R.I.P. Alex Chilton (1950-2010)

Former Big Star and Box Tops singer Alex Chilton -- who was heralded in the Replacements song named after him -- died today in New Orleans, apprently from a heart attack.The shocking news has cast quite a pall over the South by Southwest Music Conference, where Chilton and drummer Jody Stephens were to perform on Saturday as Big Star (with members of the Posies). There was also supposed to be a day panel on the band earlier that day. Memphis Commercial Appeal music critic Bob Mehr sent out a mass email to SXSW attendees alerting them to the news. The widespread belief is that there will be an all-star tribute to him down here in Austin in the slot Big Star was supposed to play. Paging Paul Westerberg!

Thanks in part to the Replacements connection (he also produced some "Tim"-era tracks for the Minneapolis band), Chilton was a popular draw in the Twin Cities, appearing at events such as the Mill City Fest and Taste of Minnesota in addition to First Ave and the 400 Bar.