OTD – MTV’s First Broadcast – 10 Iconic 80’s Rock Videos
On this day in 1981, MTV, a TV channel dedicated entirely to playing music videos was launched. The channel had a huge impact on music, television and pop culture. Here are 10 videos from the 1980’s that left an indelible mark on our memories. Many of us spent hours upon hours with our eyes glues to the TV watching video after video presented by VJs (the TV version of disc jockeys) like Martha Quinn, Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson, take a look at a few of the videos we see in our heads when we see the letters M-T-V.
David Bryne showed off some stressful looking dance steps in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU
The special effects employed in this video helped take this hit song to an even bigger level for Peter Gabriel.
This video had a concept/story line, lots of bikers & of course tons of beard. It was played incessantly on MTV & brought ZZ Top to a whole new audience.
The Police played with fire and achieved some great results with this iconic video.
The use of graphics and animation in this video helped make this one of the biggest videos of all time. Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler starred alongside the cartooney cigar-smoking delivery-man.
This one helped take Van Halen’s career to an even higher level.
Billy Joel took it to the streets for this video that received plenty of play during the mid-80’s.
Stevie’s star power and spinning skills were on full display in this video. The dancers in this video definitely have outfits that reflected the fashion of the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdDVZsz2es
Genesis took puppetry to a different level in his concept video.
Tom Petty was an awesome Mad Hatter in this ‘WONDERful’ video.
