Keith Alexander (guitarist)

Keith Alexander (born Keith Alexander Bonanno; November 23, 1963[1] – July 11, 2005) was an American guitarist.

Keith Alexander
Birth nameKeith Alexander Bonanno
BornNovember 23, 1963
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 11, 2005(2005-07-11) (aged 41)
GenresCrossover thrash, thrash metal
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1982–2005
Formerly ofCarnivore, Primal Scream, Dee Snider

Career edit

Alexander was the guitarist for the thrash metal band Carnivore, on whose first album he played. He then joined Brooklyn-based band Primal Scream co-writing and recording their 1987 album Volume One.[2]

During the late 1990s he was a member of Dee Snider's SMFs and part of the lineup that recorded the 1997 Twisted Forever – SMFs Live album. Alexander also worked as a talent finder, though he was technically credited as "piercing consultant"[3] on Snider's movie 1998 movie Strangeland.[4] To save money on special effects and for a sense of reality in appearance, Alexander looked in the body modification community for extras, who were modded for some roles.

In the 2000s, he became a somewhat well known blogger, being associated with blogs such as BrooklynVegan and Boing Boing.[5]

Death edit

Alexander died in a cycling accident on July 11, 2005. He lost control of his bike while passing a child and crashed into a fence on Shore Road, in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. It was reported that had he been wearing a helmet he would likely have survived.[6][7] Alexander's website, nootrope.net, still exists at archive.org.[8] Regarding his death, he states:

I look at this place as a scrapbook / journal. A digital version of the paper ones I've kept my entire life. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't read any more into it than necessary. And in a morbid way, a record of my predilections that will hopefully live on after I die, on some server, somewhere. Grandiose? Maybe. Maybe I just have the balls to admit it. Maybe one day, in the year 2201, a relation of mine will see these zeros and ones, and say, "Damn, he had fun." That is, if we don't annihilate one and other. [sic][8]

Discography edit

  • CarnivoreCarnivore (Roadrunner, 1985)
  • Primal Scream – Volume One (Mercenary, 1987)
  • Dee Snider's S.M.F. – Twisted Forever – SMFs Live (Coallier Ent., 1997)

References edit

  1. ^ "Former CARNIVORE And PRIMAL SCREAM Guitarist Keith Alexander Dies Aged 41". Metal Forces Magazine. July 11, 2005. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Keith Alexander RIP | Nootrope". brooklynvegan.com. July 13, 2005. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  3. ^ "Strangeland (1998) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  4. ^ "RTFM: Keith Alexander | BME: Tattoo, Piercing and Body Modification News". news.bme.com. January 10, 2005. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  5. ^ "In memoriam: Keith Alexander / Boing Boing". boingboing.net. July 12, 2005. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  6. ^ "Court date and Cyclist Killed. « Bike Blog NYC". bikeblognyc.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  7. ^ "BikeBlog: Court date and Cyclist Killed". bikeblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "keith alexander || why || www.nootrope.net". Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)