On this day (April 18) in 1987, Headbangers Ball premiered on MTV. The show played music videos from both obscure and well-known rock and metal bands. It also featured interviews with bands and artists. As a result, those who had no interest in the network’s coverage of Top 40 music had a reason to tune in.
Videos by American Songwriter
MTV knew how to hook metal fans of the ’80s and proved it with the premiere episode of Headbangers Ball. The network tapped Lemmy Kilmister and drummer Phil Taylor of Motorhead to host the show. That night, they played videos from Cinderella, Dokken, White Snake, KISS, Poison, and Motorhead. It would go on to be the most popular show on MTV and was considered one of the network’s flagships for years.
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By the mid-’90s, alternative rock and metal were gaining mainstream appeal. As a result, the decision makers at MTV decided they no longer needed a three-hour series to showcase the genre. So, in 1995, they canceled Headbangers Ball. They brought the show back in 2003 but it didn’t have the same feel. Then, in 2007, MTV trimmed the hosts and guests and Headbangers Ball became the title of a block of rock and metal videos.
The Origins of Headbangers Ball
MTV took a long road to Headbangers Ball. According to Rock N’ Roll True Stories, a large portion of the videos the network was showing in 1984 were from rock and metal bands. MTV CEO Bob Pittman wanted to move away from metal in 1985, calling it a “fad” and “A quick, crass, easy buck for record companies.”
Dee Snider approached the network, urging them to continue playing metal videos. Before long, Snider became the host of Headbangers Ball’s forerunner, titled Heavy Metal Mania. The show ran for around a year. However, MTV canceled the show when Snider, who was hosting the show for free, wanted to be paid for his time.
By 1987, MTV’s ratings were dropping due to its repetitive Top 40 format. They were playing approximately 100 videos in heavy rotation, and viewers were getting bored. In response, the network launched 120 Minutes in 1986. This show played videos from alternative acts, and it was a hit. So, they chose to revisit metal videos. That decision led to the creation of Headbangers Ball.
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