Any encapsulation of the cathartic supremacy of Big Star threatens to be minimized by the (rightfully) constant stream of praise for the band that started to flow out into music culture in the late 80s. It’s important to remember inside their story that there was a time throughout the 70s and deep into the following decade, when the band was notoriously ignored and misbegotten.

Today, Big Star presents the archetype of the classic Sisyphean mythological struggle of an obscure, hard-working band to be recognized and achieve lasting greatness and influence. At the end of their story, though our heroes have triumphed in no small part because they left to history three heavenly albums, each one a distinct distillation of creative vision and a towering masterpiece, moving effortlessly from shimmering, crystalline pop perfection to a pathos of unpredictable, dark chaos. The band’s saga reflected struggle in Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” reflecting back to each of us, the dimension of our own human dichotomy of joy and pain.

For thousands of us, their music moved our music-loving souls to react, to feel and tell others. Their body of work continues to distribute pure jubilance and new layers of nuance to experience Their influence on music fans and musicians is undeniable, timelessly enduring and inescapably profound. Long may Big Star be remembered in the Pantheon of Power Pop.

Bruce Brodeen
Founder, Not Lame Recordings and Pop Geek Heaven