Blood, Sweat & Chilton? – Moments That Nearly Destroyed Rock

In 1970, Alex Chilton was a man without a band. The 19-year-old Memphis rocker had tasted success as a member of the Box Tops, scoring a No. 1 hit with 'The Letter,' but the group had gone kaput, leaving him to record demos and produce local artists. Around this time, jazz-rock heroes Blood, Sweat & Tears needed to fill the void left by their recently departed vocalist, so they made Chilton an offer. Turns out it was one he could -- and did -- refuse. The following year, Chilton met Chris Bell and formed Big Star, a wildly influential power-pop band whose list of admirers reads like a Who's Who of alt- and indie rock. Chilton died in 2010, but he'll live on forever in the the Replacements tune 'Alex Chilton,' which pays tribute to the indie icon.