Almost everything we consider to be today’s alternative music can be traced back to a few months in 1976.
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Ongoing History Daily: The System of a Down Riot
Being in System of a Down can be bad for your health.
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Ongoing History Daily: The importance of polka music to Josh Homme
Josh Homme and Queens of the Stone Age might be the last band you associate with polka music. But hang on.
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Ongoing History Daily: Weird albums alert (part 2)
Weird albums include those that come in strange packages.
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Five Songs You Must Hear This Week (19 Oct 2026)
It was hard narrowing things down for this edition of the Five Songs You Must Hear this week, but someone had to do it. I hope you enjoy. 1. The War on Drugs, Who’s That Single (Atlantic) Recommended If You Like: Vague release dates There hasn’t been a War on Drugs studio album since 2021,…
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Ongoing History Daily: Weird albums alert (part 1)
These are weird albums not because of the music they contain but how they’re packaged.
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New Music Friday: 10 new releases for your weekend (16 Oct 2026)
New Music Friday includes the new single from U2, a dark album from Fontaines DC (is there any other kind?), and some of the sounds of Grant Theft Auto VI.
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The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 1090: 1976-The birth year of alt-rock, part 2
Look back, 1976 was a pivotal year in music. Those twelve months birthed what we now call alternative music.
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Ongoing History Daily: Was Lou Reed alt-rock's first "sellout?"
And when I mean sell out, I’m talking about letting his music be used for a TV commercial back when you weren’t supposed to do this sort of thing.
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Ongoing History Daily: Was Flea almost part of Johnny Lydon's band?
In another universe, Flea is the bass player for Sex Pistol Johnny Lydon
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Ongoing History Daily: Counterfeit CDs and Mafia records
Counterfeit CDs can be found around the world. Sometimes the mafia is involved.
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