The case of Alex Chilton is a curious one indeed; having stumbled into rock stardom at sixteen years old, he spent most of his career alternately chasing after success and giving it the middle finger. By his untimely death in 2010, though, he had reached a level of peace with his legacy both as the singer of the Box Tops and the co-mastermind behind the beloved cult band Big Star. In this, the first biography of Chilton ever published, Holly George-Warren takes us behind the performer to give us insight into the experiences that made Chilton into the singular, unique performer that fans came to love.

George-Warren’s insights into Chilton’s personal life, from the passing of his older brother Reid to his tumultuous relationship with Lesa Aldridge, do quite a bit to contextualize the emotional core of his music. His time in Big Star–which may be the allure for more than a few readers–isn’t quite the central event that some people may think it to be, but George-Warren does well to establish Chilton’s discomfort with the growing status of the cult band. What’s most impressive, though, is how Chilton’s personal arc plays throughout the narrative. We see Chilton go from being confrontational to apathetic to, ultimately, content with his position in the music world. It’s a fascinating journey, one that any fan of pop music would do well to explore. Fortunately, George-Warren has written the perfect guide.

– Kevin Korber