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From morning till night all my sisters and I did was watch MTV non stop.
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That's because MTV showed MUSIC VIDEOS morning 'till night (and night 'till morning).  There were alll kinds of videos, from the concert clip to the lip sync story narrative to the silly fantasy in psychedelic colors.  Even artists you didn't like did amusing videos.  The breaks were always punctuated by that familiar guitar riff, with the astronaut planting the funky MTV flag on the moon.  The friendly faces of the VJs, Martha Quinn, JJ Jackson, Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood and co. always helped movie things along.  Once you started watching, you never wanted to stop!
MTV's cultural disintegration began with "YO! MTV Raps," and "Remote Control," featuring the odious Colin Quinn.
BTW, there's a myth that MTV didn't show black artists before the rap show.  Not true.  There were plenty of videos by Michael Jackson, Kool & The Gang, Lionel Ritchie, Tina Turner, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, among others.  They did show rap before the genre got its own program.  The problem wasn't rap or black artists per se, the problem was a cultural shift to more crassness and vulgarity.

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MTV's cultural disintegration began with "YO! MTV Raps," and "Remote Control," featuring the odious Colin Quinn.
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Actually, Ken Ober hosted Remote Control.  Colin Quinn was his "Ed McMahon" sidekick.  The show itself wasn't too dreadful, but I do agree that it contributed to the downfall of MTV as we knew it.  Remote Control would have been better suited for the Game Show Network (even though it wasn't out at the time).

By the way, MTV Hits is a new network started by MTV with nothing but videos for today's generation.  The music isn't as cool as it was 20 years ago, but what do you expect?  ;D

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That's because MTV showed MUSIC VIDEOS morning 'till night (and night 'till morning).  There were alll kinds of videos, from the concert clip to the lip sync story narrative to the silly fantasy in psychedelic colors.  Even artists you didn't like did amusing videos.  The breaks were always punctuated by that familiar guitar riff, with the astronaut planting the funky MTV flag on the moon.  The friendly faces of the VJs, Martha Quinn, JJ Jackson, Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood and co. always helped movie things along.  Once you started watching, you never wanted to stop!End Quote

Keep in mind that MTV is, and always has been a total "Peter Pan" network, meaning it never grows up.  So while you have grown up into a 30 something adult today that is longing to go back to the year 1984, MTV continues caters to 14, 15, and 16 year olds that weren't even alive back then.  MTV doesn't care what anyone over the age of 21 thinks of their programming.

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MTV's cultural disintegration began with "YO! MTV Raps," and "Remote Control," featuring the odious Colin Quinn.
BTW, there's a myth that MTV didn't show black artists before the rap show.  Not true.  There were plenty of videos by Michael Jackson, Kool & The Gang, Lionel Ritchie, Tina Turner, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, among others.  They did show rap before the genre got its own program.  The problem wasn't rap or black artists per se, the problem was a cultural shift to more crassness and vulgarity.
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I've never heard of this myth.  But what I have heard is that MTV did not showcase black artists until Michael Jackson skyrocketed to mega-superstardom in 1983.  Rap music has it's vulgarity, but it is a distinct American art form like jazz and R&B.  Kids use vulgar or outrageous artists to look cool and rebelious.  They also use them to tick their parents and teachers off, just like they did back in 1985 when Tipper Gore held Congressional Hearings over vulgar lyrics in music.  The kids really haven't changed, we're the ones that have changed.  We've gotten older, more mature, and we've turned into the uncool "grown ups".

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Keep in mind that MTV is, and always has been a total "Peter Pan" network, meaning it never grows up.  So while you have grown up into a 30 something adult today that is longing to go back to the year 1984, MTV continues caters to 14, 15, and 16 year olds that weren't even alive back then.  MTV doesn't care what anyone over the age of 21 thinks of their programming.
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I agree with you there, Paul. It does my head in when Radio 1 (top radio station in Britain) refuse to acknowledge the original version of a cover record or get all 'teenagery' (even though most DJs are over the age of 25) when they bregrudge giving the original version a mention - at least it would add a bit of prestige to the station.

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Then in 87 I left for the Marines and it all came crashing down on me . The party was over and now i'm in the real world . End Quote

You are right. I realised I was in the real world at the start of 1992 when I left my nan and grandad's house and started to live with my dad and his wife. A rude awakening indeed.

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LIFE WAS GOOD AND EVERYTHING WAS NEW! - This one statement is really what the 80's were to me!
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That was how I viewed the 80s as well. There seemed to be so much optimism back then. Has the world changed or is it just our perspectives have changed?

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I agree with you there, Paul. It does my head in when Radio 1 (top radio station in Britain) refuse to acknowledge the original version of a cover record or get all 'teenagery' (even though most DJs are over the age of 25) when they bregrudge giving the original version a mention - at least it would add a bit of prestige to the station.
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That was how I viewed the 80s as well. There seemed to be so much optimism back then. Has the world changed or is it just our perspectives have changed?
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It's primarily a change in perspective, though the world has changed as well.

When you're young and "invicible" everything seems possible. Most of your experiences are new or at least relatively new. You typically aren't financially responsible for your well being. Though you may have a job your parents are picking up the tab if you live with them or are at college. For me I had Uncle Sam continue that parental thing for a few more years.

After you enter the work-a-day world thing tend to get a bit more predictable and as more time goes by we have fewer new experiences. Your focus can easily change from friends and play to work and bills.

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It's primarily a change in perspective, though the world has changed as well.

When you're young and "invicible" everything seems possible. Most of your experiences are new or at least relatively new. You typically aren't financially responsible for your well being. Though you may have a job your parents are picking up the tab if you live with them or are at college. For me I had Uncle Sam continue that parental thing for a few more years.

After you enter the work-a-day world thing tend to get a bit more predictable and as more time goes by we have fewer new experiences. Your focus can easily change from friends and play to work and bills.
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You are right, Zed Omega.

You mentioned Uncle Sam. Were you in the forces?

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we weren't groupies by any means -- basically we just hung out and got autographs.  one time Joe Jackson signed my chemistry book -- i had a test the next day so i jokingly took my book along with me in the hope of getting him to sign it.  he did -- and wrote "Joe Jackson HATES chemistry! (my chem teacher didn't see the humor in it!)
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Ha ha! That's great DJ Avadoria.

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i grew up in pittsburgh, pa, and the "new music" (that's what they called new wave or post-punk music) scene was very small, so it wasn't too difficult to meet the bands that came to town.

my best friend and i had it all figured out:  after school on the night of the concert, we would drive downtown (we lived in suburbia) to the Stanley Theater (it was a 3000 seat venue) right after school.  the bands would usually arrive around then to do sound check.  

we weren't groupies by any means -- basically we just hung out and got autographs.  one time Joe Jackson signed my chemistry book -- i had a test the next day so i jokingly took my book along with me in the hope of getting him to sign it.  he did -- and wrote "Joe Jackson HATES chemistry! (my chem teacher didn't see the humor in it!)

i remember sneaking into the Talking Heads' sound check -- the doors were wide open and we just walked in and sat in the back!  after the sound check, David Byrne came walking up the aisle to talk to the sound guy, and i said to my best friend, "if we let david byrne get away when he's this close, we're fools."  so we gingerly went up to him and i said, "Mr. Byrne, can i have your autograph?" and he said, "why, surely!"  and then a few minutes later, one of the backup singers came over to us and said, "We saw you sneak in!  You just wait right here -- I have some backstage passes and afterparty tickets for you!"  turns out, she was from pittsburgh (as is Chris Franz), and she felt a certain kinship with us!  

after the concert we went to the party, but we were so young and shy we didn't really talk to anyone.  but it was so exciting at the time, and certainly an adventure i'll always remember!
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Great stories - I'm jealous!  ;D
Zed

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You are right, Zed Omega.

You mentioned Uncle Sam. Were you in the forces?
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Sure was - US Air Force for 4 years in the late 80's. But it was a VERY un-military like experience!

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see now i think being in the Air Force would be a really great adventure!  
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Yikes! - I didn't mean to give you the impression that it may be fun for others, especially now in post 9/11 America.

I served in the Air Force during the 80's at a Logistic Air Command base working in a hospital. The combination of those factors made my experience much more like a civilian 9-5 job. Other than the fact that I was in the AF, there really wasn't any other 'military' component. The nice thing was that the military paid for everything plus I still got a paycheck. Needless to say it had a bit of an unusual experience relative to most people in the service.

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Sure was - US Air Force for 4 years in the late 80's. But it was a VERY un-military like experience!
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Wow. You must have had a lot of women falling at your feet at that time - it was Top Gun era.  :)

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I skipped school a lot to take the bus to Cambridge and hang out in Harvard Square.  I liked to bleach my hair different colors, listen to The Smiths, and hate my stupid suburban hometown.
;)
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Was that Cambridge, England Maxwell?

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Was that Cambridge, England Maxwell?
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It sounds like Cambridge, Mass!  I've spent a lot of time up in the Boston area.  If I had seen you there during the 80s, I probably would have fallen in love with you, Max!

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Wow. You must have had a lot of women falling at your feet at that time - it was Top Gun era.  :)
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as the Gang of Four once sang, "I love a man in uniform..." !

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It sounds like Cambridge, Mass!  I've spent a lot of time up in the Boston area.  If I had seen you there during the 80s, I probably would have fallen in love with you, Max!
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There are many Cambridges, but only one Harvard Square that I know of.  Harvard Square was a countercultural destination starting in the 1950s.  By the '80s it was suffering from commercial overdevelopment, but it was a place that still had lots of cool record & book stores, and where weirdo kids from the suburbs could hang out without getting hassled by yahoos.  
Today it's still my old haunt, but it's in a sad, sad state.  The first thing you see when you step out of the subway station is a giant Abercrombie & Fitch store.  If you ever saw "Good Will Hunting," that little diner, "The Tasty," you see in that one scene is no longer there.  It was a casualty of A&F.  The whole Square is starting to feel like a suburban mall with no roof.
There are disaffected youth there, but it's completely joyless.  Gone are the days of the motley punk ostentations.   All that's left are the runaway junkies, the anti-social street urchins, braindead skaters, and shuffling huffers.
I don't think you would have been in love with me.  I was sick and I was dull and I was plain.  I was very wan and unhealthy from depression.  I looked like the latter day Andy Warhol at 17. ;D

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as the Gang of Four once sang, "I love a man in uniform..." !
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LOL.

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Wow. You must have had a lot of women falling at your feet at that time - it was Top Gun era.  :)
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I kept getting called Goose and then one day I asked a friend why people kept calling me that. He said I looked like that character in the movie. For some reason I had decided not to see Top Gun and knew almost nothing about it for about a month after it came out. Well after that I decided to take advantage of the association every opportunity I could!

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as the Gang of Four once sang, "I love a man in uniform..." !
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LOVE THE GANG OF FOUR!!!!
can't stand that song!!!  ;D

Love will get you like a case of Anthrax and that's something I don't want to catch.

To hell with Poverty, let's get drunk on cheap wine.

One of the best bands of all time!

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okay, Zed, let's get drunk on cheap wine!

cheers!
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The next time I'm in the City, I'll bring the bottle(s)!  ;)

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andy warhol, really?  i LOVED andy warhol.  he was from pittsburgh like myself!  

anyway, sounds like i was your female counterpart.  i probably WOULD have been in love with you, but it would have been unrequited, i'm sure!  we would have debated the meaning of various songs by the Smiths and Cure and scoffed at how cool bands were becoming "mainstream."  we would have hung out at that really cool vintage clothing store and made fun of "poseurs."  
;)
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Well, I appreciate that, DJ A. 8)
The Andy Warhol comparison comes from the fact that I had a similar pair of glasses, and my hair was totall bleached to hell and sticking out in the manner of AW....
Anyway, I never liked the idea of "poseurs" as so much of what any of us do in adolescence is pose.  "Poseur" was usually tagged on people like me by people like Henry Rollins because we didn't like hardcore.  My response was, I'm not a "punk," I'm an individual. I do what I want, and you don't get to define me. The "punks" didn't value individuality.  They were even more fascist and conformist than the people they railed against.
DJ Avdoria, what kind of "gigs" do you "dj"?

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The Andy Warhol comparison comes from the fact that I had a similar pair of glasses, and my hair was totall bleached to hell and sticking out in the manner of AW....
Anyway, I never liked the idea of "poseurs" as so much of what any of us do in adolescence is pose.  "Poseur" was usually tagged on people like me by people like Henry Rollins because we didn't like hardcore.  My response was, I'm not a "punk," I'm an individual. I do what I want, and you don't get to define me. The "punks" didn't value individuality.  They were even more fascist and conformist than the people they railed against.
DJ Avdoria, what kind of "gigs" do you "dj"?
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Ah, sweet bird of youth!  i never thought of myself as "punk" -- to me, that meant the hardcore types with mohawks, and they scared me!  i dyed my hair funny colors and had asymetrical haircuts, but i liked happy new-wave music!

i started off as a college radio dj, but nowadays i spin at a bar in the East Village.  mostly i spin the music that we know and love -- ska, postpunk, new wave, indie -- bands such as smiths, cure, gang of four, ultravox, early tears for fears, talking heads, violent femmes, replacements, devo, REM, B52s, etc.  lately i've been doing a night i call "El Camino versus the DeLorean" -- 70s pop (think "Brandy You're a Fine Girl, "Dancing in the Moonlight," "Dream Weaver") along with the above-referenced music.  

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i started off as a college radio dj, but nowadays i spin at a bar in the East Village.  
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Cool!

I don't get to NY too often which sucks and when I do it's for business trips so I don't get to hang out which sucks even more!  :P  But I was at a bar called Ace within the past year. I think that's in that general area.

Also heard about a place called The Bottom Line getting shut down. (I have a Durutti Column CD recorded there!) I had a niece who used to have a studio in Soho or Chelsea ? (like I know NY!) and she used to go there and told me stories about it.

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The 80's was great . It was my teen years  , alot of parties , hanging out with my friends without a care in the world . Then in 87 I left for the Marines and it all came crashing down on me . The party was over and now i'm in the real world . What I wouldn't give to be back in 1980 and do it all over again .End Quote

That was pretty much my scene.  I started high school in '82 in New Orleans, and we spent a lot of time watching MTV and hanging out at arcades in malls.  I was into martials arts back then, so I spent a lot of time training and reading anything I could get my hands on.  I moved to Philadelphia in '84 and had a major hormone explosion going from an all-boy Catholic school with Cajun values to a public school with girls who sported it as much as they could.  Other than lusting, the Philly part of my teens was spent in my rodded Camaro.  After high school, I went into the Air Force and experienced the same crash you did.  I was able to bounce back for the stuff like Skid Row, Tesla, and some more clubbing.  Then I got stationed in Japan and lost touch with most of the pop culture.  By the time the grunge scene was over, I could no longer relate to the new stuff.

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Howard I can't believe you're only 29.  You must be an old soul.

*DJ A*
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Well,I'm gonna be 30 next week and let me tell you,I'm not getting any younger. :(

Howard

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that's so funny -- the bar where I spin is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from Ace Bar!  
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Now that is a coincidence! I really like that area. It seems to fit me fairly well, so to speak!

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Now that is a coincidence! I really like that area. It seems to fit me fairly well, so to speak!

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hey Zed, nice to hear from you again! yes, i'm sure you're an east village person.  i think a lot of members would love hanging out in the east village, actually!

Here's a bit of trivia about Ace Bar, and also in keeping with the thread.  Have you seen the movie "200 Cigarettes" ?  It's set in the year 1981.  well, the bar that Christina Ricci and her friend go into with all the "scary" punk rockers is actually Ace Bar, even though it didn't really exist back then.  

that film really made me laugh, especially the scene where Christina Ricci's friend starts freaking out when they come to Avenue B.  i remember getting lost in alphabet city when i first moved to new york.  it was much more dangerous back then, and you really did need to put on a brave face when walking east of Avenue A!  ;D

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not getting any younger, howard!  you crack me up!  wait'll you find 40 staring down at you!  

but i refuse to feel "old".  yeah, i feel like i've been around the block a couple of times, but for the most part, i still feel young and lively (despite reading these posts and finding out that a number of members were not yet born or little kids during the 80s)! :)


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I graduated from Pitman High School(Pitman is a small town in Southern NJ)in 1980,then moved in briefly with my foster mom. She helped me get my first decent job in 1981,as a kitchen utility worker(just a glorified dishwashing and cleaning job)at Bally's Park Place. I lived under her roof and paid her room and board,and also helped her out with the other kids and running errands for her. In 1985,I got married and moved to a new apartment complex closer to my job. It was at this time I had developed my schizoaffective disorder and had my first breakdown.Needless to say,I lost everything. But since then,with the help of modern medicine and caring people,I have been able to turn my life around.

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not getting any younger, howard!  you crack me up!  wait'll you find 40 staring down at you!  

but i refuse to feel "old".  yeah, i feel like i've been around the block a couple of times, but for the most part, i still feel young and lively (despite reading these posts and finding out that a number of members were not yet born or little kids during the 80s)! :)


End Quote

STOP! You're making me older!  ;D ;)


Howard

Quoting:

hey Zed, nice to hear from you again! yes, i'm sure you're an east village person.  i think a lot of members would love hanging out in the east village, actually!

Here's a bit of trivia about Ace Bar, and also in keeping with the thread.  Have you seen the movie "200 Cigarettes" ?  It's set in the year 1981.  well, the bar that Christina Ricci and her friend go into with all the "scary" punk rockers is actually Ace Bar, even though it didn't really exist back then.  

that film really made me laugh, especially the scene where Christina Ricci's friend starts freaking out when they come to Avenue B.  i remember getting lost in alphabet city when i first moved to new york.  it was much more dangerous back then, and you really did need to put on a brave face when walking east of Avenue A!  ;D
End Quote

Thanks!

I did see that movie and remember that scene. I'll have to watch it again now!

Quoting:
Wait. I'm sorry.  I'm a decade older than you, and I'm making YOU feel older?  how is that possible, howie?
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you're gonna make me wind up with gray hair. ;D
I'm just kidding you DJ! Don't worry about it. :)


Howard