Seven ages of rock hackwork

My somewhat stinging critique of the BBC music documentary series Seven Ages of Rock, currently screening on ABC1 on Thursday nights, is up at ABC Unleashed.

Have to hand it to ABC Online for being prepared to publish a critique of one of its own programs on the apparent principle that it's good to encourage debate and discussion.

Extract:

"How could a program purporting to examine the birth of rock and the guitar hero completely omit the name of Jimi Hendrix and still stake a claim to credibility? The US-born Hendrix blew away the sixties British rock aristocracy when he launched his career in the UK in 1966-7 and revolutionised electric guitar playing. But it seems he wasn't British enough for the program makers.

"Or was he? Strangely when you go to the BBC website you find the first episode described as actually revolving around Hendrix. This means that in Australia we've ended up with a different version of the series - one so flawed that its value has to be seriously queried..."

The Hendrix poster above is by Australian artist Martin Sharp, who has an exhibition of his work currently at the Museum of Sydney.