The Bigger Picture

An Alex Chilton Moment

by Stephen Fredette

Scruffy the Cat played some shows with Alex Chilton in 1987.
Chilton was not a guy who ever talked much. One of the last shows was at Bow Wow Records in Albuquerque. After sound check, everyone left to go eat, but I stayed behind to hang out on the sidewalk in front of the store, watching the sun go down. The Bow Wow was on Central Avenue, which was the old Route 66. As I was sitting there, Alex came out of the store, went over to his Isuzu Trooper, reached inside and pulled out a big ghetto blaster.
Then he came back over to where i was sitting. No one else was around.
I said, "Hey, Alex…," but he just smiled and pushed Play. Immediately, the theme from the tv show Route 66 came on.
I said, "Hey, the theme from Route 66…," but Chilton just smiled and nodded his head in time to the music. I understood we weren't supposed to talk.
After the song ended, he just turned it off, smiled, locked the tape deck in his car… and left. As I watched the sun set, I realized that he had taken the tape deck out of the car with the tape already cued up to the song, ready to play.
And I was the person who got to share, as long as I kept my mouth shut and appreciated the moment.
I appreciate it, Alex Chilton.
Alex Chilton

Share