Andy Hummel, Bassist for Big Star, Dies at 59 from Cancer

Almost four months to the day since Big Star singer Alex Chilton passed away, MTV.com reports the band's bassist, Andy Hummel, died on Monday, July 19th after a two-year battle with cancer.  Hummel was 59 years old when he died.  Chilton was also 59 when he passed back in March.

Hummel formed Big Star with Chilton, guitarist Chris Bell and drummer Jody Stevens back in 1971.  Their power-pop sound would go on to influence a host of other bands including The Replacements, R.E.M., Wilco, Teenage Fanclub and more.  Cheap Trick's cover of the band's song "In the Street," from their debut album #1 Record, later became the theme song for the TV series That 70's Show.  Hummel also played on the band's 1974 album Radio City before leaving the group.  That album featured the song "September Gurls," which singer Katy Perry said was the inspiration for the spelling of her hit single "California Gurls."

Hummel's last performance was in Austin, Texas at the South by Southwest festival last March, where he played several songs at a tribute show for Chilton.  With the death of Hummel, Chilton and Bell, the latter of whom died in a car crash in 1978, Stevens is the last remaining member of the original Big Star foursome.

                
Provided by ABC News Radio © 2010
                    
Image used with permission by Charlie Gillett Collection / Redferns.