I’m old enough to remember a time before MTV. During those dark times, seeing rock music on TV was rare. You could see plenty of pop music but try to find Foghat in the TV Guide, it couldn’t be done. Other than albums and magazines, the everyday person just didn’t see rock stars across mainstream media very often. If you were too young to go to concerts, as I was, you could only imagine what the band looked like actually playing your favorite songs. I would listen to records in my room, devouring the album covers and liner notes, imagining the musicians playing the music.
Picture, if you will, a time before cable TV. A time when programing was limited and so were televisions. Our house had one TV for quite a long time. Every once in a while, I may see an artist or a band that I liked come on a variety or talk show. Someone my parents did not know or, better yet, approve of. Ed Sullivan had lots of modern music on his show, superstars in their field but they were just the BIG names, which is great, but not what I was looking for.
I seem to have this insatiable craving for live music. It started at a young age and continues still. I want to see them play their instruments. I need to see the guitarist’s face when he’s bending that string. Maybe if I could see them play, I could figure out why their music makes me feel THAT way!
The first regular place I can remember seeing artists I liked was on The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1982). The Mike Douglas show often brought on the hottest current acts to perform. He would interview them along side of politicians, actors and old school Hollywood types. The interactions were classic. He also had week-long guest hosts. Most famously John and Yoko! God bless Mike Douglas. I distinctly remember the performances: Lennon, Yoko and Chuck Berry ALL on stage together!
The other big place to watch music was on those late night concert shows. “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert ” (1973-1982) and “The Midnight Special” (1972-1981). These shows were TV Gold! Whole shows dedicated to rock music. Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert was just that; recorded concerts
Usually one group per show, taped live at one of their shows. Production wasn’t as slick as live concert films are today but they were REAL! The Midnight Special was hosted by Wolfman Jack and featured a few different groups in front of a live studio audience. They shows were music from start to finish! Everyone from ABBA to Ted Nugent to Kool and the Gang. All playing live, not lip syncing. Looking back on it, viewers had the opportunity to see baby versions of some rock biggest future stars.
One other show I remember is still happening today. It’s called “Soundstage”.
A live concert from Chicago that runs on PBS. I would comb the TV guide to see if they had a rock band featured this week. One time I stumbled across a concert of a band that I was mesmerized by.
It was 1978 and I heard a band with a sound that was a mix of hard crunching guitar, beautiful harmonies and a lead vocalist with a powerful yet emotional delivery. Songs that rocked and ballads that soared. The group was Journey. I remember that day, watching that Soundstage episode! I became a fan of Journey that afternoon. Little did I know that I was an early adopter of this favorite band from San Francisco.
In the seventies we treasured those moments when rock music was shown on TV. You had to work to find it so the rewards seemed greater. Cable TV came along and changed the game but not immediately for some of us. It took a minute for cable to come to our house but my neighbors up the street had it. I can remember negotiating with Mrs. C so I could run up to their house and watch the KISS concert on HBO. In my head it was a MUST for me. I HAD to see them! There were some nervous moments but in the end I sat on their downstairs chair and watch the shit out of that whole special!
On the horizon was a monster named MTV. MTV was huge for us, the 1st generation of music video watchers. That story is for another time…
