When MTV meant something: Headbangers Ball (1987)

I've often mentioned that I grew up in a household that favored country music over pop-rock and other genres. If I wanted to listen to something else, I had a transistor radio handy in my youth. I wasn't much for heavy metal at first, but since as a teen I had friends who were either into the genre and/or played in metal bands, I started giving it a listen. I've been to a small number of concerts, but as I'd discover, I was more comfortable with the soft "power ballads". Easier on the ears, you know.

As metal began dominating MTV's Dial MTV daily countdown, the network created a weekly show devoted to the genre. Headbangers Ball launched in 1987. Kevin Seal, who looked nothing like your average metal-head was the first host, but then was swapped out for Adam Curry, who certainly had the hair for the job (and parlayed the gig into a guest role on Swamp Thing). Ultimately, LA club owner Riki Rachtman was tapped as permanent host until the series ended its initial run in 1995.

Edit, 7/13/22: Had to delete the video, which was taken down by YouTube. In its place is a title card.

That, in fact, still has fans a little peeved to this day. MTV suits offered no explanation or warning for the decision to end the show. Rachtman would later take a gig working for WCW (!), which would signal the end of his time as a TV personality, insofar as I know.

MTV2 revived the series in 2003, and went through a host-of-the-week format until Jamey Jasten of Hatebreed was tapped as the new full-time host. Since 2011, the series has been a online-only entity. Lord only knows why, but with MTV Classic (formerly VH1 Classic) now playing music videos 24/7 (YAY!), there's a good chance the Ball could be back on your TV screens in 2017.

Megadeth would eventually appear on WCW Monday Nitro, likely the result of a booking brokered by Rachtman and Eric Bischoff. By then, however, ye scribe was losing interest in metal.

Rating: B-.