer on and from this period is Lenny Kaye, New York legend and rock critic for such publications as Fusion, Crawdaddy, Melody Maker, Creem and Rolling Stone.  He is also well known as a long-time guitarist and collaborator with Patti Smith, has produced for many other artists and has been nominated for three Grammy awards in the liner notes category.   And last week we got to pick his brain!  Lenny joined 140 other writers for the world’s first and only Rock Writers Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee in 1973.  The premise of the event was to organize and elevate a rag tag bunch of rock scribes from home and abroad, but it ended up being three-day booze fest!  The convention was sponsored by Big Star’s studio and label, Ardent Records, and the band played one of their best, most energetic live shows ever during the event.  The performance buoyed the group and brought Big Star together as a cohesive trio, ready to finish up their second album, Radio City.   Lenny had some great insights into the nature of the music industry and what makes a cult band.  But, of course, you’ll have to see the movie to hear the whole story!  Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page for more rock writers’ profiles and sneak peeks into the production of the film, the Big Star Story.

Production Journal - Friday, October 21

 

One reason that Big Star’s story has endured and inspired fans since the band’s inception in the early 1970’s is the abundance of reviews and articles that rock writers have continued to produce the world over.  Big Star resonated with the critics who were disenchanted with overblown and megalomaniacal early 1970s rock stars.  They felt the soul had gone out of rock-n-roll and Big Star was the band with heart who could bring it back to it’s roots.

 

An important writer on and from this period is Lenny Kaye, New York legend and rock critic for such publications as Fusion, Crawdaddy, Melody Maker, Creem and Rolling Stone.  He is also well known as a long-time guitarist and collaborator with Patti Smith, has produced for many other artists and has been nominated for three Grammy awards in the liner notes category.

 

And last week we got to pick his brain!  Lenny joined 140 other writers for the world’s first and only Rock Writers Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee in 1973.  The premise of the event was to organize and elevate a rag tag bunch of rock scribes from home and abroad, but it ended up being three-day booze fest!  The convention was sponsored by Big Star’s studio and label, Ardent Records, and the band played one of their best, most energetic live shows ever during the event.  The performance buoyed the group and brought Big Star together as a cohesive trio, ready to finish up their second album, Radio City.

 

Lenny had some great insights into the nature of the music industry and what makes a cult band.  But, of course, you’ll have to see the movie to hear the whole story!  Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page for more rock writers’ profiles and sneak peeks into the production of the film, the Big Star Story.

#
13 October 2011
Big Star Story - Production Journal - Thursday, October 13th We’re two weeks into autumn and full speed ahead into editing.  Based out of Brooklyn, New York, The Big Star Story team has set up some sweet digs with some sweet Steve Keene artwork on the walls where we’re going to be holed up until January.  We’re keeping our noses to the grindstone, but managing to squeeze in some super exciting interviews. Last week we had a great time talking with the contagiously enthusiastic former rock critic, Nix on Pix fanzine creator and three time International Rhino Music Trivia Champion, Pete Tomlinson!  We talked about Big Star, the one and only Rock Writers Convention and of course, rock-n-roll! Up next, the legendary Lenny Kaye!  We’ve got exciting news on the horizon and will announce it here first.  So tell all your friends and keep checking back for periodic updates as we gear up for festival season 2012!

Big Star Story - Production Journal - Thursday, October 13th

We’re two weeks into autumn and full speed ahead into editing.  Based out of Brooklyn, New York, The Big Star Story team has set up some sweet digs with some sweet Steve Keene artwork on the walls where we’re going to be holed up until January.  We’re keeping our noses to the grindstone, but managing to squeeze in some super exciting interviews.

Last week we had a great time talking with the contagiously enthusiastic former rock critic, Nix on Pix fanzine creator and three time International Rhino Music Trivia Champion, Pete Tomlinson!  We talked about Big Star, the one and only Rock Writers Convention and of course, rock-n-roll!

Up next, the legendary Lenny Kaye!  We’ve got exciting news on the horizon and will announce it here first.  So tell all your friends and keep checking back for periodic updates as we gear up for festival season 2012!

#
7 October 2011

http://bigstarstory.com/

Have you checked out our website yet?

#

http://bigstarblog.tumblr.com/

Great resource for all things Big Star!

#
18 March 2010

Thank you friend and take care…

RIP Alex Chilton

#
28 February 2010

Big Star at SXSW!!

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything but wanted to let you guys know the Big Star Story crew has been hard at work this winter! Plus great news! Big Star will be playing at SXSW on March 20 and we’ll be there filming it all. Hope to see y’all there! More info to come and lots of posts from Austin…

#
23 December 2009
Merry Christmas from the Big Star Story gang.

Merry Christmas from the Big Star Story gang.

#
Back in time »