Alter Natives

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, the Alter-Natives joined the roster of the adventurous SST label toward the close of the 1980s. This flute-and-sax-driven quartet earned critical praise for its wordless explorations in experimental noise. Their first two releases, Hold Your Tongue in 1986 and Group Therapy in 1988, centered on that wind-heavy configuration, whereas the 1989 album Buzz dialed back the reeds in favor of the conventional rock trio of guitar, bass, and drums. Among the group’s early lineup was a musician who later became part of the satirical metal ensemble GWAR; drummer Jim Thompson performed with the costumed provocateurs under the stage name Hans Sphincter, a moniker he subsequently altered to Hans Orifice, until his departure in 1987.