Every Sunday afternoon from 1 to 6pm, 91X plays the music that defined today's Alternative Rock sound.

There's much debate about what year gave birth to "Alternative Rock". We believe the punk movement of the mid-to-late 70's along with progressive bands and musicians of the time (Bowie, The Police, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, many others) marked the genre's early beginnings.

After the end of the disco era, circa-1980, bands that were largely underground, proved it was okay to dance to rock music, leading to what was termed "New Wave". It was also about this time the term "Alternative Rock" or simply "Alternative" came about and basically referred to any type of contemporary rock that wasn't deemed to be in the mainstream.

From the mid 70's to the early 80's it was Campus Radio stations, and a few daring commercial stations that were largely responsible for exposing this music to the masses.

By the mid 80's some of the New Wave or Alternative bands (U2, Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Simple Minds, etc) were meeting with commercial success as some were making it on the traditional Top 40 charts and getting more exposure on conventional radio. Many others maintained their following via the few Alternative-based radio stations, campus radio and clubs.

By the late 80's to early 90's, Alternative began to take on a much edgier sound. Synthesizers were being replaced with heavy guitar riffs and the "Grunge" era was upon us.

Classic Alternative Sundays attempts to capture the music from the 20-year (+/-) period from the mid 70's to the mid 90's. Join 91X from 2 to 6pm and relive (or discover) what some consider Alternative Rock's most influential period. Phone to a request to 613-966-2559, or drop us an email with a Classic Alt Rock band or tune you'd like to hear featured.