Way Out West

July 19, 2010 7:18 PM

Andy Hummel, original bassist in Big Star, died today at age 59, just four months after the death of Alex Chilton.

Chilton died just days before the reformed Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW, with Hummel slated to join them onstage for the first time since leaving the band in 1974. At the Chilton tribute concert that ensued, Hummel joined his old bandmate Jody Stephens to play his Big Star composition, Way Out West.

posted by scody (25 comments total)

That's terribly sad.

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posted by dbiedny at 7:34 PM on July 19, 2010

Jody Stephens is now the Tommy Ramone of Big Star :(
posted by joey! at 7:34 PM on July 19, 2010

The best underrated band ever.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:39 PM on July 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

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posted by Joey Michaels at 7:45 PM on July 19, 2010

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posted by mwhybark at 8:07 PM on July 19, 2010

Two of my favorite Big Star songs are Hummel's: "Way Out West" and "The India Song." It's a shame he didn't continue writing songs or making music at all after Radio City. I hadn't known he was supposed to have joined them at the SXSW show -- man. RIP.
posted by lisa g at 8:25 PM on July 19, 2010

Way Out West is such a great song. (And interestingly, with its sparseness and about-to-fall-apart quality, seems like it would be more at home on Sister Lovers, on which Hummel did not even play.)

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posted by ericost at 8:29 PM on July 19, 2010

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posted by ardgedee at 8:37 PM on July 19, 2010

I learned of Big Star after hearing Elliott Smith's cover of Thirteen.

I've loved them ever since. When I heard of Alex Chilton's death I was truly saddened. I'm sorry to hear Andy has passed as well. much too soon.

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posted by heyethan at 8:39 PM on July 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wow, this makes me so sad.

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posted by punchdrunkhistory at 8:42 PM on July 19, 2010

Oh no. RIP, dear sir.
posted by sleepy pete at 8:54 PM on July 19, 2010

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posted by Kinbote at 9:18 PM on July 19, 2010

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posted by Zerowensboring at 9:26 PM on July 19, 2010

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posted by Rangeboy at 10:05 PM on July 19, 2010

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posted by Palindromedary at 10:12 PM on July 19, 2010

Aww. And I didn't even know Chilton had died!
posted by klangklangston at 11:05 PM on July 19, 2010

♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:15 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by El Brendano at 1:36 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by cropshy at 3:21 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by joe lisboa at 3:40 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by litlnemo at 4:53 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by equalpants at 6:44 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by desuetude at 6:54 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by NailsTheCat at 7:50 AM on July 20, 2010

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posted by Iridic at 7:58 AM on July 20, 2010