There Was A Light: The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star

by Rich Tupica

“…the holy grail of information on Big Star and the late Chris Bell. An oral history spanning 400 pages, There Was A Light is exhaustive in its detail and entrancing in its storytelling.” —Under the Radar 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 their friends, family, former bandmates—even fans, exes, classmates, and coworkers. “Bell’s and Big Star’s existence was short, but the wealth of stories and quotes here provides a healthy sustenance for the truth seekers. A top-notch biography.” —San Francisco Book Review The varied cast of voices—many from the band’s hometown of Memphis—comprises 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 rock’s 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 band’s 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 Star’s second and third albums, while recounting Bell’s 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 labels—even crossing paths with Paul McCartney. From this fertile era arose Bell’s lone solo album, the posthumously released I Am the Cosmos—his 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. “... an encyclopedic compendium…illuminating Bell’s life from a thousand angles.” —Memphis Flyer

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

588 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the first oral history that I’ve listened to in audiobook format. It was a little hard to keep track of and I would have preferred to read it in print instead. I’m a big Chris Bell and Big Star fan so I found the book very interesting and informative.

[George Henry IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on Chris Bell and the Big Star story by far. The definitive Big Star account. An oral history is always a great format to get the true story from the mouths of tons of people and capture more of the nuances of the personality being documented. The Jerry Garcia oral history called Dark Star is a classic in my opinion. This book is the insider scoop / treasure trove of information any sort of fan would want about Big Star. What I thought I knew about Chris Bell and his music all these years was just the sensationalized accounts of his life emphasizing the heavy mystique about him you see in documentaries and hip magazine articles played up to rake in $$. If you read this you will see that in reality he wasn’t as tragic as you thought. This book demystifies him and sheds a more accurate light on his true life and impact on music which was at times a lot brighter than I thought previously. Also there are many interesting stories about the other band members and long sections about Alex Chilton’s career which is just as fascinating as the stuff about Chris if not more. There are tons of insider details about Big Star not to be found anywhere else but conveniently in this book. 5 stars.

[Steve Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

All you would need to know about Chris Bell and Big Star, excellently sourced, well assembled and tied together with rare photos and ephemera - as good as it gets for fans

[Clif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about Chris Bell and Big Star. Gives lots of details in a oral history format. Lots about Alex Chilten as well. Lots of great post "#1 Record" info. Like what Bell did with Big Star after that and how he worked on his solo stuff. Also, seemingly random based on the title, the end of the book contains cool info about the Big Star reunion. An excellent read for Big Star, Chris Bell, and Alex Chilten enthusiasts.

[JJ Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The depth of this biography is impressive

This is both an in-depth biography of Chris Bell and an incredibly easy read thanks to the oral history format. Well done and valuable for any Big Star fan.

[Mark Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for Big Star fans. This deep dive into Chris’s life is also a good overview of parts of the music business from the 70s that did not achieve wide spread popularity.

[Eric Copeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm particularly fond of musical biographies, and fascinated by some of the more tragic stories (Chris Bell is an unfortunate member of the 27 Club, consisting of musicians, actors, and similar people who have died at the age of 27). This was also at least my third foray into a musical biography that's really more of an oral history, comprised of quotes from interviews with minimal interruptions from the author/editor (the other two oral histories were about The Pixies and the hair metal scene of the 1980s).

To start with, let me admit that Big Star was an acquired taste for me. The first time I listened, I wasn't blown away by their brilliance, but as I let the music sink in I found that I really enjoyed it. The same thing happened when I discovered Joy Division, and then REALLY discovered their genius. "There Was a Light" is ostensibly about Chris Bell, the founder and creative force behind the band; Alex Chilton is probably the best-known band member, but he came along a little later and had a kind of love/hate relationship with the band and its catalog. Secondarily, it's about the band itself, its ups and downs, its long climb from wide-eyed innocents hoping to hit it big all the way to what eventually became worldwide recognition for those who cared to explore the music. But in a way, this book is also about the middle history of the music scene in Memphis, Tenn. After the years of Elvis and Sun Records and before what we know of today, record companies like Ardent (included here extensively, as it was the home of Big Star and various others connected to the band) and Stax (covered to a lesser extent) kept the Memphis scene going.

I was lucky enough to already have much of Big Star's catalog available to me. I have "Third/Sister Lovers" on compact disc, and "#1 Record/Radio City," the recordings from the 1993 reunion at the University of Missouri, and the box set "Keep and Eye on the Sky" in my computer's music player. The final weekend I was reading the book, I had the house mostly to myself and played Big Star most of the weekend. On that Sunday evening, I tuned in to my Big Star station on Pandora for background music as we hosted some friends for a barbecue; my buddy asked who we were listening to because he was intrigued, and as I explained the band, its background, and its wide-ranging influence I found myself sounding a little like an evangelist.

If Chris Bell, Big Star, or Memphis music in the '70s and after interests you at all, you'll find much to love in this book. I haven't read any of the other books about these topics, but I respect this book's author, Rich Tupica, for mentioning not just them but also "Nothing Can Hurt Me," the 2012 documentary about Big Star. He mentions these not in an appendix or a bibliography, but in the actual text of what he wrote. That, to me, means he's confident that he told the story he wanted to tell but knows that other takes on the subject matter are worth considering as well.

All in all, if you've made it to the end of this review, you should probably pick up the book. You won't be sorry.

[Peter Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Star is undoubtedly the most underappreciated band in rock history. I might be biased as they are absolutely in my top 5 bands (Stones, Replacements, and...ask me about the others another time as it changes daily), but I think the first two records are early 70's power pop classics that should be in every classic rock station's daily rotation (the third album has its charms, but it's so uncompromising that it's a harder sell). They should have been the American version of The Beatles if instead of Liverpool they came from Memphis. Instead, they sold basically no albums during their original career as label distribution problems bedeviled them. And maybe the listening public was just too thick to get them as heavier, dumber rock was taking off around the same time. In any case, effectively they were done by the mid-70's. This book is mostly about Chris Bell, the founding member of the group and the catalyst for their classic 1st album. Alex Chilton, the other main creative leader of the group, and the post-Bell history of Big Star are also explored thoroughly but Bell is the main focus. He died tragically in a car accident in 1978 well before the modest commercial success and critical reevaluation of his work happened. In fact, his only solo album came out 13 years after his death which is just another indicator of just how long it took to get these guys their proper recognition. I was a little concerned with this book being an oral history as I think some writers these days are leaning too much on that crutch, but I think it actually suits this book better as Bell was a complicated guy and different opinions from different people probably give a more comprehensive three-dimensional portrait of the man. His leaving the group after the 1st album and subsequent personal breakdown is explained in more detail than I've heard before. I know I'm totally in the tank for these guys and I'm not impartial at all, but I don't think it's crazy for me to say that this is the best book about Big Star I've read. I'd give it 10 Big Stars if I could.

[Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Star is more than just a band to me. Every album they've put out holds a special place in my heart - they are the soundtrack of some of the most important moments of my life. Their story is a bittersweet tale of missed opportunities, heartbreak, redemption, and an enduring legacy. This book focuses primarily on the life of Chris Bell, one of Big Star's founding members, but also delves into the journey of Alex Chilton, the other creative force of the group, and how their legacy evolved after both of their deaths.

This biography is profoundly moving-deeply sad and emotional, yet infused with hope. It finds that hope in the music that endures, the fans who continue to discover it, and the tremendous influence Big Star has had on countless artists. The book beautifully captures what made them so special while also acknowledging the personal struggles that defined their lives and those around them. It serves as a poignant reminder that, despite the sorrow and loss, the music lives on, resonating with new generations and solidifying Big Star's place among rock’s legends.

A wonderful book that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you sobbing like a toddler.

[Seth Arnopole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is proper to center this oral history of the band Big Star around Chris Bell. Alex Chilton, who came into the band already famous from being in The Box Tops, always said that Big Star was really Chris's band, with its Beatle-esque power pop sound (Chilton was more into rhythm and blues and jazz, and favored The Byrds and The Beach Boys over the Fab Four when it came to 60s groups). Bell only appeared on the first Big Star album, #1 Record; he co-wrote some tracks for the follow-up, Radio City, but left before it was recorded. He worked on a solo album for several years until his death in a car accident in 1978, but most of that music went unreleased until the early 90s. Tupica's book shines a light on Bell's contributions to music, while not neglecting the other contributors to the music. Fans of the band have sometimes seen him as a tormented, tragic figure; this book provides a fuller portrait of him as an artist and a human being.

[Andrew Cumming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't recommend this book enough if you're looking for information on Chris Bell and anything Big Star related. Amazing amount of research and information from everyone associated with this story. It makes me want to blast #1 Record out of my car car windows on a hot summer night.

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so great! Such an amazing portrait and very detailed peek into one of my favorite bands and songwriters. A real triumph! I most definitely highly recommend.

[David Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oral-history that tells how Chris Bell and his Big Star band mates came of age in the 1960s, formed Big Star in the early 1970s, recorded groundbreaking music, and then dramatically (and quickly) dissolved. From there, it lays out their post-Big Star days. Yes, this is Chris Bell-centered, but it pivots back and forth between Bell and what his mates were up to. Being an oral-history, it allows the band members (all are quoted in this book), and their closest friends and family members, tell the real story of Big Star in their own words. It's edited to where it flows like a round-table discussion about Big Star. A must for fans of the band, but also those interested in rock bios that are filled with drama, drugs and mystery.

[Mickey McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased because this author is a friend of mine, but this is a great book. Rich Tupica did an outstanding job on the research, and collecting all the interviews that tells the story of Chris Bell and Big Star.
If you're a fan, you must read.