‘Alternative’ before alternative was … normal!

Detail: Leading Edge #2 coverI know the “alternative” moniker has been beaten to a quivering, bloody paste over the past 20 years — but I kind of like the fact that Issue #2 of local punk ‘zine The Leading Edge awarded the Wallflowers and Noise 292 (and Eleven Sons) that sobriquet way back in ’83:

Detail: Leading Edge #2 page“On the alternative side of hardcore, there’s NOISE 292, [whose] musical style is somewhat similar to Savage Republic. But they like to call their music ‘cripple jazz snuff rock.’ They have been playing in San Diego quite often lately. We have the WALLFLOWERS who play music much like that of early Iggy Pop. They will be featured on Bad Compilation Tapes #3. And, last but not least, there’s ELEVEN SONS who might be having vinyl come out on mystic records. They have one song on the Mystic cassette sampler. Their sound is very unique and hard to describe, so I don’t feel comfortable putting a label on it.” Hear, hear!

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