Music writer Bob Mehr joined Tom Dunne on Wednesday night's show to speak about Chris Bell, a member of Tennesse band Big Star, who left the group after their first album.

Mehr explained that Bell had felt disappointed after the commercial failure of the band's debut album, despite it's critical success. He also felt he was in the shadow of the band's most famous member, Alex Chilton.

"That set him off on the path of four or five year's worth of pursuing a solo career in Europe," explained Mehr.

Bell came from a middle class family in Memphis. He had been expected to go into business by his family. When he pursued his dream of making music, it was a crushing blow for Bell when the debut album was a commercial failure.

"He had a meltdown, a suicide attempt, took months to recoverand; then it was his brother David who rescued him and encouraged him to get back into music," said Mehr.

However, a combination of drug use and other factors led to much struggle for Bell. He died in a car accident at the age of 27.

To listen to the full interview, click on the link above.