Original Big Star Bassist Andy Hummel Dies at Age 59

(Andy Hummel and Ken Stringfellow at the the tribute to Big Star, SXSW 2010)

Just months after the untimely demise of Big Star frontman Alex Chilton comes another loss from this most influential band. Original Big Star bassist Andy Hummel died yesterday at age 59 after a two-year bout with cancer.

At SXSW this year, Big Star was being "feted" if you will, and Big Star was to perform the last night (Saturday). Of course, with Chilton's death on the first day of the conference, the performance became a tribute. Hummel both spoke about his experience in Big Star at the panel, "I Never Travel Far Without a Little Big Star"...

(See the rest of the photos from the panel here)

...and performed at the tribute later that day. The man still had some mad chops.

(See the rest of the photos from the tribute here)

In his years after Big Star, Hummel worked at Lockheed Martin and resided in Weatherford, TX. The Dallas Observer did a nice piece on him last year here.

SXSW 2010: Sondre Lerche and Jon Auer Rehearsing for the Big Star Tribute

The legendary Big Star was to be celebrated at SXSW this year with a panel on the band and its influence, as well as a closing set at Antones on Saturday. So it was a mighty big blow felt by everyone attending when news started circulating Wednesday of Alex Chilton's death. What was to be a performance by Big Star became a tribute to Chilton, with various singers slated to "borrow" Chilton's mic.

I've got photos forthcoming of it all, but it was widely agreed upon by all of us who attended that Sondre Lerche's performance of "The Ballad of El Goodo" was definitely one of the evening's highlights. Lerche's serene and moving voice was the right fit and brought the song, and everyone listening, to a whole new level.

The video below is of Big Star/Poisies guitarist Jon Auer rehearsing beforehand...



and of the performance at the tribute. I really wish you all could have been there, video doesn't come close to capturing the beauty of Lerche's sound. It was truly something special.