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I remember begging the Yeti to come to his house so I could watch MTV when it first came out because he was the only person I knew who had cable. When I got cable, I spent a lot of time watching MTV. I was very disappointed when they switched formats. Still love to watch music videos on YouTube.
Quote:MTV channels dedicated to 24/7 music videos began going permanently dark on Wednesday with a nod to the video that started it all: airing the Buggles’ iconic “Video Killed the Radio Star.”
Earlier this fall, MTV announced it would shutter its 24-hour music channels in 2025, a move impacting MTV stations worldwide including several channels in the United Kingdom: MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live.
The flagship MTV Music channel ended its decades-long run on New Year’s Eve the way it began, playing the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” — the music video that launched MTV on Aug. 1, 1981. BBC journalist Jono Read shared the moment the channel went off-air in an X post documenting the video. Each of the U.K. channels aired a different final video on Wednesday, with MTV 90s showing the Spice Girls’ “Goodbye.”
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
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While I respected MTV, I almost never watched it. My parents weren’t into cable. I’m not sure where I watched all my music videos back then because I did stay up on them. Weren’t there like late night broadcast shows that collected showcased them? I remember seeing a lot of artsy borderline music vids on pbs, mostly like Laurie Anderson’s work.
I still watch music vids, mostly K-pop now. They have the funnest vids.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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Before MTV, music videos were usually clipped from some full-length live performance concert, or were some weird art experiment that didn't really have an outlet, except for weird art film showcases.
Music content was relegated to Fri/Sat, and sometimes Sun, late night. Videowest Backstage Pass. Night Flight were where I first saw Residents, Mike Nesmith and Laurie Anderson videos. I don't think those ever made it into rotation on MTV, but they helped define the format.
I guess Jello Biafra finally is getting his wish...
--tg
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Videowest & Night flight!
You just rekindled some frayed memory cells, tg. Thanks!
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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One of our friends (Gary Ellis, who TG might remember) had a VCR and would tape Videowest. I remember the first time I saw it, seeing The Stranglers Doing "Duchess" and Throbbing Gristle (can't remember the song) and Chrome (another experimental band), who did an interesting song called "The New Age"
the hands that guide me are invisible
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The very first time I dosed, I had little idea of what I was getting into for the evening. This was playing on the TV right at the same time that the ivy on the wallpaper in the house started to animate:
--tg
