Music first classic rock band playing in the story of MTV

Music first classic rock band playing in the story of MTV

Television channel intended for music was born in 1981 and featured some striking premieres, including a single from a veteran group

The Buggles, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart… these were some of the first artists to have clips conveyed in the MTVinaugurated on August 1, 1981, based in the United States.

The first classic rock band, however, to appear on the then new television channel intended for music The Who. The information is present on various online pages, as Wikipedia and Far Out Magazine.

That year, the group led by Roger Daltrey (voice) and Pete Townshend (guitar) was released Face Dances (1981), his ninth studio album, and said the single video “You Better You Bet” Right on the first day of MTV’s programming.

Roger Daltrey and The WHO Pete Townshend in 2023

The video features black and white images of the English group performing live. In addition to Daltrey and Townshend, the training had the bassist John Entwistle and the drummer Kenney Jones (SMALL FACES, Faces), substitute for Keith Moondied in 1978. Watch on YouTube.

The Who at the time

At the time, The Who It was already considered a veteran rock band. Formed in 1964, the group had been part of the “British invasion”, played in Woodstock (1969) and crossed the 1970s with classic records like Who’s Next (1971) and SMOCPHENIA (1973).

In the following years, the band continued to have videos shown on MTV, but usually recovered images of film and live performances, such as the songs “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again”.

After the launch of IT’S HARD (1982), the The Who separated in 1983. returned on punctual occasions – 1985, 1988, 1989 – and then permanently from 1996, already with Zak Starkeyson of Ringo Starr and recently fired, on the battery.

First MTV clips

See below a list of the first 20 music video displayed on MTV. They all were broadcast on the channel’s debut day in the United States, August 1, 1981.

  1. “Video Kiled the Radio Star” – The Buggles
  2. “You Better Run” – Pat Benatar
  3. “She Won’t Dance With Me” – Rod Stewart
  4. “You Better You Bet” – The Who
  5. “Little Suzi’s on the Up” – Ph.D.
  6. “We Don’t Talk Anymore” – Cliff Richard
  7. “BRASS IN POCKET” – THE PREENDERS
  8. “Time Heals” – Todd Rundgren
  9. “Take It On The Run” – Reo Speedwagon
  10. “Rockin ‘The Paradise” – Styx
  11. “When Things Go Wrong” – Robin Lane and the Chartbusters
  12. “History Never Repeats” – Split ENZ
  13. “Hold on LoosĂ©ly” – .38 Special
  14. “Just Between You and Me” – April Wine
  15. “SAILING” – Rod Stewart
  16. “Iron Maiden” – Iron Maiden
  17. “Keep on Loving You” – Reo Speedwagon
  18. “Bluer Than Blue” – Michael Johnson
  19. “MESSAGE OF LOVE” – THE PREENDERS
  20. “Mr. BriefCase” – Lee Ritour

+++ Read more: Roger Daltrey’s biggest concern on The Who’s farewell tour
+++ Read more: Pete Townshend about Zak Starkey resignation on The Who: ‘It was a mess’
+++ Read more: The WHO element that generates greater disagreement between Daltrey and Townshend

Source: Rollingstone

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