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I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution
Remember the first time you saw Michael Jackson dance with zombies in "Thriller"? Diamond Dave karate kick with Van Halen in "Jump"? Tawny Kitaen turning cartwheels on a Jaguar to Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again"? The Beastie Boys spray beer in "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)"? Axl Rose step off the bus in "Welcome to the Jungle"?
Remember When All You Wanted Was Your MTV?
It was a pretty radical idea-a channel for teenagers, showing nothing but music videos. It was such a radical idea that almost no one thought it would actually succeed, much less become a force in the worlds of music, television, film, fashion, sports, and even politics. But it did work. MTV became more than anyone had ever imagined.
I Want My MTV tells the story of the first decade of MTV, the golden era when MTV's programming was all videos, all the time, and kids watched religiously to see their favorite bands, learn about new music, and have something to talk about at parties. From its start in 1981 with a small cache of videos by mostly unknown British new wave acts to the launch of the reality-television craze with The Real World in 1992, MTV grew into a tastemaker, a career maker, and a mammoth business.
Featuring interviews with nearly four hundred artists, directors, VJs, and television and music executives, I Want My MTV is a testament to the channel that changed popular culture forever.
Remember When All You Wanted Was Your MTV?
It was a pretty radical idea-a channel for teenagers, showing nothing but music videos. It was such a radical idea that almost no one thought it would actually succeed, much less become a force in the worlds of music, television, film, fashion, sports, and even politics. But it did work. MTV became more than anyone had ever imagined.
I Want My MTV tells the story of the first decade of MTV, the golden era when MTV's programming was all videos, all the time, and kids watched religiously to see their favorite bands, learn about new music, and have something to talk about at parties. From its start in 1981 with a small cache of videos by mostly unknown British new wave acts to the launch of the reality-television craze with The Real World in 1992, MTV grew into a tastemaker, a career maker, and a mammoth business.
Featuring interviews with nearly four hundred artists, directors, VJs, and television and music executives, I Want My MTV is a testament to the channel that changed popular culture forever.
608 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2011
279 people are currently reading
7501 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 587 reviews
May 29, 2017
Ay Ay Ay... I could go on for hours but fear that's a bad idea. But at the risk of sounding like a complete loser, I'll at least write something.
As an MTV staffer during the years covered in this book, and friend and/or coworker of too many of the people interviewed, I have a unique perspective to comment... (unique or worthless - that's what I can't decide.) But, I was a pretty insignificant cog in the wheel.
The bottom line is that the book really captured a huge range of the dimensions of the culture of MTV and the video music industry during the 80's. And it really reminded me of the crazy times, crazy characters (famous and very not famous), and the innumerable complex creative, intellectual, business, social issues that were swirling around every day for all of us in this world.
The most genius decision of the writers (compilers?) was to do an oral history. And then they interviewed 90% of the key players ... Few who hold back. By removing the historian's "omnipotent" voice, they were able to achieve the impossible: to illustrate the cornucopia of contradictory environments in which this entire revolution took place. The cast of characters were all so diverse that there is no one true story to tell. It was the variety that made this particular revolution so dynamic... And kudos to the authors for capturing something I thought would be uncapturable.
Music videos were sexist? MTV was too pop? MTV was a creative's paradise? MTV was run by corporate money grubbing tools? Or run by die hard passionate music fans? Rotting people's brains or responsibly guiding a new found generation? A bunch of jerks or geniuses? The true answer to all these questions was "yes". The music video revolution was driven by a thousand cast of characters who all contributed different often contradictory shades to the social explosion or worthless pop culture fad. Only an oral history could have captured this complex web of contradictions and even begin to explain the joy and idiocy of the entire era.
The petty arguments in the chapters about who created mtv or unplugged are classic... Not because of the pathetic nature of hindsight reinvention. But because these were two of the biggest catty fights filtering thru the hallways at the time and its hysterical to see them still raging on the page. The authors captured most of the warring parties perspectives perfectly.
So, as an insider, I can stress the stories not only are accurately told (as much as possible) but amazingly the authors found 100 percent of the key beats of the times for all of us. I really wanted to hate this book... Who wants to read about their old officemates... But have to begrudgingly admit, it took a very very complex moment in time and synthesized intellectually and emotionally as well as anyone could. All that being said, I believe I am the only one of my coworkers who didn't despise this book with a passion.
one final note: my edition may have had more typos and misprints than any book I've ever read... Probably proofed by some coke head burnout... Tho come to think of it, maybe that was on purpose.
As an MTV staffer during the years covered in this book, and friend and/or coworker of too many of the people interviewed, I have a unique perspective to comment... (unique or worthless - that's what I can't decide.) But, I was a pretty insignificant cog in the wheel.
The bottom line is that the book really captured a huge range of the dimensions of the culture of MTV and the video music industry during the 80's. And it really reminded me of the crazy times, crazy characters (famous and very not famous), and the innumerable complex creative, intellectual, business, social issues that were swirling around every day for all of us in this world.
The most genius decision of the writers (compilers?) was to do an oral history. And then they interviewed 90% of the key players ... Few who hold back. By removing the historian's "omnipotent" voice, they were able to achieve the impossible: to illustrate the cornucopia of contradictory environments in which this entire revolution took place. The cast of characters were all so diverse that there is no one true story to tell. It was the variety that made this particular revolution so dynamic... And kudos to the authors for capturing something I thought would be uncapturable.
Music videos were sexist? MTV was too pop? MTV was a creative's paradise? MTV was run by corporate money grubbing tools? Or run by die hard passionate music fans? Rotting people's brains or responsibly guiding a new found generation? A bunch of jerks or geniuses? The true answer to all these questions was "yes". The music video revolution was driven by a thousand cast of characters who all contributed different often contradictory shades to the social explosion or worthless pop culture fad. Only an oral history could have captured this complex web of contradictions and even begin to explain the joy and idiocy of the entire era.
The petty arguments in the chapters about who created mtv or unplugged are classic... Not because of the pathetic nature of hindsight reinvention. But because these were two of the biggest catty fights filtering thru the hallways at the time and its hysterical to see them still raging on the page. The authors captured most of the warring parties perspectives perfectly.
So, as an insider, I can stress the stories not only are accurately told (as much as possible) but amazingly the authors found 100 percent of the key beats of the times for all of us. I really wanted to hate this book... Who wants to read about their old officemates... But have to begrudgingly admit, it took a very very complex moment in time and synthesized intellectually and emotionally as well as anyone could. All that being said, I believe I am the only one of my coworkers who didn't despise this book with a passion.
one final note: my edition may have had more typos and misprints than any book I've ever read... Probably proofed by some coke head burnout... Tho come to think of it, maybe that was on purpose.
October 4, 2025
I love music videos and watch them often on YouTube. Two sayings came to my mind frequently while I was reading this book: “How the sausage gets made” and “Don’t meet your heroes.”
The book is a history of MTV’s “Golden Age” (1981-1992) told through hundreds of interviews with musicians, television executives, VJs, directors, and other people involved in the rise of music videos. While the videos are a delight to watch, the world of MTV is not particularly appealing. (At least, it isn’t appealing to me. If you were the lead singer of Warrant, I’m sure it was great.) Making music videos seems to have been characterized largely by long hours, budget disputes, prima donna behavior, copious drug use, and sexual harassment. Many artists also felt that the rise of videos put too much emphasis on appearance and on-screen charisma, lessening the value of the music itself.
A few stars come across as likable. On my my favorite comments was from Tom Bailey (of the Thompson Twins), talking about Live Aid: “There was a big party afterwards, but I went back to the hotel with Nile Rodgers and we played Scrabble. Nile was very good at Scrabble.” But many of them are self-indulgent and badly behaved. There are some truly bizarre stories, like Stevie Nicks calling up MTV at 5am and demanding they play one of her videos immediately so she could see how her hair looked.
As a book, I Want My MTV is breezy and pretty entertaining. It suffers a bit from being too long and having too many interviewees. I could never remember who any of the non-famous people actually were, but it didn’t really matter. It spends a lot of time glorying in the tales of debauchery, but there were nonetheless some actual insights. The biggest one for me was the sense of just how different things were during this time.
The 80s don’t seem that long ago (I mean, I was alive for most of them), but the world has actually changed a lot. MTV was truly scandalous as a result of content that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow in the 2020s. The book also has a lot of discussion of MTV’s early racism. They refused to play black artists because they were a “rock station.” There’s a crazy story about how video director Don Letts showed up for an interview at MTV and everyone there was flabbergasted because they didn’t realize he was black. They actually cancelled the interview on the spot. While things are far from perfect, it’s thankfully hard to imagine something like that happening today.
I feel like this comes across as kind of killjoy review, but I still love music videos. I’m in the camp that thinks works of art should be judged on their own merits, not on the personal lives of their creators. Despite all the drama, music videos were truly a new art form and we are lucky to be able to enjoy so many great ones so easily today.
The book is a history of MTV’s “Golden Age” (1981-1992) told through hundreds of interviews with musicians, television executives, VJs, directors, and other people involved in the rise of music videos. While the videos are a delight to watch, the world of MTV is not particularly appealing. (At least, it isn’t appealing to me. If you were the lead singer of Warrant, I’m sure it was great.) Making music videos seems to have been characterized largely by long hours, budget disputes, prima donna behavior, copious drug use, and sexual harassment. Many artists also felt that the rise of videos put too much emphasis on appearance and on-screen charisma, lessening the value of the music itself.
A few stars come across as likable. On my my favorite comments was from Tom Bailey (of the Thompson Twins), talking about Live Aid: “There was a big party afterwards, but I went back to the hotel with Nile Rodgers and we played Scrabble. Nile was very good at Scrabble.” But many of them are self-indulgent and badly behaved. There are some truly bizarre stories, like Stevie Nicks calling up MTV at 5am and demanding they play one of her videos immediately so she could see how her hair looked.
As a book, I Want My MTV is breezy and pretty entertaining. It suffers a bit from being too long and having too many interviewees. I could never remember who any of the non-famous people actually were, but it didn’t really matter. It spends a lot of time glorying in the tales of debauchery, but there were nonetheless some actual insights. The biggest one for me was the sense of just how different things were during this time.
The 80s don’t seem that long ago (I mean, I was alive for most of them), but the world has actually changed a lot. MTV was truly scandalous as a result of content that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow in the 2020s. The book also has a lot of discussion of MTV’s early racism. They refused to play black artists because they were a “rock station.” There’s a crazy story about how video director Don Letts showed up for an interview at MTV and everyone there was flabbergasted because they didn’t realize he was black. They actually cancelled the interview on the spot. While things are far from perfect, it’s thankfully hard to imagine something like that happening today.
I feel like this comes across as kind of killjoy review, but I still love music videos. I’m in the camp that thinks works of art should be judged on their own merits, not on the personal lives of their creators. Despite all the drama, music videos were truly a new art form and we are lucky to be able to enjoy so many great ones so easily today.
June 8, 2023
With I WANT MY MTV, authors Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum task themselves with boiling down the tumultuous early days of MTV and the music video revolution into a six hundred page oral history. Knowing that this story takes place in both the boardrooms and the backstage areas of concerts and video shoots in the 1980s, you can be sure of one thing - mountains of cocaine were consumed.
This is an absolutely wild account of the struggles in getting something that was previously unimaginable - an around the clock music channel - on the air in the early days of cable television. I mean, twenty-four hours of what were essentially commercials for albums? Who would watch that? Everyone, apparently. While MTV would eventually find its place in the cultural tapestry of America, those first few years were rough. With cable still in its infancy, rarely could it be found in large populous cities. Instead, it was a service reserved for newer suburban developments.
The brilliance of MTV lay in its relatively low overhead. They weren't spending much money (if any) on programming given that either the record companies or the artists were supplying the videos. The VJs (hosts)? Oh, they were paid like dirt with the reasoning being, "think of the exposure we're giving you!". Once the network caught fire and you had folks dialing their cable providers screaming the phrase "I WANT MY MTV", (a brilliant marketing ploy) the executives behind the scenes would wield all the power as they became the nation's defacto music tastemakers.
There is quite a bit to sink your teeth into here including the battle to get Michael Jackson on the air, the accusations of racism and sexism toward the network's power brokers, the rise (and fall) of hair metal, the hip-hop explosion, the network's first foray into original programming (the game show REMOTE CONTROL sounds absolutely insane), and the arrival of The Real World, which began the slow shift away from music videos as the primary focus of their programming.
The book's final chapter deals with MTV's move away from music videos and how several of the former executives, fans, and musicians miss it. I can certainly see why you'd miss the twenty-four hour music format - just as there are those that miss popping into their local blockbuster and renting a few tapes for the weekend - but if you went back in time to say 1998 and told my 14 year old self that in a little over a decade I would be able pull up and watch any music video or movie at any time, I would trade for the convenience in a heartbeat, so the nostalgia often rings hollow.
I love a great oral history book and Marks' and Tannenbaum's I WANT MY MTV is certainly one I can recommend. While it did take a few weeks to get through this one, I enjoyed the time I spent with it.
This is an absolutely wild account of the struggles in getting something that was previously unimaginable - an around the clock music channel - on the air in the early days of cable television. I mean, twenty-four hours of what were essentially commercials for albums? Who would watch that? Everyone, apparently. While MTV would eventually find its place in the cultural tapestry of America, those first few years were rough. With cable still in its infancy, rarely could it be found in large populous cities. Instead, it was a service reserved for newer suburban developments.
The brilliance of MTV lay in its relatively low overhead. They weren't spending much money (if any) on programming given that either the record companies or the artists were supplying the videos. The VJs (hosts)? Oh, they were paid like dirt with the reasoning being, "think of the exposure we're giving you!". Once the network caught fire and you had folks dialing their cable providers screaming the phrase "I WANT MY MTV", (a brilliant marketing ploy) the executives behind the scenes would wield all the power as they became the nation's defacto music tastemakers.
There is quite a bit to sink your teeth into here including the battle to get Michael Jackson on the air, the accusations of racism and sexism toward the network's power brokers, the rise (and fall) of hair metal, the hip-hop explosion, the network's first foray into original programming (the game show REMOTE CONTROL sounds absolutely insane), and the arrival of The Real World, which began the slow shift away from music videos as the primary focus of their programming.
The book's final chapter deals with MTV's move away from music videos and how several of the former executives, fans, and musicians miss it. I can certainly see why you'd miss the twenty-four hour music format - just as there are those that miss popping into their local blockbuster and renting a few tapes for the weekend - but if you went back in time to say 1998 and told my 14 year old self that in a little over a decade I would be able pull up and watch any music video or movie at any time, I would trade for the convenience in a heartbeat, so the nostalgia often rings hollow.
I love a great oral history book and Marks' and Tannenbaum's I WANT MY MTV is certainly one I can recommend. While it did take a few weeks to get through this one, I enjoyed the time I spent with it.
January 7, 2012
Readable enough, but there's a surprising dearth of wild and crazy stories. It's more a collection of A&R types bickering about arcana like who should get the credit for MTV Unplugged. As if it were the cure for cancer!
I've read really great oral histories, e.g. Once in a Lifetime: The Crazy Days of Acid House and After . They weave together a fantastically entertaining tale that's greater than the sum of its parts. With I Want My MTV the assorted interviews never coalesce into anything so great.
Don't get me wrong there are enough bits in here to catch your interest that it's worth flipping through. But I feel like it should've been much better given the material.
Also it bugged me that they only interview 2nd stringers and biz execs-- no Kurt Loder, for instance. A lot of the most prominent MTV personalities/musicians don't get any interviews in the book.
They mourn the end of the golden age of MTV, but f*** that, Youtube gave us the golden age of music videos right now!
I've read really great oral histories, e.g. Once in a Lifetime: The Crazy Days of Acid House and After . They weave together a fantastically entertaining tale that's greater than the sum of its parts. With I Want My MTV the assorted interviews never coalesce into anything so great.
Don't get me wrong there are enough bits in here to catch your interest that it's worth flipping through. But I feel like it should've been much better given the material.
Also it bugged me that they only interview 2nd stringers and biz execs-- no Kurt Loder, for instance. A lot of the most prominent MTV personalities/musicians don't get any interviews in the book.
They mourn the end of the golden age of MTV, but f*** that, Youtube gave us the golden age of music videos right now!
June 15, 2012
This is the second book I have desired to read in some electronic format with internet connection (the first being 1Q84 because the darn thing was HEAVY.) Reading this book, I greatly desired the internet as I was reading because I wanted to watch the videos as they discussed them. Because watching videos while reading a paper copy involved me getting up out of my chair and booting up the laptop (which is chained up so I can't bring it to my chair)I didn't watch as many videos as I would want to and the book was called back to the library before I could really get started, when I was in the early Madonna era. Once I get that whole "read and watch video" issue worked out, I will happily finish this book because it is FAN-TAS-TIC especially for me who came of age watching MTV during the time period the book covers (1981-1992)
The format is excerpts of interviews with people involved in MTV, the creation of the station, the VJs, the bands, the people making the videos. It is very hard to stop reading, especially when you get multiple viewpoints of a single event. This is pure delightful candy.
The format is excerpts of interviews with people involved in MTV, the creation of the station, the VJs, the bands, the people making the videos. It is very hard to stop reading, especially when you get multiple viewpoints of a single event. This is pure delightful candy.
April 15, 2021
Очень подробная история MTV, с момента основания и до 1992, когда канал начал показывать реалити шоу, рейтинг которых был гораздо выше, чем у музыкальных видео. Это устная история, из фрагментов интервью, авторы книги дают слово практически всем участникам, потому что не всегда ясно, где правда - кто придумал канал, а название, кто придумал Unplugged, версий достаточно много, часто взаимоисключающих. Для всех любителей музыки 80-х это будет захватывающим чтением. А ещё очень интересно смотреть, как канал развивался как бизнес, как благодаря ему появились видео и стали более важными, чем музыканты и песни. Книга весьма эмоциональная, много, много ностальгии и воспоминаний. Отдельное спасибо - за смешную главу про фестиваль Рок против наркотиков в Москве, где все участники были очень, очень пьяны, а группа Mötley Crëw разругалась со своим менеджером. И да, после книги очень любопытно было посмотреть несколько видео, типа свежим взглядом.
February 13, 2012
It shouldn't be this hard to get me interested in the complete oral history of the birth and rise and fall of MTV, as it synchs up perfectly with my adolescence and young adulthood. This book managed to get into just about everything that made MTV what it was, but it also somehow makes it all seem quite dull -- which surprised me, even with benefit of adult hindsight. There are some real hilarious moments and quips, in which various rock stars, producers and directors remember the inanity of being on the ride -- i.e., Stevie Nicks being able to look at a video and remember being "gakked to the tits." I'm usually a fan of the oral history format, but this account could have done with a lot more editing and paring down to its essential story; as others have noted, it has way too many music industry people blah-blah-blahing about stuff only they care about. There's something weird about the way it's organized, too -- separating out different genres (Yo MTV Raps, Headbanger's Ball), which only makes things more clinical and boring. I wound up skimming large chunks.
Also, there's not enough (for me) in here about the original VJs, who, according to Publisher's Marketplace list of new book deals, are now collaborating with a Rolling Stone editor on their own oral-history-of-early-MTV book. Maybe that one will have more life to it?
Also, there's not enough (for me) in here about the original VJs, who, according to Publisher's Marketplace list of new book deals, are now collaborating with a Rolling Stone editor on their own oral-history-of-early-MTV book. Maybe that one will have more life to it?
August 16, 2015
I WANT MY MTV takes you back to when the hair was high and so were the shoulder pads.
It really is a sad commentary on MTV ... that goes from "Hungry Like The Wolf" to "Jersey Shore" in one lifetime.
A lot of interesting stories about the making of the videos and the channel's movers and shakers. A fascinating look at the "Music" television channel and its history.
Recommended.
Another good book on the same topic is VJ about the original VJs on MTV....
It really is a sad commentary on MTV ... that goes from "Hungry Like The Wolf" to "Jersey Shore" in one lifetime.
A lot of interesting stories about the making of the videos and the channel's movers and shakers. A fascinating look at the "Music" television channel and its history.
Recommended.
Another good book on the same topic is VJ about the original VJs on MTV....
February 10, 2016
I grew up on MTV, and it's very hard to reconcile the MTV I knew and loved with what it is today. This book covers the best years, 1984-1992, and is a great read for fans of Music Television as it used to be.
Some of my favorite facts and quotes:
- The iconic Ford hot rod coupe from ZZ Top's "Eliminator" album (and various of their eighties videos featuring girls with legs who know how to use them) was only used so it could be written off as a tax deduction. Billy Gibbons bought the car originally in 1976, and ended up paying about $250,000 to get it finished.
- Mark Metcalf (from Animal House) featured in a couple of Twisted Sister's videos in the eighties. On Dee Snider - "Dee is just so ugly. It's like God made the ugliest guy in the world and then He hit him in the face with a shovel."
- All of the members of Duran Duran were straight. Even Nick Rhodes, the prettiest of all. Limahl, on the other hand, was not.
- Actor Timothy Hutton directed the "Drive" video for The Cars.
- Pat Smear (Foo Fighters) was an extra in Prince's "Raspberry Beret" video.
- Sebastian Bach - "..when they talk about hair metal, whose hair do you think they're talking about? I've still got it...and it's so flaxen!"
- Axl Rose once left the Rolling Stones waiting for two hours for a scheduled soundcheck. Once Axl appeared, Keith said, "I slept inside of a chandelier last night. What's your excuse?"
- Janet Jackson asked Gene Kelly to be in her "Alright" video. He told her he was too old and just didn't dance anymore.
- Karen "Duff" Duffy went out with Chris Farley for awhile, until he left her for a model.
- Sting is a dick. (I already knew this, but still.)
A nice walk down memory lane, though a bit shocking at times to read about all the things that went on behind the scenes. There was no sugarcoating of anything that happened, and most of the people involved admit to regrets. All in all, a great tribute to the eighties/early nineties, and an excellent piece of nostalgia.
Some of my favorite facts and quotes:
- The iconic Ford hot rod coupe from ZZ Top's "Eliminator" album (and various of their eighties videos featuring girls with legs who know how to use them) was only used so it could be written off as a tax deduction. Billy Gibbons bought the car originally in 1976, and ended up paying about $250,000 to get it finished.
- Mark Metcalf (from Animal House) featured in a couple of Twisted Sister's videos in the eighties. On Dee Snider - "Dee is just so ugly. It's like God made the ugliest guy in the world and then He hit him in the face with a shovel."
- All of the members of Duran Duran were straight. Even Nick Rhodes, the prettiest of all. Limahl, on the other hand, was not.
- Actor Timothy Hutton directed the "Drive" video for The Cars.
- Pat Smear (Foo Fighters) was an extra in Prince's "Raspberry Beret" video.
- Sebastian Bach - "..when they talk about hair metal, whose hair do you think they're talking about? I've still got it...and it's so flaxen!"
- Axl Rose once left the Rolling Stones waiting for two hours for a scheduled soundcheck. Once Axl appeared, Keith said, "I slept inside of a chandelier last night. What's your excuse?"
- Janet Jackson asked Gene Kelly to be in her "Alright" video. He told her he was too old and just didn't dance anymore.
- Karen "Duff" Duffy went out with Chris Farley for awhile, until he left her for a model.
- Sting is a dick. (I already knew this, but still.)
A nice walk down memory lane, though a bit shocking at times to read about all the things that went on behind the scenes. There was no sugarcoating of anything that happened, and most of the people involved admit to regrets. All in all, a great tribute to the eighties/early nineties, and an excellent piece of nostalgia.
June 14, 2019
OMG I loved this book so much. Covering the first 12 years of MTV—until it stopped being a music television station and became a pioneer of reality television—this book is an oral history of the groundbreaking network, with stories from the executives, VJs, and artists who were not only featured on the channel in its nascence, but who grew up glued to the channel and ended up being rock stars themselves. Featuring interviews with EVERYONE you can think of from David Lee Roth to Dave Grohl to Robert Smith to Tom Petty to Huey Lewis, this was like a capsule of my coming-of-age years, with stories so outrageously funny I was crying while laughing, and with shocking revelations about the behind-the-scenes antics at the offices of MTV, and on the sets of music videos. The '80s are always seen as an era of excess, but when you read about how women were treated—despite being executives, for god's sakes—and how they were used to sell the songs of oversexed, drug-addicted rock stars, it'll make your blood boil. And then David Lee Roth will come back in with yet another ridiculous story in a hotel room and you'll be laughing all over again. This book is brilliant.
September 3, 2012
This disappointing book is merely a bunch of pasted-together quotes from different people involved with the history of the first decade of MTV. There is no narrative and the "authors" write only small introductions to chapters filled with quotes, most of which say little. Their book introduction is also poorly written and at times makes no sense.
The main problem is that the format of the book is all wrong--instead of assembling a narrative from the over 400 people they talked with, they just string together quotes. The book's subtitle is a joke: it's not "uncensored" but actually heavily edited, with only small bits of interviews included. There are also many mistakes those quoted make that go unchallenged. The book repeats the 100% incorrect idea that MTV got Bill Clinton elected (Clinton did NOT get the majority of votes from young voters that year! He got 46% of 18-25 year olds, 41% of 25-30 year olds; his biggest numbers came from people over 50! Go look it up, authors!) And it short-changes many of the early pioneers of the music video format, never really explaining in detail the late 1970s history that led to MTV. Female executive Judy McGrath seems to get the least amount of credit for turning the network around while many guys fight over taking credit for anything successful.
Certainly there are some interesting perspectives provided but the "writers" actually quote too many people (some seem to have nothing to do with the subject, like Conan O'Brien?) and include too much insignificant information. There are complete chapters that have nothing to do with MTV and focus on the making of a music video instead (which really belongs in another book). Namely, it's a pretty big wasted opportunity that ends up rather incomplete in its subject matter while difficult to trudge through.
The main problem is that the format of the book is all wrong--instead of assembling a narrative from the over 400 people they talked with, they just string together quotes. The book's subtitle is a joke: it's not "uncensored" but actually heavily edited, with only small bits of interviews included. There are also many mistakes those quoted make that go unchallenged. The book repeats the 100% incorrect idea that MTV got Bill Clinton elected (Clinton did NOT get the majority of votes from young voters that year! He got 46% of 18-25 year olds, 41% of 25-30 year olds; his biggest numbers came from people over 50! Go look it up, authors!) And it short-changes many of the early pioneers of the music video format, never really explaining in detail the late 1970s history that led to MTV. Female executive Judy McGrath seems to get the least amount of credit for turning the network around while many guys fight over taking credit for anything successful.
Certainly there are some interesting perspectives provided but the "writers" actually quote too many people (some seem to have nothing to do with the subject, like Conan O'Brien?) and include too much insignificant information. There are complete chapters that have nothing to do with MTV and focus on the making of a music video instead (which really belongs in another book). Namely, it's a pretty big wasted opportunity that ends up rather incomplete in its subject matter while difficult to trudge through.
August 5, 2022
Admittedly I thought I would hate this when I realized it was going to be told by a collection of quotes. I actually skipped the forward a chapter thinking this chapter is an all quote intro; I'm going to get to the actual book. After the second chapter's intro I was caught off guard by the quotes again and realized that was the format. I had to go back and actually read the first chapter. I ended up surprised with how much I liked the book considering that there really wasn't writer. That being said there is something skilled in linking the quotes to tell a story and not making it come across as disjointed. Then there's the content. Simply fascinating. At least for someone who grew up in that era.
I learned quite a bit about the rise of MTV. It is like there is a statute of limitations and you can freely tell the stories of what happened with respect to drugs, sex, business agreements, and fights. My only wish (and it's an echo of a comment made by the friend who recommended the book) is that there is a video playlist on YouTube of the videos as they were mentioned in the book.
If I had one criticism, it is that the later chapters and the fall of MTV in a way reflected that time. The chapters were shorter and did not come across as well-structured as the earlier chapters. In a sense, MTV was checking out and so was this book. But man, what a ride it was up until that point.
I learned quite a bit about the rise of MTV. It is like there is a statute of limitations and you can freely tell the stories of what happened with respect to drugs, sex, business agreements, and fights. My only wish (and it's an echo of a comment made by the friend who recommended the book) is that there is a video playlist on YouTube of the videos as they were mentioned in the book.
If I had one criticism, it is that the later chapters and the fall of MTV in a way reflected that time. The chapters were shorter and did not come across as well-structured as the earlier chapters. In a sense, MTV was checking out and so was this book. But man, what a ride it was up until that point.
September 8, 2014
The book is enjoyable, though long, and I keep getting lost in terms of who is speaking and what his/her role is--there are a ton of interviewees, and while the glossary at the back of the book is helpful in placing most of them, it sucks to have to keep flipping back to it (and I’ve found at least one person who doesn’t appear on the list).
I am much less interested in the business/personnel history of MTV than I am in the music. As such, the interviews with/about the artists were far more interesting to me than the parts about the industry people whose names I couldn’t keep straight. There are some truly golden anecdotes--I was constantly marking passages to share with my husband, and we did a lot of laughing over them (but we were also horrified by some of them). Also, we watched a lot of terrible videos after reading about them here.
This was great, but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had actually been watching MTV during its heyday--I didn’t come to it until after the time period that is chronicled in this book.
There are many, many delightful parts of the book, but there are some particularly good anecdotes about Prince, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Nicks.
Recommended!
I am much less interested in the business/personnel history of MTV than I am in the music. As such, the interviews with/about the artists were far more interesting to me than the parts about the industry people whose names I couldn’t keep straight. There are some truly golden anecdotes--I was constantly marking passages to share with my husband, and we did a lot of laughing over them (but we were also horrified by some of them). Also, we watched a lot of terrible videos after reading about them here.
This was great, but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had actually been watching MTV during its heyday--I didn’t come to it until after the time period that is chronicled in this book.
There are many, many delightful parts of the book, but there are some particularly good anecdotes about Prince, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Nicks.
Recommended!
April 22, 2012
Story:
Over 400 interviews with directors, executives, producers, artist, VJs, and anyone else associated with the industry combine for this oral history of MTV from its beginnings in ‘81 to the end of the music video era in ’92.
Thoughts:
It’s a book full of anecdotes that quickly becomes a one trick pony. I don’t think it’s the authors fault necessarily, but there is only so many stories about sex, drugs, and pretentious people you can read before becoming bored. Some of the stories are interesting, a lot feel like you just read the same basic thing a couple pages ago. Oh look another person is snorting coke. Oh geez someone doesn’t want to do videos and now they do, but they’re being a prick. Oh wow you, also slepted with a bunch of women like the other five stories. And on and on.
Should you read it?
Probably not. Yes, it’s nice to reminisce about the golden age of music videos, but as the book points out in the end, YouTube has it all now. Bands can shoot their own videos and get publicity through the Internet.
Over 400 interviews with directors, executives, producers, artist, VJs, and anyone else associated with the industry combine for this oral history of MTV from its beginnings in ‘81 to the end of the music video era in ’92.
Thoughts:
It’s a book full of anecdotes that quickly becomes a one trick pony. I don’t think it’s the authors fault necessarily, but there is only so many stories about sex, drugs, and pretentious people you can read before becoming bored. Some of the stories are interesting, a lot feel like you just read the same basic thing a couple pages ago. Oh look another person is snorting coke. Oh geez someone doesn’t want to do videos and now they do, but they’re being a prick. Oh wow you, also slepted with a bunch of women like the other five stories. And on and on.
Should you read it?
Probably not. Yes, it’s nice to reminisce about the golden age of music videos, but as the book points out in the end, YouTube has it all now. Bands can shoot their own videos and get publicity through the Internet.
May 12, 2018
I want my, I want my, I want my money back. This is trash. If you want a bro-history of MTV that ignores any interesting conversations beyond “there were naked girls on set,” go ahead and read this. Otherwise, don’t bother.
The “compilers” don’t even do Martha Quinn the favor of letting her reply to the numerous disgusting comments about her, although she is interviewed for the book. Men refer to her as an animal who had to be “thrown in the bathtub,” as a “combination of a girlfriend and a child,” and as a sex worker who does whatever MTV wants.
I stopped reading after the second time a slur about trans people was used. It was in a chapter title.
Looking forward to a less lazy history of MTV someday.
The “compilers” don’t even do Martha Quinn the favor of letting her reply to the numerous disgusting comments about her, although she is interviewed for the book. Men refer to her as an animal who had to be “thrown in the bathtub,” as a “combination of a girlfriend and a child,” and as a sex worker who does whatever MTV wants.
I stopped reading after the second time a slur about trans people was used. It was in a chapter title.
Looking forward to a less lazy history of MTV someday.
July 21, 2023
3.5ish because while this was a trove of information and highly illuminating, plus a HIGHLY APPRECIATED flow to the soundbites, there's so many anecdotes that bloated the chapters. Holy shit it felt like a pub conversation that wouldn't end.
June 30, 2023
Should’ve been titled “The Unending Story of the Music Video Revolution” instead. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are some very interesting tidbits and fun stories to be found here, but this thing is at least 200 pages longer than it needed to be; it really got bogged down by excessive repetitiveness and minutiae. So, glad I read it, but even more glad that it’s finally over.
January 11, 2013
In the spirit of High Fidelity, Top Five interview statements from this fantastic oral history of that big part of my childhood, MTV.
1. Dee is just so ugly. It's like God made the ugliest guy in the world, and then He hit him in the face with a shovel -- Mark Metcalf (128)
Mark Metcalf is better known as Neidermeyer, and comes off in this text as a world class prick. But you can't argue with the campy genius of Twisted Sister videos. In my classroom, on the right day, if I close my eyes I can hear "Well, MR. SISTER! WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO WITH YOUR LIFE!!!!"
2. Our success had a lot to do with timing. I guess there was a hole--there was a need by the people for a Bon Jovi. Just a good time entertainment band, you know? A bridge between Phil Collins and Whitesnake. -- Richie Sambora (298)
Phil Collins and Whitesnake? 'Nuff said.
3. I interviewd David Lee Roth at the U.S. Festival in 1983. He was drunk and coked up, laughing at every joke he made. Dave was the greatest interview. -- Mark Goodman (125)
This book went far toward my belief that David Lee Roth is the single greatest rock star of all time. No one ever, not even the Lizard King in 1967, not even Elvis in 1956, perhaps not even Marvin Gaye between 1969 and 1980 could score the girls that Diamond Dave did. Short, tall, it didn't matter, Diamond Dave had 'em all. No woman or pile of white powder was safe. Even coked up and freaked out he was 17 times the lead man that Sammy Hagar ever was.
4. For "Uptown Girl", the director told me, "look at the picture in your locker as if you're in love with this woman and then dance around with a wrench in your hand." I said, "Are you fucking kidding me?" -- Billy Joel
The sheer absolute nonsense of most 1980s videos is reflected in the comments by the artists themselves. This is one of the things that made MTV so wonderful; here were these idols making complete asses out of themselves 90% of the time and looking like they enjoyed it.
5. When a musician starts to use the phrase "mini-movie" to describe a video, it's time to quit. Some videos I enjoyed just because they were train wrecks, like "November Rain." -- Dave Grohl
MTV got big, powerful and lost that irreverence. In so many words, around the time the book ends (1993) MTV became self aware....like Skynet. It then destroyed everything that is good and holy by broadcasting The Real World. The network lost its fun. For me, that is the message of this sublime book. MTV lost its fun, but left its incredible mark on people my age. Read this for the great insights into the creation of a TV network, but take away the sometimes acidic commentary of the people who were there. This is an excellent read.
1. Dee is just so ugly. It's like God made the ugliest guy in the world, and then He hit him in the face with a shovel -- Mark Metcalf (128)
Mark Metcalf is better known as Neidermeyer, and comes off in this text as a world class prick. But you can't argue with the campy genius of Twisted Sister videos. In my classroom, on the right day, if I close my eyes I can hear "Well, MR. SISTER! WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO WITH YOUR LIFE!!!!"
2. Our success had a lot to do with timing. I guess there was a hole--there was a need by the people for a Bon Jovi. Just a good time entertainment band, you know? A bridge between Phil Collins and Whitesnake. -- Richie Sambora (298)
Phil Collins and Whitesnake? 'Nuff said.
3. I interviewd David Lee Roth at the U.S. Festival in 1983. He was drunk and coked up, laughing at every joke he made. Dave was the greatest interview. -- Mark Goodman (125)
This book went far toward my belief that David Lee Roth is the single greatest rock star of all time. No one ever, not even the Lizard King in 1967, not even Elvis in 1956, perhaps not even Marvin Gaye between 1969 and 1980 could score the girls that Diamond Dave did. Short, tall, it didn't matter, Diamond Dave had 'em all. No woman or pile of white powder was safe. Even coked up and freaked out he was 17 times the lead man that Sammy Hagar ever was.
4. For "Uptown Girl", the director told me, "look at the picture in your locker as if you're in love with this woman and then dance around with a wrench in your hand." I said, "Are you fucking kidding me?" -- Billy Joel
The sheer absolute nonsense of most 1980s videos is reflected in the comments by the artists themselves. This is one of the things that made MTV so wonderful; here were these idols making complete asses out of themselves 90% of the time and looking like they enjoyed it.
5. When a musician starts to use the phrase "mini-movie" to describe a video, it's time to quit. Some videos I enjoyed just because they were train wrecks, like "November Rain." -- Dave Grohl
MTV got big, powerful and lost that irreverence. In so many words, around the time the book ends (1993) MTV became self aware....like Skynet. It then destroyed everything that is good and holy by broadcasting The Real World. The network lost its fun. For me, that is the message of this sublime book. MTV lost its fun, but left its incredible mark on people my age. Read this for the great insights into the creation of a TV network, but take away the sometimes acidic commentary of the people who were there. This is an excellent read.
February 16, 2022
"I Want My MTV" is an oral history of MTV's "Golden Years" which the authors date from 1981 (the station's debut) through 1992 (the year that the first episode of "The Real World" came out, when the station began its shift away from music-oriented programming).
As an oral history, the book is based on over 400+ interviews with MTV execs, VJs, musicians, video directors, producers, and a host of other folks who were involved with MTV and video-making during these years. The story is told-- almost entirely-- in the interviewees' own words-- acrocss 53 chapters that each begin with a very brief (typically no more than 1-2 paragraphs each) introduction by the authors, followed by several pages of relevant interviewee quotations. The overall flow of the chapters is chronological, beginning in 1981 and ending in 1992, although some chapters are given over to more thematic topics (like sex and drugs) or to specific artists (e.g. Madonna, Michael Jackson, ZZTop), rather than specifically advancing the overall narrative.
This oral history approach works well for telling the story, and also enables a wide range of perspectives to be brought in on specific chapter topics. It also makes for an easy-to-read book, as the language is that of everyday speech, with some hilarious anecdotes and pointed opinions thrown in. At the same time, this approach is also limiting. The authors present all of these quotes one after another at face value without subjecting them to fact-checking, analysis, or other evaluation. Nor do the authors draw conclusions or make extrapolations at the end of the chapters (or the book) in a way that brings things together in some coherent way, or summarizes their overall significance. Rather, each chapter just ends with the quotations left there like unchewed food, before we move on to another chapter, another brief introduction, and more unexamined quotations.
In the end, though, I did enjoy the book-- in no small part because it was a bit of nostalgia trip down memory lane for me. (I was a teenager in the 80s, and although we didn't have MTV in my home, I was certainly aware of it, and grew up with the music and the videos discussed here.). And I found it a fast, brisk read to boot. (I mean, it's not often I finish a 500+ page book in a single day.) Still, I felt like there should have been more to this book than there actually was. I'm left at the end thinking, "That was entertaining, but what-- if anything-- do the authors think any of it means?"
As an oral history, the book is based on over 400+ interviews with MTV execs, VJs, musicians, video directors, producers, and a host of other folks who were involved with MTV and video-making during these years. The story is told-- almost entirely-- in the interviewees' own words-- acrocss 53 chapters that each begin with a very brief (typically no more than 1-2 paragraphs each) introduction by the authors, followed by several pages of relevant interviewee quotations. The overall flow of the chapters is chronological, beginning in 1981 and ending in 1992, although some chapters are given over to more thematic topics (like sex and drugs) or to specific artists (e.g. Madonna, Michael Jackson, ZZTop), rather than specifically advancing the overall narrative.
This oral history approach works well for telling the story, and also enables a wide range of perspectives to be brought in on specific chapter topics. It also makes for an easy-to-read book, as the language is that of everyday speech, with some hilarious anecdotes and pointed opinions thrown in. At the same time, this approach is also limiting. The authors present all of these quotes one after another at face value without subjecting them to fact-checking, analysis, or other evaluation. Nor do the authors draw conclusions or make extrapolations at the end of the chapters (or the book) in a way that brings things together in some coherent way, or summarizes their overall significance. Rather, each chapter just ends with the quotations left there like unchewed food, before we move on to another chapter, another brief introduction, and more unexamined quotations.
In the end, though, I did enjoy the book-- in no small part because it was a bit of nostalgia trip down memory lane for me. (I was a teenager in the 80s, and although we didn't have MTV in my home, I was certainly aware of it, and grew up with the music and the videos discussed here.). And I found it a fast, brisk read to boot. (I mean, it's not often I finish a 500+ page book in a single day.) Still, I felt like there should have been more to this book than there actually was. I'm left at the end thinking, "That was entertaining, but what-- if anything-- do the authors think any of it means?"
February 29, 2012
Unfortunately, according to this book, MTV was totally over by 1992. I guess by the time I really got into it in 1993, I wasn't watching anything cool, I was just a big loser. It's nice that David Fincher gets a lot of play here, but it is absolutely criminal that Mark Romanek only gets mentioned twice. In my opinion, he's a much better video director and I honestly think that his Never Let Me Go could totally give anything by Fincher (except Seven) a run for its money. There is some downright hilarious stuff in here from Stevie Nicks, Aresenio Hall, Billy Idol - who knew Billy Idol was so laugh out loud funny? - and Sebastian Bach. And any thoughts you may have harbored about the size of Adam Curry's ego are apparently pretty much true!
February 1, 2020
Very enjoyable in the beginning, but could be hit-and-miss. Some chapters were very interesting and a fun read. Others were very dry and boring, usually the ones talking about producers and the business aspect. I honestly have at least skimmed or skipped entire chapters based on what they were about.
As it went on further it became more less enjoyable. Perhaps it's because I didn't watch MTV during those years and it didn't hold my interest.
All in all the chapters are either excellent or boring. Hence my 3 star review.
As it went on further it became more less enjoyable. Perhaps it's because I didn't watch MTV during those years and it didn't hold my interest.
All in all the chapters are either excellent or boring. Hence my 3 star review.
November 4, 2021
I finally gave up on this. The book is in desperate need for an editor to pare this down by about a third. There are WAY too many snippets of interviews from music industry people that, honestly, are the least interesting part of the story behind the birth of MTV. I was listening to the audiobook & when I realized I still had over 14 hours to go & I had already listened for about 6, I was out.
October 13, 2020
Loved loved LOVED all the behind-the-scenes dirt about musicians and MTV personalities. The business and reality TV sections bored me to tears (much like MTV's reality programming). The oral history format was also perfect for the subject matter.
July 25, 2017
I was really bummed about this book. It was really good but after a while there were too many blurbs and it was too long. Total bummer because it was really interesting on the whole.
September 21, 2018
Oral histories like this or Live From New York are real page-turners, and the only thing that slowed me down with I Want My MTV was looking up all the videos as they were mentioned. Here's a link to most of them.
Can you imagine needing to wait through a broadcast playlist, with commercials, to see the video you wanted to see? What a concept. Meanwhile, today's typical MTV broadcast schedule is as follows: 10 hours of Jersey Shore, followed by 10 hours of Wild N' Out, followed by 3 hours of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, followed by 10 hours of Ridiculousness, followed by 10 hours of Teen Mom 2, wash, rinse, repeat (GTL). It's like Kevin Godley says, "It's always Art vs. Commerce, but in the beginning, art won out because commerce didn't understand it." But as bad as most of the current MTV shows are (excepting the CHALLENGE), they are all still more watchable than anything by Metallica or Nirvana.
Anyway, thanks MTV, for once providing a less-good platform than the one we have now, to watch music videos. Here's some of the best stuff that was on the channel in the era recounted in this book (1981-1993):
1) EVERY Michael Jackson video
2) EVERY Huey Lewis and the News video
3) EVERY Madonna video
4) The Robert Palmer videos that are supposedly parodies of oversexualized music videos even though that's not really something that can actually be parodied
5) ZZ Top's "Legs" (ironically), and "Sharp Dressed Man" (unironically)
6) The Scorpions' "Big City Nights"
7) Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" (haha oh wow)
8) Aimee Mann's deep, soulful gaze
9) Clips of Rachel Ward in Phil Collins' "Against All Odds"
10) A-Ha's "Take On Me"
11) Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing"
12) David Fincher's Paula Abdul videos
13) Courtney Cox in that Bruce Springsteen video
14) Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" (wow)
15) Just, you know, Billy Idol's whole presentation of self
16) Sting, too
17) Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer"
18) Heart's "Never"
19) Susanna Hoffs' strange eye movements in "Walk Like an Egyptian"
20) Milton Berle showing up in some Ratt videos
21) Neil Young's "This Note's For You"
22) Cindy Crawford in general and specifically in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" video
23) Pretty much anything produced by Dr. Dre
24) The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge"
25) Tawny Kitaen doing acrobatics on car hoods in Whitesnakes' "Here I Go Again"
I'm not the world's biggest fan of a lot of the rest of what was shown, but hey, mass media dinosaurs have something for everyone...
...26) Was Not Was, "Walk the Dinosaur" (not mentioned in this book).
Can you imagine needing to wait through a broadcast playlist, with commercials, to see the video you wanted to see? What a concept. Meanwhile, today's typical MTV broadcast schedule is as follows: 10 hours of Jersey Shore, followed by 10 hours of Wild N' Out, followed by 3 hours of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, followed by 10 hours of Ridiculousness, followed by 10 hours of Teen Mom 2, wash, rinse, repeat (GTL). It's like Kevin Godley says, "It's always Art vs. Commerce, but in the beginning, art won out because commerce didn't understand it." But as bad as most of the current MTV shows are (excepting the CHALLENGE), they are all still more watchable than anything by Metallica or Nirvana.
Anyway, thanks MTV, for once providing a less-good platform than the one we have now, to watch music videos. Here's some of the best stuff that was on the channel in the era recounted in this book (1981-1993):
1) EVERY Michael Jackson video
2) EVERY Huey Lewis and the News video
3) EVERY Madonna video
4) The Robert Palmer videos that are supposedly parodies of oversexualized music videos even though that's not really something that can actually be parodied
5) ZZ Top's "Legs" (ironically), and "Sharp Dressed Man" (unironically)
6) The Scorpions' "Big City Nights"
7) Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" (haha oh wow)
8) Aimee Mann's deep, soulful gaze
9) Clips of Rachel Ward in Phil Collins' "Against All Odds"
10) A-Ha's "Take On Me"
11) Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing"
12) David Fincher's Paula Abdul videos
13) Courtney Cox in that Bruce Springsteen video
14) Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" (wow)
15) Just, you know, Billy Idol's whole presentation of self
16) Sting, too
17) Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer"
18) Heart's "Never"
19) Susanna Hoffs' strange eye movements in "Walk Like an Egyptian"
20) Milton Berle showing up in some Ratt videos
21) Neil Young's "This Note's For You"
22) Cindy Crawford in general and specifically in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" video
23) Pretty much anything produced by Dr. Dre
24) The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge"
25) Tawny Kitaen doing acrobatics on car hoods in Whitesnakes' "Here I Go Again"
I'm not the world's biggest fan of a lot of the rest of what was shown, but hey, mass media dinosaurs have something for everyone...
...26) Was Not Was, "Walk the Dinosaur" (not mentioned in this book).
June 4, 2022
I bought a used copy of this massive oral history of MTV at Amoeba Records a couple years ago. It was published in 2011. Reading this very addictive book was a combination nostalgia trip/eye opener of the mid to late '80s.
Nostalgia trip because MTV came to our cable menu when I was in high school and I am in the generation that remembers all 5 original VJs and spent afternoons watching music videos and gathering with friends Saturday nights for MTV concerts like Adam and the Ants and U2 at Red Rocks.
Eye opening because wow, did these people do a lot of blow! Also, I had kind of forgotten how misogynistic and hedonistic a lot of these videos were and what a decadent decade it was. I think people look back fondly at the 1980s the way our parents looked back at the 1950s. This book stomps those rose-colored glasses.
The parts I liked best were 1) learning about the business model, how the channel almost folded, and the challenges of convincing record companies to give them videos for free, 2) stories about the making of certain videos - there were times I literally laughed out loud, 3) memories it brought up, 4) learning inside dirt - Madonna's post-it note, Stevie Nick's regrets, and Paulie Shore's (?!) sex bus. A fun, dishy book for anyone interested in MTV's origins and the bands of that era.
Nostalgia trip because MTV came to our cable menu when I was in high school and I am in the generation that remembers all 5 original VJs and spent afternoons watching music videos and gathering with friends Saturday nights for MTV concerts like Adam and the Ants and U2 at Red Rocks.
Eye opening because wow, did these people do a lot of blow! Also, I had kind of forgotten how misogynistic and hedonistic a lot of these videos were and what a decadent decade it was. I think people look back fondly at the 1980s the way our parents looked back at the 1950s. This book stomps those rose-colored glasses.
The parts I liked best were 1) learning about the business model, how the channel almost folded, and the challenges of convincing record companies to give them videos for free, 2) stories about the making of certain videos - there were times I literally laughed out loud, 3) memories it brought up, 4) learning inside dirt - Madonna's post-it note, Stevie Nick's regrets, and Paulie Shore's (?!) sex bus. A fun, dishy book for anyone interested in MTV's origins and the bands of that era.
May 1, 2016
So my reading of this oral history I think mirrored what MTV was to me and to many people of my age. When I started I Want My MTV, I was also reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me and Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction, two extremely serious and timely books that are pretty much the definition of un-fun. I wouldn't necessarily call reading them a chore, but they put you in a pretty specific headspace that is pretty much the polar opposite of I Want My MTV. So of course, once I got start with MTV, what it means to be African-American in America ca 2016 and humanity's hand in its own extinction fell by the wayside as I read stories of Duran Duran's hairstyles, Downtown Julie Brown's diva behavior, and how Sam Kinison liked to freebase.
But then I thought what MTV really was, and why my parents' generation hated it, beyond its contribution to the moral decline of Western Civilization as we know it (two words: Motley Crue): It removed whatever good will the pop music of the 60s gave to its listeners. I know, that sounds like a dodgy proposition considering Elvis's gyrations, Mick's gyrations, Tina's gyrations, and Led Zeppelin being in league with the devil. But MTV really was a major signpost of the 80s- peace, love, progress were ultimately just advertisements for the companies that were selling the music, the millionaires were what came out of the 60s. The non-human systems that dictated behavior (government, school, church, business, industry, etc) won, so let's dance with Boy George and Duran Duran and not care about anything. Meaning, depth to pop music was a farce, and we would never top the Beatles anyway, so why try?
Yes, I am aware of how cynical that sounds, but in my defense, I was a 100% product of MTV. Michael Jackson posters, Duran Duran, and then hair metal leading into alternative rock/grunge explosion. I watched MTV in the morning, I watched MTV in the afternoon - I cared about what the top 20 was, bought music based on the videos I saw, blissfully unaware that I was the prey of record executives looking to separate me from (ultimately my parents') money.
It's interesting to see that the MTV bands - the ones that were the pure product of image over sound, style over substance - began as androgynous, mopey Brits and then became androgynous party animals from LA. And as with most people, I grew bored of the story once the 80s were ending and MTV started to see that its own shelf-life was quickly coming to an end.... More on that in a second.
At the same time, those who became masters of MTV in the 80s - Michael, Prince, Madonna, Bruce, U2, and finally Guns N Roses - did create some solid pop music, some of it on a par with anything that the Beatles and the Stones created. But as with anything in America, once it makes money, lets find a way for it to make A LOT of money. Marvel movies, live action versions of Disney films - these are still the dreams of corporations because they are now literally making BILLIONS of dollars. Michael Jackson - the first true master of music videos, one of the most interesting anecdotes in the book was how resistant MTV was initially to Michael, and how completely racist it was as well. (There's a corollary to show that MTV, even when it had Yo MTV Raps and hip hop started dominating the videos after the grunge explosion, was in the end still an extension of racist white America.) Yes, the words might be anti-racist, the artists might be anti-racist, you got young people to vote/elect Bill Clinton (so you say), but ultimately, the forces behind the curtains were rich white man who might be willing to let African-Americans play at their parties but really had no interest in truly pursuing some agenda of equality. Again, this sounds like coming from someone who feels burned, and I guess I am. How could I fall for something like that? Something so blatantly opportunistic and materialist? Easy - I was 8 years old.
There were some good things to come out of MTV - when the grunge explosion hit in 1991, there was a brief period around 1992-94 where the lunatics took over the asylum. Weird videos dominated, music went further out there and MTV seemed to champion the weird. Shudder to Think playing on 120 minutes? Faith No More playing white noise bursts on Hangin With MTV? Definitely shapes the formative mind, for better or worse.
And then what happened? The Real World - the irony of what The Real World injecting itself into MTV did to MTV in the end, should not be lost on anyone. The junk food culture perpetuated by MTV showed that the music was secondary to something else that was REALLY coming out of the Tube: Entertainment. Jersey Shore, Jackass, Real World, etc have no redeeming value beyond A. giving its audience 25 minutes of brain-free enjoyment and B. creating celebrities of its participants. So that's the ultimate legacy of MTV - not music, but celebrity. Fame. Michael, Prince, Madonna became icons because of the images they perpetuated, not just the music they made. And the vast amounts of money that came with it created non-people in a way. This is the mediated landscape JG Ballard chronicled in his 70s diatribes disguised as science fiction. Plastic surgery, pornography - because the image doesn't sell unless there is an aspect of the sexual to it. Prince, Madonna, and Michael were all ultimately androgynous. Bruce Springsteen - ultimately akin to Dylan - was a reaction to the over-stimulation of that triple threat.
And here's the rub of all of this - I read 500 pages of the history of MTV, and have just written way longer than what needs to be said about MTV. It's all crap in the end. Fun crap, but crap. Time to go back to work.
But then I thought what MTV really was, and why my parents' generation hated it, beyond its contribution to the moral decline of Western Civilization as we know it (two words: Motley Crue): It removed whatever good will the pop music of the 60s gave to its listeners. I know, that sounds like a dodgy proposition considering Elvis's gyrations, Mick's gyrations, Tina's gyrations, and Led Zeppelin being in league with the devil. But MTV really was a major signpost of the 80s- peace, love, progress were ultimately just advertisements for the companies that were selling the music, the millionaires were what came out of the 60s. The non-human systems that dictated behavior (government, school, church, business, industry, etc) won, so let's dance with Boy George and Duran Duran and not care about anything. Meaning, depth to pop music was a farce, and we would never top the Beatles anyway, so why try?
Yes, I am aware of how cynical that sounds, but in my defense, I was a 100% product of MTV. Michael Jackson posters, Duran Duran, and then hair metal leading into alternative rock/grunge explosion. I watched MTV in the morning, I watched MTV in the afternoon - I cared about what the top 20 was, bought music based on the videos I saw, blissfully unaware that I was the prey of record executives looking to separate me from (ultimately my parents') money.
It's interesting to see that the MTV bands - the ones that were the pure product of image over sound, style over substance - began as androgynous, mopey Brits and then became androgynous party animals from LA. And as with most people, I grew bored of the story once the 80s were ending and MTV started to see that its own shelf-life was quickly coming to an end.... More on that in a second.
At the same time, those who became masters of MTV in the 80s - Michael, Prince, Madonna, Bruce, U2, and finally Guns N Roses - did create some solid pop music, some of it on a par with anything that the Beatles and the Stones created. But as with anything in America, once it makes money, lets find a way for it to make A LOT of money. Marvel movies, live action versions of Disney films - these are still the dreams of corporations because they are now literally making BILLIONS of dollars. Michael Jackson - the first true master of music videos, one of the most interesting anecdotes in the book was how resistant MTV was initially to Michael, and how completely racist it was as well. (There's a corollary to show that MTV, even when it had Yo MTV Raps and hip hop started dominating the videos after the grunge explosion, was in the end still an extension of racist white America.) Yes, the words might be anti-racist, the artists might be anti-racist, you got young people to vote/elect Bill Clinton (so you say), but ultimately, the forces behind the curtains were rich white man who might be willing to let African-Americans play at their parties but really had no interest in truly pursuing some agenda of equality. Again, this sounds like coming from someone who feels burned, and I guess I am. How could I fall for something like that? Something so blatantly opportunistic and materialist? Easy - I was 8 years old.
There were some good things to come out of MTV - when the grunge explosion hit in 1991, there was a brief period around 1992-94 where the lunatics took over the asylum. Weird videos dominated, music went further out there and MTV seemed to champion the weird. Shudder to Think playing on 120 minutes? Faith No More playing white noise bursts on Hangin With MTV? Definitely shapes the formative mind, for better or worse.
And then what happened? The Real World - the irony of what The Real World injecting itself into MTV did to MTV in the end, should not be lost on anyone. The junk food culture perpetuated by MTV showed that the music was secondary to something else that was REALLY coming out of the Tube: Entertainment. Jersey Shore, Jackass, Real World, etc have no redeeming value beyond A. giving its audience 25 minutes of brain-free enjoyment and B. creating celebrities of its participants. So that's the ultimate legacy of MTV - not music, but celebrity. Fame. Michael, Prince, Madonna became icons because of the images they perpetuated, not just the music they made. And the vast amounts of money that came with it created non-people in a way. This is the mediated landscape JG Ballard chronicled in his 70s diatribes disguised as science fiction. Plastic surgery, pornography - because the image doesn't sell unless there is an aspect of the sexual to it. Prince, Madonna, and Michael were all ultimately androgynous. Bruce Springsteen - ultimately akin to Dylan - was a reaction to the over-stimulation of that triple threat.
And here's the rub of all of this - I read 500 pages of the history of MTV, and have just written way longer than what needs to be said about MTV. It's all crap in the end. Fun crap, but crap. Time to go back to work.
June 28, 2022
A fun read if you grew up watching MTV in the 80’s like I did. I read this right after I read the VJ book about the original 5 VJ’s. This one has a lot more perspective from VJ’s to artist to executives. It goes from the creation of the network to its death in ‘93 when they stopped focusing on music and went almost entirely to horrible reality tv shows.
I can’t even believe it’s still a network at all. I’ll occasionally flip by it searching through channels and see it’s completely useless programming.
I saw the other day it had Fresh Prince reruns on the entire day! Why not just show music videos?
It’s worth the read if you spent the 80’s with MTV always playing in the background.
I can’t even believe it’s still a network at all. I’ll occasionally flip by it searching through channels and see it’s completely useless programming.
I saw the other day it had Fresh Prince reruns on the entire day! Why not just show music videos?
It’s worth the read if you spent the 80’s with MTV always playing in the background.
February 13, 2022
Finallly I had the chance to read this brilliant book about how MTV changed music and pop culture forever.
I know that they don’t play music videos anymore, hence to how the digital era is evolving (Youtube, Tik Tok, etc) + reality TV crap, but it would be impossible to not accept such huge impact that MTV had in our lives. Thanks to this platform, I fell in love with Britney when I was 9 ;)
Me, as a former VJ myself (not from MTV tho😂), would recommend you 100% to read this interview-oriented book with +400 guests including music executives, video directors, VJs and artists like Guns n Roses, Duran Duran, Cher, Van Halen, Lady Gaga, among others.
I know that they don’t play music videos anymore, hence to how the digital era is evolving (Youtube, Tik Tok, etc) + reality TV crap, but it would be impossible to not accept such huge impact that MTV had in our lives. Thanks to this platform, I fell in love with Britney when I was 9 ;)
Me, as a former VJ myself (not from MTV tho😂), would recommend you 100% to read this interview-oriented book with +400 guests including music executives, video directors, VJs and artists like Guns n Roses, Duran Duran, Cher, Van Halen, Lady Gaga, among others.
September 29, 2021
I wasn't able to get my fill of MTV when it first came into being....I would have watched for hours on end if I'd have had access....but this book still brought back really great memories!
The one thing that would have made this the ULTIMATE would be to have a way to watch the videos as they were brought up.
I guess I'll have to start searching YouTube :)
The one thing that would have made this the ULTIMATE would be to have a way to watch the videos as they were brought up.
I guess I'll have to start searching YouTube :)
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