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Alternative Music/Who was the first alternative artist?
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Question
Someone told that Jimi Hendrix was the real first alternative artist...Is that possible?.
Hi Javier. A rather philisophical question - I tend to deal more in band facts but here goes. The term 'alternative' means different to the usual.In musical terms the genre 'Alternative music' (with a capital 'A') was first used in the late seventies and eighties. Hendrix was a great guitarist who changed the way the guitar was used and the sound and effects it made in rock music terms. However by the time he came on the scene in the mid to late sixties music had already been developing for many thousands of years and genres such as Folk, Blues, Jazz, RocknRoll, Rythm and Blues etc had evolved, developed,become popular, had fallen out of fashion, been revived etc etc so he could neither be described as the first alternative artist or be described as an 'Alternative' artist. However when he appeared on the scene his music was, particularly by the time the Jimi Hendrix Experience' was formed, alternative to what was at that time the mainstream of rock music and his guitarist peers of the day such as Eric Clapton recognised his genius and the difference he brought to guitar playing so he was alternative in his day but not the first.
Hope this answers your question
regards
Bill
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 9 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you so much Bill. You're doing a good job. Go on. | ||
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Bill Stow
Expertise
I can answer questions on UK Alternative/Punk/Twee/C86/New Wave/Pub Rock bands circa 1976-1996 and also Progressive/Psych/Folk Rock bands circa 1967-1976.
Experience
I have a wide knowledge of Alternative/Punk/Twee/C86/New Wave bands circa 1976-1996 and also Progressive Rock bands circa 1968-1976. I have contributed to the book The Tapestry of Delights which chronicles UK prog,folk,beat,pop,psych and rock bands from 1963-1976. I have a large record collection and run a CD record finding service.My particular favourite bands in no particular order are Chumbawamba, Stackridge,The Darling Buds, XTC, The Kinks, Compulsion, The Dentists, Edgar Broughton, Arthur Brown, Ange, The Heartthrobs, The Primitives, The Real People to name but a few.My favourite album is Tarantula by Tarantula - a US prog/psych band formed in the late sixties to show The Strawberry Alarm Clock how it should be done - they made one album on A&M and then split up as psych music was on the wane.I have assisted Record Collector with research and have the odd letter printed in that magazine.I have probably the largest collection of Chumbawamba music, I collect everything on the UK Native label 1984-1994 and also collect cover versions of the Kinks song 'I'm not like everybody else'.
Publications
The Tapestry of Delights book on UK bands 1963-1976
Education/Credentials
I have a BA Honours degree in History and Politics
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