10 Rock Albums That Were Ahead Of Their Time

At the end of the 60's, rock was just starting to get a taste for the theatrical. With The Who making grand operas like Tommy, artists started coming to the forefront with a greater musical vision and some of the most visually stunning shows the rock world had ever seen. While bands like KISS and Alice Cooper held down the heavier side of the spectrum, David Bowie was the first to truly champion the glam rock movement.

Granted, glam rock had not necessarily been an entirely new concept before Bowie started donning the makeup. Artists like Little Richard and Marc Bolan had been on the scene for years bringing a flamboyant spin to the traditional frontman role, but Bowie wanted to aim even higher. Rather than mold himself into the ideal glam rockstar, Bowie created Ziggy Stardust as a persona that could translate these more outrageous tendencies, with the Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust being the template.

Instead of having to live his life as the eccentric glam rock alien, Bowie was one of the first to create a complete alter ego which he could leave behind after he left the stage. The puzzle pieces had all been laid out, but Bowie was the only rockstar who managed to put it all together.