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.