 Fred Frith was a classically @-@ trained violinist who turned to playing blues guitar while at school . In 1967 he went to Cambridge University where he and fellow student , Tim Hodgkinson formed the English avant @-@ rock group Henry Cow . Frith and Hodgkinson remained with the band until its demise in 1978 . After the release of Henry Cow 's second album in May 1974 , Frith recorded his debut solo album , Guitar Solos ( 1974 ) , which featured unaccompanied and improvised experimental rock music played on prepared guitars by Frith without any overdubbing . Guitar Solos was well received by music critics , and was voted one of the best albums of 1974 by NME . 
