“The band treated the material with an enthused respect, like kids with golden tickets to a musical chocolate factory…the four-part harmonies gel like family, as if from a lifetime’s practice.”—Uncut
Jody Stephens, the last surviving member of the original Big Star lineup, is teaming up with Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Pat Sansone (Wilco), and Chris Stamey (The dB’s, Yo La Tengo) to form the Big Star Quintet. A lineup that is both personal and close in spirit to #1 Record and Radio City, these performers–iconic in their own rights–are not only some of the legendary group’s biggest fans but have also long been associated with Big Star and related projects.
When the newly minted Quintet first gathered at R.E.M.’s rehearsal spot in 2022 to commune with the music and workshop as a five-piece, none of them could have foreseen the rapturous receptions they would receive over the next few years: sold-out shows in the U.S., tours abroad, 50th-anniversary tours for #1 Record and Radio City, stellar reviews of their live shows, and more.
To call the members of the Quintet versatile would be something of an understatement. All five members take turns singing lead and harmony vocals and deftly fill the different musical chairs required to accurately perform the multi-faceted Big Star catalog. Stephen shines just as brightly singing at the front of the stage on numbers like “Thirteen,” “Blue Moon,” and “Way Out West” as he does while propelling the group from behind the drum kit with visceral grace.
Now a well-oiled and well-traveled outfit, the Quintet’s unabashedly high-energy vibe and mutual appreciation on stage is the way to experience the pure essence of Big Star’s music live.
ABOUT BIG STAR:
Heavily influenced by the British Invasion, yet undeniably original, Big Star (vocalist/guitarist/pianist Alex Chilton, vocalist/guitarist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, and drummer Jody Stephens) offered a fresh new sound when they emerged in the early 70s.
While power pop wouldn’t truly take off until later in the decade, the Memphis band set the tone with their infectious blend of jangly pop, driving guitars, sweet harmonies, and wistful melancholia. In 1971, Big Star made their debut with #1 Record, which featured such memorable numbers as “Thirteen,” “The Ballad of El Goodo,” “In the Street” (later made famous by Cheap Trick and That ‘70’s Show). While the album garnered high marks from critics, it failed to make a commercial splash. In 2025, #1 Record was formally inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Although Big Star disbanded in late 1974, shortly after recording their third album, Third/Sister Lovers, the band went on to achieve near-mythic status in the underground scene. Their influence has extended to some of the biggest alt-rock artists of the 80s, 90s, and beyond, including R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, Wilco, and The Replacements. Over the years, Big Star’s songs have been reinterpreted by the likes of Elliott Smith, The Bangles, Placebo, Beck, Gin Blossoms, Garbage, Counting Crows, Jeff Buckley, and many more.