An American band

Drew DeNicola's documentary didn't screen locally, but it's now available for rental via iTunes. Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me examines how a group of Memphis, Tenn., teenagers forged one of modern American music's best, frustratingly overlooked pop bands. Fronted by Chris Bell and Alex Chilton—the latter of whom had previously hit No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart with “The Letter” in 1967 when he was just 16 and singing in the Box Tops—put out three great, critically acclaimed albums between 1971 and 1974. Dismal record sales coupled with internal strife and dischord, however, splintered relationships. In particular, the story of Bell, who struggled with drugs and depression before he died at 27 when his sports car slammed into a tree, is especially heartbreaking.

In the years since, of course, Big Star's been hailed as one of pop's most influential bands, making its mark on the likes of the Replacements, Elliott Smith and Wilco. In the '90s, Chilton reformed the band with help from founding drummer Jody Stephens and Posies bandmates Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, and continued playing until his death in 2010.

Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me includes interviews with Stephens—the original band's only surviving member—as well as Mike Mills, Mitch Easter and Carole Manning, who shot the now-iconic Big Star logo that appeared on the band's debut album. www.bigstarstory.com.