Another Reason To Hate MTV! After the events of the last few days we felt compelled to write this. First and foremost, the staff at Metal Sludge feels tremendous sorrow for all involved and are very saddened by this horrific event. May all of these victims including Great White guitarist Ty Longley be remembered for being loving people, as well as loving rock n' roll. This has hit the very industry we have been part of for many years, and unfortunately we feel that this will cast an even darker shadow over a genre of music that has been dealt a less than fair hand in recent years. We are truly ashamed of MTV. This is supposed to be our "Music Television" network, yet they (the actual channel) have been from our knowledge - silent. After watching major coverage on CNN & MSNBC along with the rest of the biggest of networks, we're appreciative to see this has received some recognition by the Connie Chung's & Wolf Blitzer's of the world. It is however extremely unfortunate that it's being covered for obvious reasons. But at the same time we're appalled that Kurt Loder and the world's most powerful "music" outlet have almost ignored it. In the name of rock n' roll, this is not a cry for attention but more of a demand for some respect. Sure, there is a post on the MTV website but what about MTV & MTV2? These channels a have huge base of viewers, and they could be giving the world this musically related story it's respected due. First and foremost, to help warn other musical related groups, clubs, fans and tours of the possible danger that is out there. This is not meant to sound racial, but if any member of the Wu Tang Clan had this happen at one of their club shows, it is our opinion that Kurt Loder would be front and center with John Norris updating the world on the hour. Then we'd have a "Wu-Weekend" marathon of videos, facts, interviews, profiles, memorials and more. We're sure many of you remember Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs (before the fame), while he was all over MTV when there were nine people who were crushed to death following a riot at a concert that he promoted, at the City College of New York in December 1991. That was a horrible tragedy, but why is the fourth worst fire in American history being ignored by the biggest music network, yet being picked up by the all of the others? Is it because Great White has been labeled a 80s hair band, and that form of music is no longer relevant to the mighty MTV? What if this tragedy happened at a "Real World" reunion party? Would we be subjected to a solid week of how Puck was really a great guy who was just misunderstood? It's plain and simple. MTV sucks big floppy ****, and is not only a corporation of enormous wealth and power, but run by a group of greedy bastards who have chewed up, spit out and have forgotten their roots like a corporate monster. MTV was sucking the New Kids on the Blocks dicks like a w**** in Hollywood when they brought them ratings. The same goes with Debbie Gibson, Motley Crue, Ratt, Poison and even Nirvana. Kurt Cobain was likely driven to kill himself from your "overexposure" of his talents. It is safe to say that MTV had somehow contributed to his demise. He hated MTV and his 2002 release Kurt Cobain "Journals" contains a great hand written letter (page 199) to you. Dear Empty TV The entity of all corporate Gods. how ****ing dare you embrace such trash journalism from an overweight, un popular at high school, cow who severely needs her karma Broken. My lifes dedication is NOW to Do Nothing but SLAG MTV and Lynn Herschbers who by the way is in Kahoots with her lover Kurt Loder (Gin Blossom drunk)! We will survive without you. easily the old school is going down fast **** face. Kurdt Kobain professional Rock musician Since he can't follow through with his dedication to SLAG MTV for life, we will gladly pick up for him! Sadly as we all know Kurt's gone, now along with Ty Longley, Layne Staley, Randy Castillo, Dee Dee & Joey Ramone, Tim Kelly, Robbin Crosby, John Entwistle & a number of others. These artists have all had their fair share of coverage from your corporate blood sucking channel. But with the exception of Kurt, all of these names were a blurb, if at all, from Ian Robinson on MTV2 when they passed away. Ian is a good guy in our eyes, but your overall appeal to and support of "music" has been bull**** for over half of your existence. At the present time Music Television is about as misleading as calling yourself Cooking Television. Why bring these names up now you ask? Well once again as we head into that "racial" gray area, how many people reading this have learned every last detail about Tupac Shakur & Biggie Smalls (Notorious B.I.G.) lives & deaths? Once again, both were horrible tragedies along with the recent loss of Jam Master Jay. But how is it that these "musical" losses got continuous coverage day & night, and still to this day they get entire shows dedicated in their memory? We all know that Ratt, Great White, Slaughter and Alice in Chains are far removed from their heyday, but weren't RUN DMC as well? Does memory serve us right that there was MAJOR MTV coverage of Jam Master Jays death only a few months ago? This was a solid decade plus since they had rotation on your channels! Does anyone else see a pattern here? Does MTV care about their roots? **** no! There are more comments coming in from all over the industry including a heartfelt response from Fred Durst saying; "I am horrified at what happened to the innocent people who were burned to death at the Great White concert recently. I feel so much sadness inside because of it……..this really got to me. I mean it. I am so sad. It hurts me to think of it. I can't bare to think that I won't try to make a difference this time. Thanks for listening. We can help. I know I can." This is someone who Metal Sludge has not always favored, but his words are great inspiration to his legion of fans to take notice of this tragic event. His actions will mean even more. We'll wait and see what happens. Now, we surely don't expect MTV to feature a weekend of Great White songs in response to this, but an acknowledgment via the MTV News would be greatly appreciated. ****, it's not like Great White was a garage group or even a footnote to the hair era. The band has over 20 years of history, millions of records sold, a 1990 Grammy nomination and above all, upwards of 2 dozen videos most of which had regular MTV play throughout the 80s and into the early 90s. Your main offices are 165 miles and less than a 3 hour drive from the site of this horrible incident. But no MTV cameras to speak of, yet CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC and news trucks from far & wide showed enough concern about this "rock band" and their fans to give it, coverage, and above all respect. It's pretty sad that you can go to CNN and get better music news than MTV. Shame on you MTV, you are truly scum! Let Metal Sludge be quoted: "Dear MTV, we ask that you remove the 'M' from your name or please redefine it, as the 'M' standing for Music is a bigger farce than most of the garbage you currently are promoting!" Metal Sludge Reality Based Internet Entertainment
I completely agree with you. If MTV has not been covering this story, they should be. I wasn't a big Great White fan, but back in the day you couldn't get their sorry mugs off of the screen if you wanted to, along with all those other cheesy hair bands. They weren't as bad as most. It is a relevant story and should be covered by them, but I don't think Kurt Loder has anything to do with the decision making process. True, MTV does not respect its roots, but what else is new? Do they even play videos in their entirety anymore either? About 5 years ago or more, MTV2 used to be awesome, they would play whatever they felt like. Now that more people have it, their playlist has narrowed drastically. The music business sucks, its always hyping whatever new fad is around and trashing whatever happened a couple of years ago. It's not just because we can download music on the internet that the music industry is ****ty. They just don't encourage creativity. It seems like a very conservative business to me. Pardon me for getting off topic a little bit. Bye the way, whatever happened to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy? LOL.
How many of you remember when MTV used to play Great White's video "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" at least once every half hour? I would bet 90% of the people that watch MTV nowadays have no idea who/what Great White is/was.
I don't remember there being a Jam Master Jay week. Obviously Tupac and Biggie got a lot of attention because they were at their peak of popularity when they were murdered. I don't know, I just don't like this guy calling out rappers as if they are at fault for MTV not talking about this. Jeeze, the people who watch MTV the most are teenagers. The music that gets the most play is N'Sync and Britany Spears, yet this guy doesn't even mention them. Anyways, that band, except for the singer, wasn't even the original Great White. People who listen to Great White now aren't watching MTV. I only watch MTV and VH1 late at night when they actually show videos, so I don't know whether or not they mentioned the fire during one of their news breaks, but I find it hard to believe that they didn't. This guy just sounds a bit bitter that he can't turn on the tv and watch some Great White videos. And the whole thing about MTV being a money driven corporation isn't news to anybody, duh buddy, duh.
I don't know dude, music concert, major disaster, MTV should be covering it. It is isn't. 90+ people are a whole lot more important than one dying. But the best way to protest is to not watch it. If enough people still watch it then what can you do, let them have their fun.
A couple of issues... 1. If this was Kid Rock or Metallica, you can damn sure bet MTV would be all over it. It's not race, it is popularity. If it was Britney Spears or Limp Bizkit, it would be different. 2. Great White was a second-tier hair band when it came to popularity in the 80's. This might be different if Motley Crue was involved. 3. MTV has a tendency to cover music items that are not heavily covered in the mainstream media. This was MORE than covered in the mainstream media. So, this isn't some conspiracy against hard rock or white people. It is nothing more than the fact that Great White is not a popular band AND the mainstream media was all over this story. Period.
I disagree with this BS thread. Its all about popularity. If something happened to WuTang, you are right, there would be all sorts of **** going on for them. Why? Because if you follow rap, you will know that they are big time. Now, I have never even heard of that group that was involved in that tragedy. I think the same goes for most people who are regular MTV viewers. Sure, Its a horrible event that took place. But, would I want to sit there and watch all sorts of tributes to them? No, I would rather watch Martha Stewart. If MTV wants any ratings, they would avoid musicians that are not popular with the general public.
MTV has become completely irrelevant to music. They have become so corporate they are now to music what CNN and FOX News Channel are to news....they will broadcast only what they want you to hear, and if you want the truth, you have to dig alot deeper.
Seeing as how MTV's target demographic is a slice of the country that has no idea who Great White is, but grew up listening to the likes of Aaliyah and Lisa Lopes, it just makes sense that the deaths of the latter would get a lot of publicity while that of a member of the former doesn't. I don't watch much MTV, so I don't know if they made passing comments about it or not. But I'm not surprised that they aren't dedicating a lot of coverage and having "MTV Specials" about the tragedy.
Watch what you say about MTV. The company that owns CBS says that if they have to break away from coverage of the NCAA tournament if war breaks out, that MTV might show some tournament games.
What's wrong with that? Any network televsion channel, whether is be MTV, CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, Comedy Central, BET, etc... have to get ratings. The demographics are girls/guys between the ages of 15-25, what would they care about Great White. Therefore, why should MTV cover it. You think if Justin Timberlake suddenly died, BET or TCM (Country Music Channel) would provide this special coverage. Of course they wouldnt'. I suggest if you don't want to follow popular culture, then you watch some other network. Perhaps there should be a music network devoted to the 80's and their bands. VH1 has done this, but has still suffered lower ratings. I am not a big fan of MTV myself, but I don't expect them to cover what is not hot in the charts these days. As far as CNN and FoxNews, I don't know where you pulled that from. Sure they go for ratings, but I've never seen any of the major news networks cover up the truth! They all have their political shows, but there actual "News Coverage" seems to be fine by me. If you want pure news without any of the talk shows, you still have Headline News, or News Hour with Jim Lehr.
Damn! That's two posts of yours that have made me laugh heartily in two straight days! Keep 'em coming, AdmrPhilly76. And keep on believing what the news networks feed you. You obviously like the taste, but then again, all sheep like the taste of grass!
