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Milli Vanilli
S01 E01 • Sunday, Aug 17, 1997 • Aug 17 • 1h
Girl, you know it's true…but unfortunately it wasn't, for the 80's dance duo whose Grammy-winning triumph turned sour when their producer revealed that his hunky proteges were shaking their booty to someone else's song. The ensuing humiliation led to the suicide of Rob Pilatus, whose anguish is palpable in these final interviews. Milli Vanilli, Rob Pilatus and Fabrizio Morvan won the hearts of millions, but when their deception was revealed after their win of a Best New Artist Grammy, the public’s shock and disappointment gave way to contempt. The two lip-synching hunks became the butt of jokes and were ostracized by the music industry.
MC Hammer
S01 E02 • Sunday, Aug 24, 1997 • Aug 24 • 1h
The dawn of the 1990's was unquestionably Hammer time. A scrappy striver from Oakland CA. named Stanley Burrell took hip-hop to P.T. Barnum scales: baggy trousers over rubbery legs, sizable samples of past hits, commercial endorsements galore. But the MC Hammer show was also "fun for the family," which, as Hammer pal Arsenio Hall notes, hardcore hip-hop heads despised. By the middle of the decade, Hammer's commercial viability - not to mention his huge fortune - had somehow vanished. Still "too legit to quit," MC Hammer then downsized, pledging to bring his positively charged hip-hop back to the top. BTM brings you the particulars of each Hammer epoch.
Boy George
S01 E03 • Sunday, Aug 31, 1997 • Aug 31 • 1h
In 1984, George O'Dowd accepted a Grammy Award for Culture Club by quipping that America "knows a good drag queen" when it sees one. And Boy George was not just a good drag queen, but a drag queen with a tremendously soulful voice, fronting one of the '80s' best pop bands. And yet, there was trouble from the start. If George's affair with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss lent emotional authenticity to the band's hits, it also jeopardized the band's ability to work together, as each Clubber attests to Behind the Music. Once Moss rejected George once and for all, the singer rapidly descended into an abyss of heroin addiction. At a 1986 anti-apartheid benefit, George was so out of it that fellow pop stars recoiled from him. After his brother publically spoke of George's problems, the singer finally took the steps to recover. Healthy and happy these days, George only regrets now that Moss has yet to acknowledge the extent of their relationship.
Fleetwood Mac
S01 E04 • Sunday, Sep 7, 1997 • Sep 7 • 1h
A successful British blues band in the '60s, Fleetwood Mac became the legends we know today when they hooked up with a young singer-songwriter couple who were almost ready to give up the biz. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham brought passion, looks and incredible vocal harmonies to the moody intensity of Fleetwood Mac. Their relationship wouldn't survive past the first album, nor would that of longtime members Christine and John McVie, but all that heartbreak fueled the fire of Rumours - a modern pop masterpiece which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time. As they embarked on their 30-year Reunion Tour in 1997, all the members of this "dysfunctional family" checked in with Behind the Music to muse on the drugs, the dough, and how it feels to attract a whole new generation of listeners after all these years...
Nowhere to Hide
S01 E05 • Sunday, Sep 21, 1997 • Sep 21 • 1h
This cautionary episode of Behind the Music documents the growing menace of stalkers. Considered by some the "prototype" for fans who take their celebrity obsessions to dangerous and often criminal extremes, John Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, is the focus of this investigative piece. With a detailed account of the events of the day he shot the former Beatle; to interviews with Chapman conducted during his prison sentence; comments from his psychiatrist and the photographer who caught Lennon and his killer on film; BTM paints a frightening picture of a deranged individual who is up for parole this year. Security consultant Gavin de Becker outlines warning signs. Lilith founder Sarah McLachlan comes forward about her own terrifying experience and the song ("Possession") that came out of it. Two real-life stalkers explain their motivations. Bjork's victimizer records himself on video just moments before his suicide.
Imagemakers
S01 E06 • Sunday, Sep 28, 1997 • Sep 28 • 1h
Rock 'n' roll wouldn't exist without its image, and it's been the job of rock photographers to capture that divine union of talent, passion and style that makes a singer a star. Ever since Elvis Presley melted the camera lens with his wiggling hips and pouty lips, fans have hungered for that uncensored intimacy with their idols. BTM gets inside the visionary minds who created the iconography of rock 'n' roll: from the German photographer who gave the Beatles their mop top haircuts, to Andy Warhol and his classic album art, to the young upstarts whose work appeared in the influential rock magazine Rolling Stone and eventually defined a culture. Annie Liebowitz talks about how Yoko Ono's sudden camera shyness turned into one of her greatest photographs, and fashion imagemakers like Herb Ritts talk about how they made the shift from print to video when MTV opened the doors for a whole new mode of expression.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
S01 E07 • Sunday, Oct 19, 1997 • Oct 19 • 1h
This episode marked the 20th anniversary of the infamous plane crash (10/20/77) with a special episode on the bad boys from Jacksonville, Florida who put Southern Rock and Roll on the map with classic songs like Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. During the seventies, they released a string of million-selling records and performed to sold out audiences in the U.S. and Europe. Fronted by their charismatic leader, Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd had it all until the pressures of stardom led them down a road of violence and alcohol abuse that resulted in countless fights, arrests, and car wrecks. Interviews with the surviving members of the band and the families.
Teddy Pendergrass
S01 E08 • Sunday, Oct 26, 1997 • Oct 26 • 1h
Teddy's early experiences in life and music: "I wasn't raised with baby-sitters, my mother couldn't afford to have someone watch me. It just didn't work like that in the ghetto so because of that I had the unique opportunity to see the artists come in and out that would play the supper club (where his mother worked). It was exposure for me.On Melvin and the Blue Notes: "What I learned was priceless; I learned how to entertain. I learned how to be the best at what I could be."On the accident of March 18, 1982: "It was the most horrible experience I could have ever had in my life."His feelings after the accident: "You want to know what's going to happen to you, the hell with whether or not I'm going to sing...you go back to the basics. 'What does this mean for me?'"On Live-Aid, his first performance after the accident: "I felt relieved like a big load had been lifted from my back... I felt 'OK' so we can do this. It was one more hurdle that I had crossed."On his song Truly Blessed: "The song was natural for me to do. I wanted the world to know how I was feeling. And if there was anyone that was wondering 'Am I getting along, or what my thought's were." I was saying, 'I'm fine, this is where I am.'"On walking again: "Anything can happen tomorrow. If the technology is there tomorrow, I'll be right there in line, but, until then, it is more important to try to achieve things while I am here."
Billy Joel
S01 E09 • Sunday, Nov 9, 1997 • Nov 9 • 1h
He has penned enough hits to fill three Greatest Hits compilations. Yet, Billy Joel's rise to fame has been anything but smooth sailing. Behind the Music chronicles the ups and downs of the pop star's career and life... from his earlier days as a solo performer when he signed away many of the rights to his songs... to his incredible rise to fame and fortune... to the betrayal of his manager that nearly left Billy Joel broke.
Lilith Fair
S01 E10 • Sunday, Nov 16, 1997 • Nov 16 • 1h
In the summer of 1997, Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan launched an event that would surpass Lollapalooza as the most successful concert tour of the year. Against all odds, the women-only Lilith Fair lineup sold out arenas across the country. When the dust settled, Lilith had shown the world a different side of rock, challenging the short-sighted old-school attitude that girls don't sell records. BTM's honest look at the first Lilith tour is the ultimate backstage pass: superstars like Sheryl Crow and Jewel, and of course McLachlan and the Indigo Girls, talk about their personal struggles and triumphs as well as how it feels to be part of the cultural moment that was occurring in '97. Rock godmothers Pat Benatar and Emmylou Harris discuss their involvement in what Benatar says she'd "waited 20 years for." Other featured artists include Shawn Colvin, Meredith Brooks and Lisa Loeb. Episode highlights? A dressing room jam session between Crow and the Indigo Girls, and concert footage of the song that closed every show, Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
Andy Gibb
S01 E11 • Sunday, Nov 30, 1997 • Nov 30 • 1h
He was the prince of Pop idols and by the tender age of 22, Andy Gibb had three #1 songs under his belt. But over the next 8 years, his career would falter, the love of his life, Victoria Principal, would leave him, and the world would learn that this the teen idol with the honey voice had a devastating drug and alcohol problem. For the first time ever, all three of Andy's brothers, The Bee Gees speak about Andy's lifelong battle against drugs and alcohol and for the first time since their breakup nearly 15 years ago, Victoria Principal talks about the Andy she loved and what finally broke them apart. Interviews also with: Pam Dawber, Marilyn McCoo, Marie Osmond and Andy's producer, Robert Stigwood.
Jim Croce
S01 E12 • Tuesday, Dec 2, 1997 • Dec 2 • 1h
Featuring never before seen family photos and performance footage, "Jim Croce: Behind the Music" traces the life and career of the man responsible for such hit songs as "Bad Bad Leroy Brown," "Time in a Bottle" and "Operator." Through exclusive interviews with Croce's wife Ingrid and friends Cheech Marin and Arlo Guthrie, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" uncovers the musical passion that kept Croce churning out hits he would make virtually no money from. Ingrid Croce recalls how a contract Croce signed early in his career sent the majority of his earnings to his representatives, keeping him and Ingrid in relative poverty even as Croce's career soared. Killed in a plane crash just as he was gaining worldwide recognition, Croce was destined to never see the money his records earned. Ingrid recounts picking up the pieces, including her successful court battle to win back the money that was rightfully Croce's. Additionally, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" features a Croce recording never before made public called "I'm Just a Country Boy," the first song Croce ever sang to wife Ingrid.
The Carpenters
S01 E13 • Thursday, Jan 1, 1998 • Jan 1 • 1h
In 1970 The Carpenters won the Best New Artist Grammy, and for five years it seemed as though they were indeed on "Top of the World" as song after song continued to ride up the charts. Easy listening lovers of all generations found the clean-cut combo's orchestrated melodies and Karen's warm voice irresistible; even President Richard Nixon was a fan. But behind the smiles and the string of soft pop hits is the tragic tale of a woman whose quest for love and acceptance led to anorexia and finally, death at 32. In 1983 Karen Carpenter suffered a fatal heart attack while seemingly on the road to recovery, leaving Richard alone to mourn the loss of his sister and all the songs that would never happen. Now happily married and back on the road performing Carpenters songs to adoring fans, Richard reminisces about their early jazz trio, and speaks frankly about his past addiction to pain killers. Singers Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick pay tribute to Karen's talent.
Sonny Bono
S01 E14 • Sunday, Jan 11, 1998 • Jan 11 • 1h
He couldn't sing or read music but he became a songwriter and pop star. And though he never cast a vote in his life, he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs, then Congressman. If there's a lesson to be learned from Sonny Bono's life, which ended tragically in a skiing accident in early 1998, it's that ideas and perseverance will get you far - even if you're a funny -looking guy who didn't go to college. It wasn't until Sonny was 28, when he met then-16-year-old Cher, that his musical path presented itself. Sonny brought the songs, Cher brought the style and the voice, and by 1965 they created a pop sensation, kicking off a string of hits with their #1 signature song "I Got You Babe." By the early '70s, the pair were household names, but their TV bickering became all too real, and after several bits of on-screen teasing, the couple divorced. Sonny never achieved the same level of success in the entertainment industry; in fact, when Cher was starring in films like Silkwood , he was flubbing his lines on Fantasy Island. But at 51 things turned around for him: Sonny remarried and opened a successful restaurant. One day it occurred to him to run for Mayor and he won by the largest margin in Palm Springs history. Like everything he set his mind to, Sonny had accomplished it by sheer determination. BTM follows his remarkable story, talking with friends and associates, and most movingly, his grief-stricken mother.
The Mamas & the Papas
S01 E15 • Sunday, Jan 18, 1998 • Jan 18 • 1h
A look at the trials & tribulations surrounding one of folk rockÍs most talented groups. Interviews with the remaining band members, Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty. They speak openly about how the band came together, their drug use and the love triangle that existed between them. For the first time ever, Mama CassÍ sister, Leah Kunkel puts to rest the real cause of Mama CassÍ death.
Meat Loaf
S01 E16 • Sunday, Feb 1, 1998 • Feb 1 • 1h
The incredible rise, fall and comeback of Meat Loaf. Interviews with Meat Loaf, his wife Leslie Aday, their two daughters, Todd Rundgren (producer, Bat Out of Hell), Karla DeVito (former back-up singer) and Sam Ellis (tour manager). Released in 1977, Bat Out of Hell was one of the top-selling albums of all time, making Meat Loaf a rock & roll superstar. However, superstardom got the best of him -- Meat Loaf suffered a nervous breakdown and soon dropped out of the music scene. In 1993, 16 years after the release of Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf finally came out with a new album, Bat Out of Hell II, which earned him a Grammy for his #1 song, "I Will Do Anything for Love" and made him a rock & roll success, again.
Gladys Knight
S01 E17 • Sunday, Feb 15, 1998 • Feb 15 • 1h
Her career spans more than 50 years, 37 of which were spent headlining "Gladys Knight and the Pips." She has collected four Grammys, 12 gold records and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Gladys Knight's life has never been easy. On this episode, the other Queen of Soul reveals the hardships she has battled since her career took off at the age of seven, and why, in spite of them all, she has always come out on top.In "GLADYS KNIGHT: BEHIND THE MUSIC," Knight candidly discusses the ordeals that have turned so many of her successes bittersweet, beginning with her first brush with racism after winning a televised singing competition at the age of seven. Knight goes on to recount more personal as well as professional trials: her near rape at age 15; her unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage at age 16; the pain of three failed marriages; the custody battle that cost her youngest son; her legal battle with Motown; and the ten year gambling addiction that cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interviews with Little Richard, friend Dionne Warwick and Knight's children also shed light on how a woman who suffered through so much can continue to rise to such heights.
Willie Nelson
S01 E18 • Sunday, Mar 1, 1998 • Mar 1 • 1h
With 100 albums behind him and a career that spans 50 years, you might think Willie Nelson has had a smooth ride to fame and fortune.Behind The Music sets the record straight on the life of a country legend who has endured plenty of professional and personal setbacks along with his successes.Over the years, Willie Nelson has written monster hits for the likes of Patsy Cline and Faron Young, amassed three Grammys, created country music's first multi-platinum album, and performed with everyone from Ray Charles to U2. Yet when Nelson first hit it big in 1975 with his smash album Red Headed Stranger, he was over 40, had been performing for 32 years, and had already churned out over 20 albums. Success did not come quickly for Nelson, whose resume also lists stints as a janitor and Bible and vacuum cleaner salesman. In "Willie Nelson: Behind the Music," Nelson candidly discusses the hurtles that have nearly derailed him, from his years growing up without his parents in Abbott, Texas, to his struggles to find the right record label and his monstrous problems with the IRS that began in 1978. By 1988, the IRS had charged that Nelson owed over $10 million in back taxes. Interviews with Nelson's friends and colleagues plus archival footage round out the hour.
Jerry Lee Lewis
S01 E19 • Sunday, Mar 8, 1998 • Mar 8 • 1h
Four decades have passed since the release of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," but it's fair to say that no one has matched the sheer rock and roll excitement of the pioneering piano pounder Jerry Lee Lewis. It's also fair to say that no one has matched his misadventures: On a trip to Britain in 1958, it was revealed that Lewis had married his 13-year-old cousin Myra Hindley without divorcing his wife. Immediately afterwards, radio stations refused to play his records, only relenting when he made the move to country music. It wasn't long until Lewis began living even harder than he previously had, hitting the bottle and guzzling pills with abandon. After 13 years of marriage (which included the death of their son) Lewis divorced Hindley, only to lose several more wives and children in tragic circumstances that would shatter lesser men. But Lewis has survived as a family man and a giant in the annals of American music.
Rick James
S01 E20 • Sunday, Mar 15, 1998 • Mar 15 • 1h
In the early 80s, Rick James was the king of funk, dominating the charts with hits like "Superfreak," "Mary Jane" and "Give It To Me Baby." James was best known for his outrageous live concerts and flamboyant drug use. Ironically, it was his notorious cocaine habit that cost him his freedom and nearly cost him his life. James went to prison for assaulting an associate while high on cocaine.During this episode James does not hold anything back, speaking frankly about his destructive behavior, how his mother's death devastated him and how prison was the best thing that ever happened to him. Among those interviewed in "Rick James: Behind The Music" include one-time love Linda Blair, his new wife Tanya and former Motown executive Suzanne DePasse.
David Crosby
S01 E21 • Sunday, Mar 22, 1998 • Mar 22 • 1h
An advanced pop musician by anyone's standards, David Crosby has become a poster boy for a crash and burn hippie culture. From his early days with the Byrds, he had a wild twinkle in his eye, and while recording political and romantic hymns like "Wooden Ships" and "Guinevere" during the '60s and '70s, the superb vocalist was sewing the seeds of the profoundly drugged-out lifestyle to come. Crosby's friend Carl Gottlieb describes him as a fundamentalist hedonist, awash in stimulants and free sex. At first, he was able to make great music with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, but eventually his addiction overtook his passion for music. By 1985, after his friends attempted to intervene, an Olympian appetite for cocaine had taken him from the comfort of stardom to the cold arms of the Texas prison system. Behind the Music is there as Crosby's subsequent redemption fails to prevent a life-threatening liver transplant, but ends up yielding a son he had abandoned 32 years before.
Selena
S01 E22 • Sunday, Mar 29, 1998 • Mar 29 • 1h
By the age of 23, Selena Quintanilla Perez had conquered the Tejano music scene and had become embraced by tens of thousands of fans. With her blend of natural talent, boundless energy and magnetic charm she was poised to become popular musicÍs next big superstar. But, just when Selena was about to become a crossover sensation, her ascent was cut short as she lost her life at the hands of someone she believed to be a loyal friend. We hear from SelenaÍs family and the woman who murdered her.
Jefferson Airplane/Starship
S01 E23 • Sunday, Apr 5, 1998 • Apr 5 • 1h
Includes first-time interviews with all 6 members of the classic Jefferson Airplane line-up as well as an interview with Grace Slick.
Takin' It to the Streets
S01 E24 • Sunday, Apr 12, 1998 • Apr 12 • 1h
A cross-cultural look at people who sing for their supper features five different groups/artists from New York, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles; features original compositions and stories from street musicians throughout the show; New Orleans segment features a profile of clarinetist Doreen Ketchens and performance footage of her (with trombonist Keith "Wolf" Anderson and others) on the streets of the French Quarter.
Ozzy Osbourne
S01 E25 • Monday, Apr 19, 1999 • Apr 19 • 1h
A look at this heavy metal legend, from his early days as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, to his controversial concert acts as a solo performer (he bit the head off a live bat onstage as well as a live dove during a Columbia Records publicity meeting!) Osbourne discusses the lawsuits brought on by three different families, all claiming that their sons had been inspired to commit suicide after listening to his songs. He spent some time in the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-80s to battle his drug addiction and alcoholism. Although Osbourne is currently clean & sober, he has not completely cleaned up his image.
Ted Nugent
S01 E26 • Sunday, Apr 26, 1998 • Apr 26 • 1h
Nugent started performing at age 13 and became one of the the biggest live acts in the '70s. Ted's not your typical rock 'n' roller. He is a political conservative, preaching family values & anti-drug messages. He's also fond of hunting game, eating raw meat and having strong opinions on just about everything.
Joe Cocker
S01 E27 • Sunday, May 3, 1998 • May 3 • 1h
The dramatic ups and downs of Cocker's career including a recent interview before launching his April '98 tour, behind the scenes footage from his world-famous "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour, a candid look at his infamous, drug-fueled "drop-out period," and a rare, voyeristic glimpse into his personal life through the eyes of his wife, family and close friends.
Behind the Music (Ver 2)
S01 E28 • Monday, May 18, 1998 • May 18 • 1h
Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”
Studio 54
S01 E29 • Sunday, May 24, 1998 • May 24 • 1h
It has been more than twenty years since Studio 54 first opened its doors on April 26, 1977, driven by a disco beat and ruled by the unlikeliest of overlords: gay, sociable restaurant chain owner Steve Rubell and straight, shy real estate lawyer Ian Schrager. Former college friends Steve and Ian, through a combination of business savvy, good timing and luck, quickly established Studio 54 as "the" place to be, where the wannabe crowd outside was as much of a show as the privileged party inside.Studio 54 became the embodiment of the phrase, "if it feels good, do it," fueled by the prevailing liberated, birth-controlled, drug-infused, pre-AIDS atmosphere of the era. Or, as described by eyewitness Michael Musto, Studio 54 was "a Felliniesque crossed with Busby Berkeley playground filled with everything for your hedonistic needs.""Studio 54: Behind The Music" features new and exclusive candid interviews with many of those who not only observed but helped to create the Studio 54 experience, including Grace Jones, Liz Smith, Jerry Hall, Robin Leach, Anthony Haden-Guest, Nile Rogers, and many of the bartenders and doormen who had front row seats to the Studio 54 spectacle. The program also includes the last known interview of Rubell, who died an AIDS-related death in 1989 at the age of 45.Rubell's and Schrager's Studio 54 flashed brilliantly and crashed hard, with the two eventually convicted of tax evasion and forced to turn in their evening wear for prison garb. As disco is making an unexpected comeback, and everything 70's is popular again, "Studio 54: Behind The Music" examines the highs and the lows, the innovations and disappointments, that went beyond the velvet rope to capture the attention of the entire world.
Keith Moon
S01 E30 • Sunday, May 31, 1998 • May 31 • 1h
Keith Moon will always be remembered as a wild man of rock and roll who wrecked hotel rooms and destroyed his drums. What is often forgotten about Keith is that he was a drummer extraordinaire who had a zest for life that was full of comedy, drama and tragedy. In this episode, KeithÍs friends, bandmates and family provide a stirring portrait of a man who packed a lot of life into his short 31 years. Viewers will hear Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Kim McLagan (KeithÍs ex-wife) and Peter ˜DougalÄ Butler (KeithÍs personal assistant for close to 10 years) discuss KeithÍs struggles, triumphs and tragedies in intimate detail. Plus, in her first television interview since KeithÍs death in 1978, Annette Hunt (KeithÍs last girlfriend) discusses KeithÍs final days.
Bonnie Raitt
S01 E31 • Sunday, Jun 7, 1998 • Jun 7 • 1h
An intimate look at one of the most successful and respected female rockers, from her early roots in Blues to her current pop/rock stardom.
Robbie Robertson
S01 E32 • Sunday, Jun 14, 1998 • Jun 14 • 1h
Robbie Robertson reflects on the history and break-up of his critically acclaimed group, The Band. When drugs began to erode the bond that held them together, Robbie decided to put an end to the group. Their final performance together on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 was immortalized in the Scorsese-directed film, "The Last Waltz." Though the other members of The Band eventually got back together, Robbie forged ahead on his own. Robbie talks about the 20 years since he left the group-- he has composed a number of movie scores, acted in a handful of films and released three critically acclaimed solo albums. On his latest solo effort, Robbie has returned to his Native American roots, mixing such unlikely elements as peyote chants, archive recordings and a testimonial from an imprisoned Indian activist.
Def Leppard
S01 E33 • Sunday, Jun 21, 1998 • Jun 21 • 1h
The biggest selling pop band of the '80's lived the text book rock star life: limos and liquor, drugs and groupies – hedonism defined their daily ritual. But even record sales over 20 million couldn't prepare these former factory workers from Sheffield, England for the consequences of their excesses. Behind The Music revisits the devastating overdose of guitarist Steve Clark and talks to Rick Allen about how he managed to continue drumming after the loss of an arm.
Tony Orlando
S01 E34 • Sunday, Jun 28, 1998 • Jun 28 • 1h
One of the hottest pop music performers of the 70's candidly discusses his struggle with cocaine addiction and his mental breakdown. Songs include "Knock Three Times," "Candida," "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and "What are you Doing Sunday." Orlando talks candidly about the death of his best friend, Freddy Prinze, and his sister's death due to Cerebral Palsy. Orlando is currently performing at different venues in Branson, Missouri.
Gloria Estefan
S01 E35 • Sunday, Jul 5, 1998 • Jul 5 • 1h
The triumph and tribulations of a "Diva" who has come to symbolize the American dream. Highlights include Gloria discussing her accident, her fatherÍs death, the birth of her son in 1980 and her involvement in raising money for families devastated by the wreckage of Hurricane Andrew. Includes rare home movies footage plus interviews with family members, Jon Secada and other music associates.
Jan and Dean
S01 E36 • Sunday, Jul 12, 1998 • Jul 12 • 1h
A look at the successful 60's surf rock duo, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. With hits like "Surf City," "Dead Man's Curve" and "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" these California crooners hit the top of the charts until Jan suffered severe brain damage from a terrible car accident in 1966. Includes interviews with Jan, who continues to write music, Dean Torrence, who has built a successful graphic arts career.
Harry Chapin
S01 E37 • Sunday, Jul 19, 1998 • Jul 19 • 1h
Singer/songwriter Harry Chapin made a successful career out of setting short stories to music with hits like "Taxi," "W.O.L.D.", "Cats in the Cradle" and "Sequel." A staunch supporter of the socially disenfranchised, Chapin raised over five million dollars for various causes, yet in an ironic twist, he died in an auto accident on July 16, 1981, while on his way to perform at a benefit concert. We hear from Chapin's wife, friends and family as they discuss the musical storyteller whose life ended too short. Features interviews with Chapin's wife, friends and family.
Gloria Gaynor
S01 E38 • Sunday, Jul 26, 1998 • Jul 26 • 1h
Profile of superstar Gloria Gaynor, the disco diva whose song, titled, "I Will Survive," inspired millions of fans with a confident message of hope, but for Gloria to survive, she had to overcome weight problems and agonizing self doubt. Just as Gloria was reaching the pinnacle of stardom, a freak stage accident nearly ended her career. Later, better conflict threatened her storybook marriage. Just when it seemed she put her troubles behind her, Gloria endured her greatest heart break - the brutal murder of her younger sister. When tragedy threatened to overwhelm her, the queen of disco surrendered to a higher power. Interviews with Gloria, her husband/mgr, former band members, friends and the cowriter of "I Will Survive."
Madonna
S01 E39 • Sunday, Aug 16, 1998 • Aug 16 • 1h
Madonna's blonde ambition was born when she was still a brunette living in Detroit. Her desire to "rule the world" drew the dancer and fledgling musician to New York's East Village, where she became a fixture on the early '80s punk scene. Those who knew her back then recall that she turned heads with a sexy ragamuffin look that would eventually spawn a world of wanna-bes. Always leading the pop zeitgeist, Madonna's music has evolved from dance-pop to earthy R&B to balladry to techno. From club scenester to cultural icon to mother (her most satisfying role yet), Madonna's moves are endlessly fascinating. She talked with BTM about the price of fame, the great love of her life, and the one "m" word she never wants to hear again.
1968
S01 E40 • Sunday, Aug 30, 1998 • Aug 30 • 1h
A look back to the SixtiesÍ most explosive, chaotic, tragic and inspiring year. A time when youth raged in the streets, leaders were martyred, and cities burned. This episode explores some of the most exciting, enduring, influential music of our times and the stories "Behind the Music" through dramatic footage and revealing interviews with many of the great musicians who spoke for an angry, alienated generation. Includes interviews with Grace Slick, David Crosby, James Brown, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, Aretha Franklin, P.J. OÍRourke, Art Garfunkel, Rennie Davis and Country Joe McDonald.
Steppenwolf
S01 E41 • Sunday, Sep 6, 1998 • Sep 6 • 1h
Steppenwolf was a band of rock and roll wild men whose high times and big hits, "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", could not hold the pack together. We hear from former lead bandsman, John Kay, who retired the band in the late 70's, and band mates Goldy and Nick, who attempted to bring Steppenwolf back to life, signed away their record royalties in order to do so, yet failed in the end. Today, John is touring with his band John Kay & Steppenwolf, while Nick and Goldy are still fighting to get their royalties back.
Blondie
S01 E42 • Sunday, Sep 27, 1998 • Sep 27 • 1h
Blondie, co-founded by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, was the most successful band to grow out of New York's downtown punk rock scene in the late 1970's. But success did not come without a price. As the band got bigger, lead singer Harry became the focal point of attention, and harmony was replaced by discord. "Blondie: Behind The Music," traces the ups and downs of the group, featuring rare footage and interviews with group members Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri; Blondie biographer Victor Bockris; rock critic Lisa Robinson; Chrysalis Records co-founder Terry Ellis, rocker Joey Ramone and director John Waters.Before they hit in America, Blondie enjoyed huge success in Europe and Australia, scoring six number ones in England. Their third album, "Parallel Lines," sold six million copies and made them superstars. Although they released two more monster albums, the band was growing increasingly apart, and in 1982 Harry walked away from the band.At the same time, her longtime boyfriend and Blondie guitarist Stein became ill with a rare genetic disease called Pemphigus. Debbie and Chris quietly disappeared from the music scene, and it took Chris nearly two years to recover. When he and Debbie tried to re-enter the music world, in the age of Madonna, Blondie had become eclipsed.Debbie pursued her solo career, as well as finding roles in film and television. In 1997 the core band of Harry, Stein, Destri and Burke regrouped as Blondie once again, and after a sixteen year absence will release a new album, "No Exit," in early 1999.
Shania Twain
S01 E43 • Sunday, Oct 4, 1998 • Oct 4 • 1h
The classic rags to riches story. Shania grew up poor in Canada, spending much of her childhood on the Mattagami Indian Reservation where many of her stepfather's relatives lived. At 21, she had to care for her siblings when her parents were killed in a head-on car collision. Yet she overcame these hardships when a successful Nashville entertainment attorney discovered her performing in a Las Vegas style review in Huntsville, Ontario. He helped her land a contract with Mercury Nashville. Although her first album was not a huge success, legendary rock producer, Mutt Lange spots her talent. They meet, fall in love and he helps Shania cross over from country singer into Pop superstar. Shania is currently touring to sell out crowds. Includes interviews with Shania's sibling, relatives, Richard Frank (the lawyer who discovered her) and Norro Wilson (producer on her first album).
John Denver
S01 E44 • Sunday, Oct 11, 1998 • Oct 11 • 1h
The story of one of America's most treasured singers. We are premiering this episode 1 day before the 1 year anniversary of Denver's death. Denver was a huge sensation in the 70's, with a string of hits including "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Rocky Mountain High", "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". His success dipped in the 80's, yet this did not deter him from continuing to perform and devoting much of his time to environmental issues and flying. Denver was attempting a musical comeback in the 90's, but died in a plane crash while testing out an experimental plane. Includes interviews with Lyle Lovett, who discusses Denver's influence on his music, long-time friend Geraldo Rivera, Denver's two ex-wives (Annie Denver and Cassandra Delaney Denver) and his children.
Stevie Nicks
S01 E45 • Sunday, Nov 1, 1998 • Nov 1 • 1h
She was crowned the queen of Rock & Roll. A country girl who cast a spell on the world of pop music. She ascended to the top with Fleetwood Mac, then stole the spotlight when she struck out on her own. Stevie Nicks accomplished the unprecedented feat of launching a successful solo career while still a key member of one of rock's most successful bands. Then her fairytale life was turned upside down, first by cocaine abuse, and later by a debilitating dependency on tranquilizers. But Stevie turned her pain into song, reclaiming her confidence and her career.
John Mellencamp
S01 E46 • Sunday, Nov 8, 1998 • Nov 8 • 1h
This small town boy lived the American dream, topping the charts with his tales of everyman. After two decades of hard living and endless touring, though, he paid the price, with a heart attack that nearly took his life. Our little ditty follows the heartland hero from Indiana into the arms of supermodel Elaine Irwin.
Metallica
S01 E47 • Sunday, Nov 22, 1998 • Nov 22 • 1h
We're just four lucky fans that got together and started playing; this could be you, says James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica, which built its success on an uncompromising musical vision and the fierce loyalty of its fans. For Metallica, hard rock meant playing hard, on-stage and off. Their drinking became the stuff of legend, and the rock press dubbed them "Alcoholica." Amid the mayhem, the most popular heavy metal band in the world endured its share of hardship and tragedy, including the death of bassist Cliff Burton and an on-stage accident in which Hetfield suffered serious second and third degree burns. "Metallica: Behind The Music" charts their rise from garage band to global stadium phenomenon, always on their own terms.Two things that kept Metallica going, according to Hetfield, are "honesty and selfishness; we're doing this for ourselves." Through it all, they set the standard for straight ahead heavy metal mastery. "Metallica: Behind The Music" includes interviews with the band, former members Ron McGovney (bassist) and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth (guitarist), Anthrax's Scott Ian, Primus' Les Claypool, Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Jerry Cantrell, Ozzy Osbourne, Torben Ulrich, co-founding member Lars Ulrich's father and producer Bob Rock.
KC & The Sunshine Band
S01 E48 • Sunday, Nov 29, 1998 • Nov 29 • 1h
They blasted onto the American airwaves in the fall of 1975 with a sexy, explicit invitation to just let go...a multi-cultural group of musicians who were all about the groove..led by a charismatic singer who was convinced that someday he would make it big. KC & the Sunshine Band crossed pop melodies with disco rhythms to the tune of 75 million albums sold. But the boogie superstar would be tripped up by rock and roll excess-- his band torn apart by jealousy, paranoia and personal tragedies. KC was devastated by the death of his father and he disappeared into obscurity for a decade, before recapturing the spirit of his early years. Includes interviews with KC, his mom, his sister, his collaborator/close associate, Rick Finch and Harry Stone, the man who gave KC his first break.
R.E.M.
S01 E49 • Wednesday, Dec 16, 1998 • Dec 16 • 1h
Tells the story of four friends from Athens, Georgia who formed a band in 1979 because they loved to play music together. For almost two decades, R.E.M. blended four personalities into a group that was greater than the sum of its parts, and while they never took themselves too seriously, they gave their music everything they had. They refused to compromise, and the more they resisted taking the easy road to fame and fortune, the more their legend grew. Through celebration and adversity -- including the near death of drummer Bill Berry, who suffered a brain aneurysm while on-stage and who left the band in 1997 -- R.E.M. has proved itself to be one of the great rock bands of our time. "R.E.M.: Behind The Music" includes new interviews with all three band members as well as ex-band member Bill Berry, The B-52's Kate Pierson, manager/lawyer Bertis Downs, who has been with the group since the beginning, producers Don Dixon, Mitch Easter and Pat McCarthy, Ian Copeland (brother of Miles Copeland, who signed R.E.M. to their first record contract) and Athen's mayor, Gwen O'Looney.
Motley Crue
S01 E50 • Sunday, Dec 13, 1998 • Dec 13 • 1h
Rock's most notorious band embraced excess and pushed it as far as they could: from their wild stage theatrics (Nikki Sixx would light himself on fire), to the hair, makeup, spandex and stilettos with which they adorned themselves, to the drugs and alcohol they consumed, and of course the girls, girls and more girls. Even "settling down" was done with rock star attitude: Three of the Crue's four members married Playboy playmates, Tommy Lee most famously uniting with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson after his marriage to TV star Heather Locklear disintegrated. Now sober. like all the members of the band, Lee talks to BTM about both those relationships, including the famous "adult viewing" tape of himself and then-wife Anderson. Nikki Sixx gets philosophical about his overdose and out-of-body death experience, and Vince Neill shares the moving story of the loss of his four-year-old daughter Skylar. This heavy metal morality tale includes an interview with pal and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
Previous
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Season 1
1997 • 230 Episodes
Activity from Friends
Milli Vanilli
S01 E01 • Sunday, Aug 17, 1997 • Aug 17 • 1h
Girl, you know it's true…but unfortunately it wasn't, for the 80's dance duo whose Grammy-winning triumph turned sour when their producer revealed that his hunky proteges were shaking their booty to someone else's song. The ensuing humiliation led to the suicide of Rob Pilatus, whose anguish is palpable in these final interviews. Milli Vanilli, Rob Pilatus and Fabrizio Morvan won the hearts of millions, but when their deception was revealed after their win of a Best New Artist Grammy, the public’s shock and disappointment gave way to contempt. The two lip-synching hunks became the butt of jokes and were ostracized by the music industry.
MC Hammer
S01 E02 • Sunday, Aug 24, 1997 • Aug 24 • 1h
The dawn of the 1990's was unquestionably Hammer time. A scrappy striver from Oakland CA. named Stanley Burrell took hip-hop to P.T. Barnum scales: baggy trousers over rubbery legs, sizable samples of past hits, commercial endorsements galore. But the MC Hammer show was also "fun for the family," which, as Hammer pal Arsenio Hall notes, hardcore hip-hop heads despised. By the middle of the decade, Hammer's commercial viability - not to mention his huge fortune - had somehow vanished. Still "too legit to quit," MC Hammer then downsized, pledging to bring his positively charged hip-hop back to the top. BTM brings you the particulars of each Hammer epoch.
Boy George
S01 E03 • Sunday, Aug 31, 1997 • Aug 31 • 1h
In 1984, George O'Dowd accepted a Grammy Award for Culture Club by quipping that America "knows a good drag queen" when it sees one. And Boy George was not just a good drag queen, but a drag queen with a tremendously soulful voice, fronting one of the '80s' best pop bands. And yet, there was trouble from the start. If George's affair with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss lent emotional authenticity to the band's hits, it also jeopardized the band's ability to work together, as each Clubber attests to Behind the Music. Once Moss rejected George once and for all, the singer rapidly descended into an abyss of heroin addiction. At a 1986 anti-apartheid benefit, George was so out of it that fellow pop stars recoiled from him. After his brother publically spoke of George's problems, the singer finally took the steps to recover. Healthy and happy these days, George only regrets now that Moss has yet to acknowledge the extent of their relationship.
Fleetwood Mac
S01 E04 • Sunday, Sep 7, 1997 • Sep 7 • 1h
A successful British blues band in the '60s, Fleetwood Mac became the legends we know today when they hooked up with a young singer-songwriter couple who were almost ready to give up the biz. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham brought passion, looks and incredible vocal harmonies to the moody intensity of Fleetwood Mac. Their relationship wouldn't survive past the first album, nor would that of longtime members Christine and John McVie, but all that heartbreak fueled the fire of Rumours - a modern pop masterpiece which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time. As they embarked on their 30-year Reunion Tour in 1997, all the members of this "dysfunctional family" checked in with Behind the Music to muse on the drugs, the dough, and how it feels to attract a whole new generation of listeners after all these years...
Nowhere to Hide
S01 E05 • Sunday, Sep 21, 1997 • Sep 21 • 1h
This cautionary episode of Behind the Music documents the growing menace of stalkers. Considered by some the "prototype" for fans who take their celebrity obsessions to dangerous and often criminal extremes, John Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, is the focus of this investigative piece. With a detailed account of the events of the day he shot the former Beatle; to interviews with Chapman conducted during his prison sentence; comments from his psychiatrist and the photographer who caught Lennon and his killer on film; BTM paints a frightening picture of a deranged individual who is up for parole this year. Security consultant Gavin de Becker outlines warning signs. Lilith founder Sarah McLachlan comes forward about her own terrifying experience and the song ("Possession") that came out of it. Two real-life stalkers explain their motivations. Bjork's victimizer records himself on video just moments before his suicide.
Imagemakers
S01 E06 • Sunday, Sep 28, 1997 • Sep 28 • 1h
Rock 'n' roll wouldn't exist without its image, and it's been the job of rock photographers to capture that divine union of talent, passion and style that makes a singer a star. Ever since Elvis Presley melted the camera lens with his wiggling hips and pouty lips, fans have hungered for that uncensored intimacy with their idols. BTM gets inside the visionary minds who created the iconography of rock 'n' roll: from the German photographer who gave the Beatles their mop top haircuts, to Andy Warhol and his classic album art, to the young upstarts whose work appeared in the influential rock magazine Rolling Stone and eventually defined a culture. Annie Liebowitz talks about how Yoko Ono's sudden camera shyness turned into one of her greatest photographs, and fashion imagemakers like Herb Ritts talk about how they made the shift from print to video when MTV opened the doors for a whole new mode of expression.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
S01 E07 • Sunday, Oct 19, 1997 • Oct 19 • 1h
This episode marked the 20th anniversary of the infamous plane crash (10/20/77) with a special episode on the bad boys from Jacksonville, Florida who put Southern Rock and Roll on the map with classic songs like Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. During the seventies, they released a string of million-selling records and performed to sold out audiences in the U.S. and Europe. Fronted by their charismatic leader, Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd had it all until the pressures of stardom led them down a road of violence and alcohol abuse that resulted in countless fights, arrests, and car wrecks. Interviews with the surviving members of the band and the families.
Teddy Pendergrass
S01 E08 • Sunday, Oct 26, 1997 • Oct 26 • 1h
Teddy's early experiences in life and music: "I wasn't raised with baby-sitters, my mother couldn't afford to have someone watch me. It just didn't work like that in the ghetto so because of that I had the unique opportunity to see the artists come in and out that would play the supper club (where his mother worked). It was exposure for me.On Melvin and the Blue Notes: "What I learned was priceless; I learned how to entertain. I learned how to be the best at what I could be."On the accident of March 18, 1982: "It was the most horrible experience I could have ever had in my life."His feelings after the accident: "You want to know what's going to happen to you, the hell with whether or not I'm going to sing...you go back to the basics. 'What does this mean for me?'"On Live-Aid, his first performance after the accident: "I felt relieved like a big load had been lifted from my back... I felt 'OK' so we can do this. It was one more hurdle that I had crossed."On his song Truly Blessed: "The song was natural for me to do. I wanted the world to know how I was feeling. And if there was anyone that was wondering 'Am I getting along, or what my thought's were." I was saying, 'I'm fine, this is where I am.'"On walking again: "Anything can happen tomorrow. If the technology is there tomorrow, I'll be right there in line, but, until then, it is more important to try to achieve things while I am here."
Billy Joel
S01 E09 • Sunday, Nov 9, 1997 • Nov 9 • 1h
He has penned enough hits to fill three Greatest Hits compilations. Yet, Billy Joel's rise to fame has been anything but smooth sailing. Behind the Music chronicles the ups and downs of the pop star's career and life... from his earlier days as a solo performer when he signed away many of the rights to his songs... to his incredible rise to fame and fortune... to the betrayal of his manager that nearly left Billy Joel broke.
Lilith Fair
S01 E10 • Sunday, Nov 16, 1997 • Nov 16 • 1h
In the summer of 1997, Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan launched an event that would surpass Lollapalooza as the most successful concert tour of the year. Against all odds, the women-only Lilith Fair lineup sold out arenas across the country. When the dust settled, Lilith had shown the world a different side of rock, challenging the short-sighted old-school attitude that girls don't sell records. BTM's honest look at the first Lilith tour is the ultimate backstage pass: superstars like Sheryl Crow and Jewel, and of course McLachlan and the Indigo Girls, talk about their personal struggles and triumphs as well as how it feels to be part of the cultural moment that was occurring in '97. Rock godmothers Pat Benatar and Emmylou Harris discuss their involvement in what Benatar says she'd "waited 20 years for." Other featured artists include Shawn Colvin, Meredith Brooks and Lisa Loeb. Episode highlights? A dressing room jam session between Crow and the Indigo Girls, and concert footage of the song that closed every show, Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
Andy Gibb
S01 E11 • Sunday, Nov 30, 1997 • Nov 30 • 1h
He was the prince of Pop idols and by the tender age of 22, Andy Gibb had three #1 songs under his belt. But over the next 8 years, his career would falter, the love of his life, Victoria Principal, would leave him, and the world would learn that this the teen idol with the honey voice had a devastating drug and alcohol problem. For the first time ever, all three of Andy's brothers, The Bee Gees speak about Andy's lifelong battle against drugs and alcohol and for the first time since their breakup nearly 15 years ago, Victoria Principal talks about the Andy she loved and what finally broke them apart. Interviews also with: Pam Dawber, Marilyn McCoo, Marie Osmond and Andy's producer, Robert Stigwood.
Jim Croce
S01 E12 • Tuesday, Dec 2, 1997 • Dec 2 • 1h
Featuring never before seen family photos and performance footage, "Jim Croce: Behind the Music" traces the life and career of the man responsible for such hit songs as "Bad Bad Leroy Brown," "Time in a Bottle" and "Operator." Through exclusive interviews with Croce's wife Ingrid and friends Cheech Marin and Arlo Guthrie, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" uncovers the musical passion that kept Croce churning out hits he would make virtually no money from. Ingrid Croce recalls how a contract Croce signed early in his career sent the majority of his earnings to his representatives, keeping him and Ingrid in relative poverty even as Croce's career soared. Killed in a plane crash just as he was gaining worldwide recognition, Croce was destined to never see the money his records earned. Ingrid recounts picking up the pieces, including her successful court battle to win back the money that was rightfully Croce's. Additionally, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" features a Croce recording never before made public called "I'm Just a Country Boy," the first song Croce ever sang to wife Ingrid.
The Carpenters
S01 E13 • Thursday, Jan 1, 1998 • Jan 1 • 1h
In 1970 The Carpenters won the Best New Artist Grammy, and for five years it seemed as though they were indeed on "Top of the World" as song after song continued to ride up the charts. Easy listening lovers of all generations found the clean-cut combo's orchestrated melodies and Karen's warm voice irresistible; even President Richard Nixon was a fan. But behind the smiles and the string of soft pop hits is the tragic tale of a woman whose quest for love and acceptance led to anorexia and finally, death at 32. In 1983 Karen Carpenter suffered a fatal heart attack while seemingly on the road to recovery, leaving Richard alone to mourn the loss of his sister and all the songs that would never happen. Now happily married and back on the road performing Carpenters songs to adoring fans, Richard reminisces about their early jazz trio, and speaks frankly about his past addiction to pain killers. Singers Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick pay tribute to Karen's talent.
Sonny Bono
S01 E14 • Sunday, Jan 11, 1998 • Jan 11 • 1h
He couldn't sing or read music but he became a songwriter and pop star. And though he never cast a vote in his life, he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs, then Congressman. If there's a lesson to be learned from Sonny Bono's life, which ended tragically in a skiing accident in early 1998, it's that ideas and perseverance will get you far - even if you're a funny -looking guy who didn't go to college. It wasn't until Sonny was 28, when he met then-16-year-old Cher, that his musical path presented itself. Sonny brought the songs, Cher brought the style and the voice, and by 1965 they created a pop sensation, kicking off a string of hits with their #1 signature song "I Got You Babe." By the early '70s, the pair were household names, but their TV bickering became all too real, and after several bits of on-screen teasing, the couple divorced. Sonny never achieved the same level of success in the entertainment industry; in fact, when Cher was starring in films like Silkwood , he was flubbing his lines on Fantasy Island. But at 51 things turned around for him: Sonny remarried and opened a successful restaurant. One day it occurred to him to run for Mayor and he won by the largest margin in Palm Springs history. Like everything he set his mind to, Sonny had accomplished it by sheer determination. BTM follows his remarkable story, talking with friends and associates, and most movingly, his grief-stricken mother.
The Mamas & the Papas
S01 E15 • Sunday, Jan 18, 1998 • Jan 18 • 1h
A look at the trials & tribulations surrounding one of folk rockÍs most talented groups. Interviews with the remaining band members, Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty. They speak openly about how the band came together, their drug use and the love triangle that existed between them. For the first time ever, Mama CassÍ sister, Leah Kunkel puts to rest the real cause of Mama CassÍ death.
Meat Loaf
S01 E16 • Sunday, Feb 1, 1998 • Feb 1 • 1h
The incredible rise, fall and comeback of Meat Loaf. Interviews with Meat Loaf, his wife Leslie Aday, their two daughters, Todd Rundgren (producer, Bat Out of Hell), Karla DeVito (former back-up singer) and Sam Ellis (tour manager). Released in 1977, Bat Out of Hell was one of the top-selling albums of all time, making Meat Loaf a rock & roll superstar. However, superstardom got the best of him -- Meat Loaf suffered a nervous breakdown and soon dropped out of the music scene. In 1993, 16 years after the release of Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf finally came out with a new album, Bat Out of Hell II, which earned him a Grammy for his #1 song, "I Will Do Anything for Love" and made him a rock & roll success, again.
Gladys Knight
S01 E17 • Sunday, Feb 15, 1998 • Feb 15 • 1h
Her career spans more than 50 years, 37 of which were spent headlining "Gladys Knight and the Pips." She has collected four Grammys, 12 gold records and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Gladys Knight's life has never been easy. On this episode, the other Queen of Soul reveals the hardships she has battled since her career took off at the age of seven, and why, in spite of them all, she has always come out on top.In "GLADYS KNIGHT: BEHIND THE MUSIC," Knight candidly discusses the ordeals that have turned so many of her successes bittersweet, beginning with her first brush with racism after winning a televised singing competition at the age of seven. Knight goes on to recount more personal as well as professional trials: her near rape at age 15; her unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage at age 16; the pain of three failed marriages; the custody battle that cost her youngest son; her legal battle with Motown; and the ten year gambling addiction that cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interviews with Little Richard, friend Dionne Warwick and Knight's children also shed light on how a woman who suffered through so much can continue to rise to such heights.
Willie Nelson
S01 E18 • Sunday, Mar 1, 1998 • Mar 1 • 1h
With 100 albums behind him and a career that spans 50 years, you might think Willie Nelson has had a smooth ride to fame and fortune.Behind The Music sets the record straight on the life of a country legend who has endured plenty of professional and personal setbacks along with his successes.Over the years, Willie Nelson has written monster hits for the likes of Patsy Cline and Faron Young, amassed three Grammys, created country music's first multi-platinum album, and performed with everyone from Ray Charles to U2. Yet when Nelson first hit it big in 1975 with his smash album Red Headed Stranger, he was over 40, had been performing for 32 years, and had already churned out over 20 albums. Success did not come quickly for Nelson, whose resume also lists stints as a janitor and Bible and vacuum cleaner salesman. In "Willie Nelson: Behind the Music," Nelson candidly discusses the hurtles that have nearly derailed him, from his years growing up without his parents in Abbott, Texas, to his struggles to find the right record label and his monstrous problems with the IRS that began in 1978. By 1988, the IRS had charged that Nelson owed over $10 million in back taxes. Interviews with Nelson's friends and colleagues plus archival footage round out the hour.
Jerry Lee Lewis
S01 E19 • Sunday, Mar 8, 1998 • Mar 8 • 1h
Four decades have passed since the release of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," but it's fair to say that no one has matched the sheer rock and roll excitement of the pioneering piano pounder Jerry Lee Lewis. It's also fair to say that no one has matched his misadventures: On a trip to Britain in 1958, it was revealed that Lewis had married his 13-year-old cousin Myra Hindley without divorcing his wife. Immediately afterwards, radio stations refused to play his records, only relenting when he made the move to country music. It wasn't long until Lewis began living even harder than he previously had, hitting the bottle and guzzling pills with abandon. After 13 years of marriage (which included the death of their son) Lewis divorced Hindley, only to lose several more wives and children in tragic circumstances that would shatter lesser men. But Lewis has survived as a family man and a giant in the annals of American music.
Rick James
S01 E20 • Sunday, Mar 15, 1998 • Mar 15 • 1h
In the early 80s, Rick James was the king of funk, dominating the charts with hits like "Superfreak," "Mary Jane" and "Give It To Me Baby." James was best known for his outrageous live concerts and flamboyant drug use. Ironically, it was his notorious cocaine habit that cost him his freedom and nearly cost him his life. James went to prison for assaulting an associate while high on cocaine.During this episode James does not hold anything back, speaking frankly about his destructive behavior, how his mother's death devastated him and how prison was the best thing that ever happened to him. Among those interviewed in "Rick James: Behind The Music" include one-time love Linda Blair, his new wife Tanya and former Motown executive Suzanne DePasse.
David Crosby
S01 E21 • Sunday, Mar 22, 1998 • Mar 22 • 1h
An advanced pop musician by anyone's standards, David Crosby has become a poster boy for a crash and burn hippie culture. From his early days with the Byrds, he had a wild twinkle in his eye, and while recording political and romantic hymns like "Wooden Ships" and "Guinevere" during the '60s and '70s, the superb vocalist was sewing the seeds of the profoundly drugged-out lifestyle to come. Crosby's friend Carl Gottlieb describes him as a fundamentalist hedonist, awash in stimulants and free sex. At first, he was able to make great music with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, but eventually his addiction overtook his passion for music. By 1985, after his friends attempted to intervene, an Olympian appetite for cocaine had taken him from the comfort of stardom to the cold arms of the Texas prison system. Behind the Music is there as Crosby's subsequent redemption fails to prevent a life-threatening liver transplant, but ends up yielding a son he had abandoned 32 years before.
Selena
S01 E22 • Sunday, Mar 29, 1998 • Mar 29 • 1h
By the age of 23, Selena Quintanilla Perez had conquered the Tejano music scene and had become embraced by tens of thousands of fans. With her blend of natural talent, boundless energy and magnetic charm she was poised to become popular musicÍs next big superstar. But, just when Selena was about to become a crossover sensation, her ascent was cut short as she lost her life at the hands of someone she believed to be a loyal friend. We hear from SelenaÍs family and the woman who murdered her.
Jefferson Airplane/Starship
S01 E23 • Sunday, Apr 5, 1998 • Apr 5 • 1h
Includes first-time interviews with all 6 members of the classic Jefferson Airplane line-up as well as an interview with Grace Slick.
Takin' It to the Streets
S01 E24 • Sunday, Apr 12, 1998 • Apr 12 • 1h
A cross-cultural look at people who sing for their supper features five different groups/artists from New York, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles; features original compositions and stories from street musicians throughout the show; New Orleans segment features a profile of clarinetist Doreen Ketchens and performance footage of her (with trombonist Keith "Wolf" Anderson and others) on the streets of the French Quarter.
Ozzy Osbourne
S01 E25 • Monday, Apr 19, 1999 • Apr 19 • 1h
A look at this heavy metal legend, from his early days as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, to his controversial concert acts as a solo performer (he bit the head off a live bat onstage as well as a live dove during a Columbia Records publicity meeting!) Osbourne discusses the lawsuits brought on by three different families, all claiming that their sons had been inspired to commit suicide after listening to his songs. He spent some time in the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-80s to battle his drug addiction and alcoholism. Although Osbourne is currently clean & sober, he has not completely cleaned up his image.
Ted Nugent
S01 E26 • Sunday, Apr 26, 1998 • Apr 26 • 1h
Nugent started performing at age 13 and became one of the the biggest live acts in the '70s. Ted's not your typical rock 'n' roller. He is a political conservative, preaching family values & anti-drug messages. He's also fond of hunting game, eating raw meat and having strong opinions on just about everything.
Joe Cocker
S01 E27 • Sunday, May 3, 1998 • May 3 • 1h
The dramatic ups and downs of Cocker's career including a recent interview before launching his April '98 tour, behind the scenes footage from his world-famous "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour, a candid look at his infamous, drug-fueled "drop-out period," and a rare, voyeristic glimpse into his personal life through the eyes of his wife, family and close friends.
Behind the Music (Ver 2)
S01 E28 • Monday, May 18, 1998 • May 18 • 1h
Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”
Studio 54
S01 E29 • Sunday, May 24, 1998 • May 24 • 1h
It has been more than twenty years since Studio 54 first opened its doors on April 26, 1977, driven by a disco beat and ruled by the unlikeliest of overlords: gay, sociable restaurant chain owner Steve Rubell and straight, shy real estate lawyer Ian Schrager. Former college friends Steve and Ian, through a combination of business savvy, good timing and luck, quickly established Studio 54 as "the" place to be, where the wannabe crowd outside was as much of a show as the privileged party inside.Studio 54 became the embodiment of the phrase, "if it feels good, do it," fueled by the prevailing liberated, birth-controlled, drug-infused, pre-AIDS atmosphere of the era. Or, as described by eyewitness Michael Musto, Studio 54 was "a Felliniesque crossed with Busby Berkeley playground filled with everything for your hedonistic needs.""Studio 54: Behind The Music" features new and exclusive candid interviews with many of those who not only observed but helped to create the Studio 54 experience, including Grace Jones, Liz Smith, Jerry Hall, Robin Leach, Anthony Haden-Guest, Nile Rogers, and many of the bartenders and doormen who had front row seats to the Studio 54 spectacle. The program also includes the last known interview of Rubell, who died an AIDS-related death in 1989 at the age of 45.Rubell's and Schrager's Studio 54 flashed brilliantly and crashed hard, with the two eventually convicted of tax evasion and forced to turn in their evening wear for prison garb. As disco is making an unexpected comeback, and everything 70's is popular again, "Studio 54: Behind The Music" examines the highs and the lows, the innovations and disappointments, that went beyond the velvet rope to capture the attention of the entire world.
Keith Moon
S01 E30 • Sunday, May 31, 1998 • May 31 • 1h
Keith Moon will always be remembered as a wild man of rock and roll who wrecked hotel rooms and destroyed his drums. What is often forgotten about Keith is that he was a drummer extraordinaire who had a zest for life that was full of comedy, drama and tragedy. In this episode, KeithÍs friends, bandmates and family provide a stirring portrait of a man who packed a lot of life into his short 31 years. Viewers will hear Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Kim McLagan (KeithÍs ex-wife) and Peter ˜DougalÄ Butler (KeithÍs personal assistant for close to 10 years) discuss KeithÍs struggles, triumphs and tragedies in intimate detail. Plus, in her first television interview since KeithÍs death in 1978, Annette Hunt (KeithÍs last girlfriend) discusses KeithÍs final days.
Bonnie Raitt
S01 E31 • Sunday, Jun 7, 1998 • Jun 7 • 1h
An intimate look at one of the most successful and respected female rockers, from her early roots in Blues to her current pop/rock stardom.
Robbie Robertson
S01 E32 • Sunday, Jun 14, 1998 • Jun 14 • 1h
Robbie Robertson reflects on the history and break-up of his critically acclaimed group, The Band. When drugs began to erode the bond that held them together, Robbie decided to put an end to the group. Their final performance together on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 was immortalized in the Scorsese-directed film, "The Last Waltz." Though the other members of The Band eventually got back together, Robbie forged ahead on his own. Robbie talks about the 20 years since he left the group-- he has composed a number of movie scores, acted in a handful of films and released three critically acclaimed solo albums. On his latest solo effort, Robbie has returned to his Native American roots, mixing such unlikely elements as peyote chants, archive recordings and a testimonial from an imprisoned Indian activist.
Def Leppard
S01 E33 • Sunday, Jun 21, 1998 • Jun 21 • 1h
The biggest selling pop band of the '80's lived the text book rock star life: limos and liquor, drugs and groupies – hedonism defined their daily ritual. But even record sales over 20 million couldn't prepare these former factory workers from Sheffield, England for the consequences of their excesses. Behind The Music revisits the devastating overdose of guitarist Steve Clark and talks to Rick Allen about how he managed to continue drumming after the loss of an arm.
Tony Orlando
S01 E34 • Sunday, Jun 28, 1998 • Jun 28 • 1h
One of the hottest pop music performers of the 70's candidly discusses his struggle with cocaine addiction and his mental breakdown. Songs include "Knock Three Times," "Candida," "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and "What are you Doing Sunday." Orlando talks candidly about the death of his best friend, Freddy Prinze, and his sister's death due to Cerebral Palsy. Orlando is currently performing at different venues in Branson, Missouri.
Gloria Estefan
S01 E35 • Sunday, Jul 5, 1998 • Jul 5 • 1h
The triumph and tribulations of a "Diva" who has come to symbolize the American dream. Highlights include Gloria discussing her accident, her fatherÍs death, the birth of her son in 1980 and her involvement in raising money for families devastated by the wreckage of Hurricane Andrew. Includes rare home movies footage plus interviews with family members, Jon Secada and other music associates.
Jan and Dean
S01 E36 • Sunday, Jul 12, 1998 • Jul 12 • 1h
A look at the successful 60's surf rock duo, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. With hits like "Surf City," "Dead Man's Curve" and "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" these California crooners hit the top of the charts until Jan suffered severe brain damage from a terrible car accident in 1966. Includes interviews with Jan, who continues to write music, Dean Torrence, who has built a successful graphic arts career.
Harry Chapin
S01 E37 • Sunday, Jul 19, 1998 • Jul 19 • 1h
Singer/songwriter Harry Chapin made a successful career out of setting short stories to music with hits like "Taxi," "W.O.L.D.", "Cats in the Cradle" and "Sequel." A staunch supporter of the socially disenfranchised, Chapin raised over five million dollars for various causes, yet in an ironic twist, he died in an auto accident on July 16, 1981, while on his way to perform at a benefit concert. We hear from Chapin's wife, friends and family as they discuss the musical storyteller whose life ended too short. Features interviews with Chapin's wife, friends and family.
Gloria Gaynor
S01 E38 • Sunday, Jul 26, 1998 • Jul 26 • 1h
Profile of superstar Gloria Gaynor, the disco diva whose song, titled, "I Will Survive," inspired millions of fans with a confident message of hope, but for Gloria to survive, she had to overcome weight problems and agonizing self doubt. Just as Gloria was reaching the pinnacle of stardom, a freak stage accident nearly ended her career. Later, better conflict threatened her storybook marriage. Just when it seemed she put her troubles behind her, Gloria endured her greatest heart break - the brutal murder of her younger sister. When tragedy threatened to overwhelm her, the queen of disco surrendered to a higher power. Interviews with Gloria, her husband/mgr, former band members, friends and the cowriter of "I Will Survive."
Madonna
S01 E39 • Sunday, Aug 16, 1998 • Aug 16 • 1h
Madonna's blonde ambition was born when she was still a brunette living in Detroit. Her desire to "rule the world" drew the dancer and fledgling musician to New York's East Village, where she became a fixture on the early '80s punk scene. Those who knew her back then recall that she turned heads with a sexy ragamuffin look that would eventually spawn a world of wanna-bes. Always leading the pop zeitgeist, Madonna's music has evolved from dance-pop to earthy R&B to balladry to techno. From club scenester to cultural icon to mother (her most satisfying role yet), Madonna's moves are endlessly fascinating. She talked with BTM about the price of fame, the great love of her life, and the one "m" word she never wants to hear again.
1968
S01 E40 • Sunday, Aug 30, 1998 • Aug 30 • 1h
A look back to the SixtiesÍ most explosive, chaotic, tragic and inspiring year. A time when youth raged in the streets, leaders were martyred, and cities burned. This episode explores some of the most exciting, enduring, influential music of our times and the stories "Behind the Music" through dramatic footage and revealing interviews with many of the great musicians who spoke for an angry, alienated generation. Includes interviews with Grace Slick, David Crosby, James Brown, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, Aretha Franklin, P.J. OÍRourke, Art Garfunkel, Rennie Davis and Country Joe McDonald.
Steppenwolf
S01 E41 • Sunday, Sep 6, 1998 • Sep 6 • 1h
Steppenwolf was a band of rock and roll wild men whose high times and big hits, "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", could not hold the pack together. We hear from former lead bandsman, John Kay, who retired the band in the late 70's, and band mates Goldy and Nick, who attempted to bring Steppenwolf back to life, signed away their record royalties in order to do so, yet failed in the end. Today, John is touring with his band John Kay & Steppenwolf, while Nick and Goldy are still fighting to get their royalties back.
Blondie
S01 E42 • Sunday, Sep 27, 1998 • Sep 27 • 1h
Blondie, co-founded by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, was the most successful band to grow out of New York's downtown punk rock scene in the late 1970's. But success did not come without a price. As the band got bigger, lead singer Harry became the focal point of attention, and harmony was replaced by discord. "Blondie: Behind The Music," traces the ups and downs of the group, featuring rare footage and interviews with group members Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri; Blondie biographer Victor Bockris; rock critic Lisa Robinson; Chrysalis Records co-founder Terry Ellis, rocker Joey Ramone and director John Waters.Before they hit in America, Blondie enjoyed huge success in Europe and Australia, scoring six number ones in England. Their third album, "Parallel Lines," sold six million copies and made them superstars. Although they released two more monster albums, the band was growing increasingly apart, and in 1982 Harry walked away from the band.At the same time, her longtime boyfriend and Blondie guitarist Stein became ill with a rare genetic disease called Pemphigus. Debbie and Chris quietly disappeared from the music scene, and it took Chris nearly two years to recover. When he and Debbie tried to re-enter the music world, in the age of Madonna, Blondie had become eclipsed.Debbie pursued her solo career, as well as finding roles in film and television. In 1997 the core band of Harry, Stein, Destri and Burke regrouped as Blondie once again, and after a sixteen year absence will release a new album, "No Exit," in early 1999.
Shania Twain
S01 E43 • Sunday, Oct 4, 1998 • Oct 4 • 1h
The classic rags to riches story. Shania grew up poor in Canada, spending much of her childhood on the Mattagami Indian Reservation where many of her stepfather's relatives lived. At 21, she had to care for her siblings when her parents were killed in a head-on car collision. Yet she overcame these hardships when a successful Nashville entertainment attorney discovered her performing in a Las Vegas style review in Huntsville, Ontario. He helped her land a contract with Mercury Nashville. Although her first album was not a huge success, legendary rock producer, Mutt Lange spots her talent. They meet, fall in love and he helps Shania cross over from country singer into Pop superstar. Shania is currently touring to sell out crowds. Includes interviews with Shania's sibling, relatives, Richard Frank (the lawyer who discovered her) and Norro Wilson (producer on her first album).
John Denver
S01 E44 • Sunday, Oct 11, 1998 • Oct 11 • 1h
The story of one of America's most treasured singers. We are premiering this episode 1 day before the 1 year anniversary of Denver's death. Denver was a huge sensation in the 70's, with a string of hits including "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Rocky Mountain High", "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". His success dipped in the 80's, yet this did not deter him from continuing to perform and devoting much of his time to environmental issues and flying. Denver was attempting a musical comeback in the 90's, but died in a plane crash while testing out an experimental plane. Includes interviews with Lyle Lovett, who discusses Denver's influence on his music, long-time friend Geraldo Rivera, Denver's two ex-wives (Annie Denver and Cassandra Delaney Denver) and his children.
Stevie Nicks
S01 E45 • Sunday, Nov 1, 1998 • Nov 1 • 1h
She was crowned the queen of Rock & Roll. A country girl who cast a spell on the world of pop music. She ascended to the top with Fleetwood Mac, then stole the spotlight when she struck out on her own. Stevie Nicks accomplished the unprecedented feat of launching a successful solo career while still a key member of one of rock's most successful bands. Then her fairytale life was turned upside down, first by cocaine abuse, and later by a debilitating dependency on tranquilizers. But Stevie turned her pain into song, reclaiming her confidence and her career.
John Mellencamp
S01 E46 • Sunday, Nov 8, 1998 • Nov 8 • 1h
This small town boy lived the American dream, topping the charts with his tales of everyman. After two decades of hard living and endless touring, though, he paid the price, with a heart attack that nearly took his life. Our little ditty follows the heartland hero from Indiana into the arms of supermodel Elaine Irwin.
Metallica
S01 E47 • Sunday, Nov 22, 1998 • Nov 22 • 1h
We're just four lucky fans that got together and started playing; this could be you, says James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica, which built its success on an uncompromising musical vision and the fierce loyalty of its fans. For Metallica, hard rock meant playing hard, on-stage and off. Their drinking became the stuff of legend, and the rock press dubbed them "Alcoholica." Amid the mayhem, the most popular heavy metal band in the world endured its share of hardship and tragedy, including the death of bassist Cliff Burton and an on-stage accident in which Hetfield suffered serious second and third degree burns. "Metallica: Behind The Music" charts their rise from garage band to global stadium phenomenon, always on their own terms.Two things that kept Metallica going, according to Hetfield, are "honesty and selfishness; we're doing this for ourselves." Through it all, they set the standard for straight ahead heavy metal mastery. "Metallica: Behind The Music" includes interviews with the band, former members Ron McGovney (bassist) and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth (guitarist), Anthrax's Scott Ian, Primus' Les Claypool, Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Jerry Cantrell, Ozzy Osbourne, Torben Ulrich, co-founding member Lars Ulrich's father and producer Bob Rock.
KC & The Sunshine Band
S01 E48 • Sunday, Nov 29, 1998 • Nov 29 • 1h
They blasted onto the American airwaves in the fall of 1975 with a sexy, explicit invitation to just let go...a multi-cultural group of musicians who were all about the groove..led by a charismatic singer who was convinced that someday he would make it big. KC & the Sunshine Band crossed pop melodies with disco rhythms to the tune of 75 million albums sold. But the boogie superstar would be tripped up by rock and roll excess-- his band torn apart by jealousy, paranoia and personal tragedies. KC was devastated by the death of his father and he disappeared into obscurity for a decade, before recapturing the spirit of his early years. Includes interviews with KC, his mom, his sister, his collaborator/close associate, Rick Finch and Harry Stone, the man who gave KC his first break.
R.E.M.
S01 E49 • Wednesday, Dec 16, 1998 • Dec 16 • 1h
Tells the story of four friends from Athens, Georgia who formed a band in 1979 because they loved to play music together. For almost two decades, R.E.M. blended four personalities into a group that was greater than the sum of its parts, and while they never took themselves too seriously, they gave their music everything they had. They refused to compromise, and the more they resisted taking the easy road to fame and fortune, the more their legend grew. Through celebration and adversity -- including the near death of drummer Bill Berry, who suffered a brain aneurysm while on-stage and who left the band in 1997 -- R.E.M. has proved itself to be one of the great rock bands of our time. "R.E.M.: Behind The Music" includes new interviews with all three band members as well as ex-band member Bill Berry, The B-52's Kate Pierson, manager/lawyer Bertis Downs, who has been with the group since the beginning, producers Don Dixon, Mitch Easter and Pat McCarthy, Ian Copeland (brother of Miles Copeland, who signed R.E.M. to their first record contract) and Athen's mayor, Gwen O'Looney.
Motley Crue
S01 E50 • Sunday, Dec 13, 1998 • Dec 13 • 1h
Rock's most notorious band embraced excess and pushed it as far as they could: from their wild stage theatrics (Nikki Sixx would light himself on fire), to the hair, makeup, spandex and stilettos with which they adorned themselves, to the drugs and alcohol they consumed, and of course the girls, girls and more girls. Even "settling down" was done with rock star attitude: Three of the Crue's four members married Playboy playmates, Tommy Lee most famously uniting with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson after his marriage to TV star Heather Locklear disintegrated. Now sober. like all the members of the band, Lee talks to BTM about both those relationships, including the famous "adult viewing" tape of himself and then-wife Anderson. Nikki Sixx gets philosophical about his overdose and out-of-body death experience, and Vince Neill shares the moving story of the loss of his four-year-old daughter Skylar. This heavy metal morality tale includes an interview with pal and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
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Milli Vanilli
S01 E01 • Sunday, Aug 17, 1997 • Aug 17 • 1h
Girl, you know it's true…but unfortunately it wasn't, for the 80's dance duo whose Grammy-winning triumph turned sour when their producer revealed that his hunky proteges were shaking their booty to someone else's song. The ensuing humiliation led to the suicide of Rob Pilatus, whose anguish is palpable in these final interviews. Milli Vanilli, Rob Pilatus and Fabrizio Morvan won the hearts of millions, but when their deception was revealed after their win of a Best New Artist Grammy, the public’s shock and disappointment gave way to contempt. The two lip-synching hunks became the butt of jokes and were ostracized by the music industry.
MC Hammer
S01 E02 • Sunday, Aug 24, 1997 • Aug 24 • 1h
The dawn of the 1990's was unquestionably Hammer time. A scrappy striver from Oakland CA. named Stanley Burrell took hip-hop to P.T. Barnum scales: baggy trousers over rubbery legs, sizable samples of past hits, commercial endorsements galore. But the MC Hammer show was also "fun for the family," which, as Hammer pal Arsenio Hall notes, hardcore hip-hop heads despised. By the middle of the decade, Hammer's commercial viability - not to mention his huge fortune - had somehow vanished. Still "too legit to quit," MC Hammer then downsized, pledging to bring his positively charged hip-hop back to the top. BTM brings you the particulars of each Hammer epoch.
Boy George
S01 E03 • Sunday, Aug 31, 1997 • Aug 31 • 1h
In 1984, George O'Dowd accepted a Grammy Award for Culture Club by quipping that America "knows a good drag queen" when it sees one. And Boy George was not just a good drag queen, but a drag queen with a tremendously soulful voice, fronting one of the '80s' best pop bands. And yet, there was trouble from the start. If George's affair with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss lent emotional authenticity to the band's hits, it also jeopardized the band's ability to work together, as each Clubber attests to Behind the Music. Once Moss rejected George once and for all, the singer rapidly descended into an abyss of heroin addiction. At a 1986 anti-apartheid benefit, George was so out of it that fellow pop stars recoiled from him. After his brother publically spoke of George's problems, the singer finally took the steps to recover. Healthy and happy these days, George only regrets now that Moss has yet to acknowledge the extent of their relationship.
Fleetwood Mac
S01 E04 • Sunday, Sep 7, 1997 • Sep 7 • 1h
A successful British blues band in the '60s, Fleetwood Mac became the legends we know today when they hooked up with a young singer-songwriter couple who were almost ready to give up the biz. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham brought passion, looks and incredible vocal harmonies to the moody intensity of Fleetwood Mac. Their relationship wouldn't survive past the first album, nor would that of longtime members Christine and John McVie, but all that heartbreak fueled the fire of Rumours - a modern pop masterpiece which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time. As they embarked on their 30-year Reunion Tour in 1997, all the members of this "dysfunctional family" checked in with Behind the Music to muse on the drugs, the dough, and how it feels to attract a whole new generation of listeners after all these years...
Nowhere to Hide
S01 E05 • Sunday, Sep 21, 1997 • Sep 21 • 1h
This cautionary episode of Behind the Music documents the growing menace of stalkers. Considered by some the "prototype" for fans who take their celebrity obsessions to dangerous and often criminal extremes, John Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, is the focus of this investigative piece. With a detailed account of the events of the day he shot the former Beatle; to interviews with Chapman conducted during his prison sentence; comments from his psychiatrist and the photographer who caught Lennon and his killer on film; BTM paints a frightening picture of a deranged individual who is up for parole this year. Security consultant Gavin de Becker outlines warning signs. Lilith founder Sarah McLachlan comes forward about her own terrifying experience and the song ("Possession") that came out of it. Two real-life stalkers explain their motivations. Bjork's victimizer records himself on video just moments before his suicide.
Imagemakers
S01 E06 • Sunday, Sep 28, 1997 • Sep 28 • 1h
Rock 'n' roll wouldn't exist without its image, and it's been the job of rock photographers to capture that divine union of talent, passion and style that makes a singer a star. Ever since Elvis Presley melted the camera lens with his wiggling hips and pouty lips, fans have hungered for that uncensored intimacy with their idols. BTM gets inside the visionary minds who created the iconography of rock 'n' roll: from the German photographer who gave the Beatles their mop top haircuts, to Andy Warhol and his classic album art, to the young upstarts whose work appeared in the influential rock magazine Rolling Stone and eventually defined a culture. Annie Liebowitz talks about how Yoko Ono's sudden camera shyness turned into one of her greatest photographs, and fashion imagemakers like Herb Ritts talk about how they made the shift from print to video when MTV opened the doors for a whole new mode of expression.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
S01 E07 • Sunday, Oct 19, 1997 • Oct 19 • 1h
This episode marked the 20th anniversary of the infamous plane crash (10/20/77) with a special episode on the bad boys from Jacksonville, Florida who put Southern Rock and Roll on the map with classic songs like Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. During the seventies, they released a string of million-selling records and performed to sold out audiences in the U.S. and Europe. Fronted by their charismatic leader, Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd had it all until the pressures of stardom led them down a road of violence and alcohol abuse that resulted in countless fights, arrests, and car wrecks. Interviews with the surviving members of the band and the families.
Teddy Pendergrass
S01 E08 • Sunday, Oct 26, 1997 • Oct 26 • 1h
Teddy's early experiences in life and music: "I wasn't raised with baby-sitters, my mother couldn't afford to have someone watch me. It just didn't work like that in the ghetto so because of that I had the unique opportunity to see the artists come in and out that would play the supper club (where his mother worked). It was exposure for me.On Melvin and the Blue Notes: "What I learned was priceless; I learned how to entertain. I learned how to be the best at what I could be."On the accident of March 18, 1982: "It was the most horrible experience I could have ever had in my life."His feelings after the accident: "You want to know what's going to happen to you, the hell with whether or not I'm going to sing...you go back to the basics. 'What does this mean for me?'"On Live-Aid, his first performance after the accident: "I felt relieved like a big load had been lifted from my back... I felt 'OK' so we can do this. It was one more hurdle that I had crossed."On his song Truly Blessed: "The song was natural for me to do. I wanted the world to know how I was feeling. And if there was anyone that was wondering 'Am I getting along, or what my thought's were." I was saying, 'I'm fine, this is where I am.'"On walking again: "Anything can happen tomorrow. If the technology is there tomorrow, I'll be right there in line, but, until then, it is more important to try to achieve things while I am here."
Billy Joel
S01 E09 • Sunday, Nov 9, 1997 • Nov 9 • 1h
He has penned enough hits to fill three Greatest Hits compilations. Yet, Billy Joel's rise to fame has been anything but smooth sailing. Behind the Music chronicles the ups and downs of the pop star's career and life... from his earlier days as a solo performer when he signed away many of the rights to his songs... to his incredible rise to fame and fortune... to the betrayal of his manager that nearly left Billy Joel broke.
Lilith Fair
S01 E10 • Sunday, Nov 16, 1997 • Nov 16 • 1h
In the summer of 1997, Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan launched an event that would surpass Lollapalooza as the most successful concert tour of the year. Against all odds, the women-only Lilith Fair lineup sold out arenas across the country. When the dust settled, Lilith had shown the world a different side of rock, challenging the short-sighted old-school attitude that girls don't sell records. BTM's honest look at the first Lilith tour is the ultimate backstage pass: superstars like Sheryl Crow and Jewel, and of course McLachlan and the Indigo Girls, talk about their personal struggles and triumphs as well as how it feels to be part of the cultural moment that was occurring in '97. Rock godmothers Pat Benatar and Emmylou Harris discuss their involvement in what Benatar says she'd "waited 20 years for." Other featured artists include Shawn Colvin, Meredith Brooks and Lisa Loeb. Episode highlights? A dressing room jam session between Crow and the Indigo Girls, and concert footage of the song that closed every show, Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
Andy Gibb
S01 E11 • Sunday, Nov 30, 1997 • Nov 30 • 1h
He was the prince of Pop idols and by the tender age of 22, Andy Gibb had three #1 songs under his belt. But over the next 8 years, his career would falter, the love of his life, Victoria Principal, would leave him, and the world would learn that this the teen idol with the honey voice had a devastating drug and alcohol problem. For the first time ever, all three of Andy's brothers, The Bee Gees speak about Andy's lifelong battle against drugs and alcohol and for the first time since their breakup nearly 15 years ago, Victoria Principal talks about the Andy she loved and what finally broke them apart. Interviews also with: Pam Dawber, Marilyn McCoo, Marie Osmond and Andy's producer, Robert Stigwood.
Jim Croce
S01 E12 • Tuesday, Dec 2, 1997 • Dec 2 • 1h
Featuring never before seen family photos and performance footage, "Jim Croce: Behind the Music" traces the life and career of the man responsible for such hit songs as "Bad Bad Leroy Brown," "Time in a Bottle" and "Operator." Through exclusive interviews with Croce's wife Ingrid and friends Cheech Marin and Arlo Guthrie, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" uncovers the musical passion that kept Croce churning out hits he would make virtually no money from. Ingrid Croce recalls how a contract Croce signed early in his career sent the majority of his earnings to his representatives, keeping him and Ingrid in relative poverty even as Croce's career soared. Killed in a plane crash just as he was gaining worldwide recognition, Croce was destined to never see the money his records earned. Ingrid recounts picking up the pieces, including her successful court battle to win back the money that was rightfully Croce's. Additionally, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" features a Croce recording never before made public called "I'm Just a Country Boy," the first song Croce ever sang to wife Ingrid.
The Carpenters
S01 E13 • Thursday, Jan 1, 1998 • Jan 1 • 1h
In 1970 The Carpenters won the Best New Artist Grammy, and for five years it seemed as though they were indeed on "Top of the World" as song after song continued to ride up the charts. Easy listening lovers of all generations found the clean-cut combo's orchestrated melodies and Karen's warm voice irresistible; even President Richard Nixon was a fan. But behind the smiles and the string of soft pop hits is the tragic tale of a woman whose quest for love and acceptance led to anorexia and finally, death at 32. In 1983 Karen Carpenter suffered a fatal heart attack while seemingly on the road to recovery, leaving Richard alone to mourn the loss of his sister and all the songs that would never happen. Now happily married and back on the road performing Carpenters songs to adoring fans, Richard reminisces about their early jazz trio, and speaks frankly about his past addiction to pain killers. Singers Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick pay tribute to Karen's talent.
Sonny Bono
S01 E14 • Sunday, Jan 11, 1998 • Jan 11 • 1h
He couldn't sing or read music but he became a songwriter and pop star. And though he never cast a vote in his life, he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs, then Congressman. If there's a lesson to be learned from Sonny Bono's life, which ended tragically in a skiing accident in early 1998, it's that ideas and perseverance will get you far - even if you're a funny -looking guy who didn't go to college. It wasn't until Sonny was 28, when he met then-16-year-old Cher, that his musical path presented itself. Sonny brought the songs, Cher brought the style and the voice, and by 1965 they created a pop sensation, kicking off a string of hits with their #1 signature song "I Got You Babe." By the early '70s, the pair were household names, but their TV bickering became all too real, and after several bits of on-screen teasing, the couple divorced. Sonny never achieved the same level of success in the entertainment industry; in fact, when Cher was starring in films like Silkwood , he was flubbing his lines on Fantasy Island. But at 51 things turned around for him: Sonny remarried and opened a successful restaurant. One day it occurred to him to run for Mayor and he won by the largest margin in Palm Springs history. Like everything he set his mind to, Sonny had accomplished it by sheer determination. BTM follows his remarkable story, talking with friends and associates, and most movingly, his grief-stricken mother.
The Mamas & the Papas
S01 E15 • Sunday, Jan 18, 1998 • Jan 18 • 1h
A look at the trials & tribulations surrounding one of folk rockÍs most talented groups. Interviews with the remaining band members, Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty. They speak openly about how the band came together, their drug use and the love triangle that existed between them. For the first time ever, Mama CassÍ sister, Leah Kunkel puts to rest the real cause of Mama CassÍ death.
Meat Loaf
S01 E16 • Sunday, Feb 1, 1998 • Feb 1 • 1h
The incredible rise, fall and comeback of Meat Loaf. Interviews with Meat Loaf, his wife Leslie Aday, their two daughters, Todd Rundgren (producer, Bat Out of Hell), Karla DeVito (former back-up singer) and Sam Ellis (tour manager). Released in 1977, Bat Out of Hell was one of the top-selling albums of all time, making Meat Loaf a rock & roll superstar. However, superstardom got the best of him -- Meat Loaf suffered a nervous breakdown and soon dropped out of the music scene. In 1993, 16 years after the release of Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf finally came out with a new album, Bat Out of Hell II, which earned him a Grammy for his #1 song, "I Will Do Anything for Love" and made him a rock & roll success, again.
Gladys Knight
S01 E17 • Sunday, Feb 15, 1998 • Feb 15 • 1h
Her career spans more than 50 years, 37 of which were spent headlining "Gladys Knight and the Pips." She has collected four Grammys, 12 gold records and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Gladys Knight's life has never been easy. On this episode, the other Queen of Soul reveals the hardships she has battled since her career took off at the age of seven, and why, in spite of them all, she has always come out on top.In "GLADYS KNIGHT: BEHIND THE MUSIC," Knight candidly discusses the ordeals that have turned so many of her successes bittersweet, beginning with her first brush with racism after winning a televised singing competition at the age of seven. Knight goes on to recount more personal as well as professional trials: her near rape at age 15; her unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage at age 16; the pain of three failed marriages; the custody battle that cost her youngest son; her legal battle with Motown; and the ten year gambling addiction that cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interviews with Little Richard, friend Dionne Warwick and Knight's children also shed light on how a woman who suffered through so much can continue to rise to such heights.
Willie Nelson
S01 E18 • Sunday, Mar 1, 1998 • Mar 1 • 1h
With 100 albums behind him and a career that spans 50 years, you might think Willie Nelson has had a smooth ride to fame and fortune.Behind The Music sets the record straight on the life of a country legend who has endured plenty of professional and personal setbacks along with his successes.Over the years, Willie Nelson has written monster hits for the likes of Patsy Cline and Faron Young, amassed three Grammys, created country music's first multi-platinum album, and performed with everyone from Ray Charles to U2. Yet when Nelson first hit it big in 1975 with his smash album Red Headed Stranger, he was over 40, had been performing for 32 years, and had already churned out over 20 albums. Success did not come quickly for Nelson, whose resume also lists stints as a janitor and Bible and vacuum cleaner salesman. In "Willie Nelson: Behind the Music," Nelson candidly discusses the hurtles that have nearly derailed him, from his years growing up without his parents in Abbott, Texas, to his struggles to find the right record label and his monstrous problems with the IRS that began in 1978. By 1988, the IRS had charged that Nelson owed over $10 million in back taxes. Interviews with Nelson's friends and colleagues plus archival footage round out the hour.
Jerry Lee Lewis
S01 E19 • Sunday, Mar 8, 1998 • Mar 8 • 1h
Four decades have passed since the release of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," but it's fair to say that no one has matched the sheer rock and roll excitement of the pioneering piano pounder Jerry Lee Lewis. It's also fair to say that no one has matched his misadventures: On a trip to Britain in 1958, it was revealed that Lewis had married his 13-year-old cousin Myra Hindley without divorcing his wife. Immediately afterwards, radio stations refused to play his records, only relenting when he made the move to country music. It wasn't long until Lewis began living even harder than he previously had, hitting the bottle and guzzling pills with abandon. After 13 years of marriage (which included the death of their son) Lewis divorced Hindley, only to lose several more wives and children in tragic circumstances that would shatter lesser men. But Lewis has survived as a family man and a giant in the annals of American music.
Rick James
S01 E20 • Sunday, Mar 15, 1998 • Mar 15 • 1h
In the early 80s, Rick James was the king of funk, dominating the charts with hits like "Superfreak," "Mary Jane" and "Give It To Me Baby." James was best known for his outrageous live concerts and flamboyant drug use. Ironically, it was his notorious cocaine habit that cost him his freedom and nearly cost him his life. James went to prison for assaulting an associate while high on cocaine.During this episode James does not hold anything back, speaking frankly about his destructive behavior, how his mother's death devastated him and how prison was the best thing that ever happened to him. Among those interviewed in "Rick James: Behind The Music" include one-time love Linda Blair, his new wife Tanya and former Motown executive Suzanne DePasse.
David Crosby
S01 E21 • Sunday, Mar 22, 1998 • Mar 22 • 1h
An advanced pop musician by anyone's standards, David Crosby has become a poster boy for a crash and burn hippie culture. From his early days with the Byrds, he had a wild twinkle in his eye, and while recording political and romantic hymns like "Wooden Ships" and "Guinevere" during the '60s and '70s, the superb vocalist was sewing the seeds of the profoundly drugged-out lifestyle to come. Crosby's friend Carl Gottlieb describes him as a fundamentalist hedonist, awash in stimulants and free sex. At first, he was able to make great music with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, but eventually his addiction overtook his passion for music. By 1985, after his friends attempted to intervene, an Olympian appetite for cocaine had taken him from the comfort of stardom to the cold arms of the Texas prison system. Behind the Music is there as Crosby's subsequent redemption fails to prevent a life-threatening liver transplant, but ends up yielding a son he had abandoned 32 years before.
Selena
S01 E22 • Sunday, Mar 29, 1998 • Mar 29 • 1h
By the age of 23, Selena Quintanilla Perez had conquered the Tejano music scene and had become embraced by tens of thousands of fans. With her blend of natural talent, boundless energy and magnetic charm she was poised to become popular musicÍs next big superstar. But, just when Selena was about to become a crossover sensation, her ascent was cut short as she lost her life at the hands of someone she believed to be a loyal friend. We hear from SelenaÍs family and the woman who murdered her.
Jefferson Airplane/Starship
S01 E23 • Sunday, Apr 5, 1998 • Apr 5 • 1h
Includes first-time interviews with all 6 members of the classic Jefferson Airplane line-up as well as an interview with Grace Slick.
Takin' It to the Streets
S01 E24 • Sunday, Apr 12, 1998 • Apr 12 • 1h
A cross-cultural look at people who sing for their supper features five different groups/artists from New York, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles; features original compositions and stories from street musicians throughout the show; New Orleans segment features a profile of clarinetist Doreen Ketchens and performance footage of her (with trombonist Keith "Wolf" Anderson and others) on the streets of the French Quarter.
Ozzy Osbourne
S01 E25 • Monday, Apr 19, 1999 • Apr 19 • 1h
A look at this heavy metal legend, from his early days as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, to his controversial concert acts as a solo performer (he bit the head off a live bat onstage as well as a live dove during a Columbia Records publicity meeting!) Osbourne discusses the lawsuits brought on by three different families, all claiming that their sons had been inspired to commit suicide after listening to his songs. He spent some time in the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-80s to battle his drug addiction and alcoholism. Although Osbourne is currently clean & sober, he has not completely cleaned up his image.
Ted Nugent
S01 E26 • Sunday, Apr 26, 1998 • Apr 26 • 1h
Nugent started performing at age 13 and became one of the the biggest live acts in the '70s. Ted's not your typical rock 'n' roller. He is a political conservative, preaching family values & anti-drug messages. He's also fond of hunting game, eating raw meat and having strong opinions on just about everything.
Joe Cocker
S01 E27 • Sunday, May 3, 1998 • May 3 • 1h
The dramatic ups and downs of Cocker's career including a recent interview before launching his April '98 tour, behind the scenes footage from his world-famous "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour, a candid look at his infamous, drug-fueled "drop-out period," and a rare, voyeristic glimpse into his personal life through the eyes of his wife, family and close friends.
Behind the Music (Ver 2)
S01 E28 • Monday, May 18, 1998 • May 18 • 1h
Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”
Studio 54
S01 E29 • Sunday, May 24, 1998 • May 24 • 1h
It has been more than twenty years since Studio 54 first opened its doors on April 26, 1977, driven by a disco beat and ruled by the unlikeliest of overlords: gay, sociable restaurant chain owner Steve Rubell and straight, shy real estate lawyer Ian Schrager. Former college friends Steve and Ian, through a combination of business savvy, good timing and luck, quickly established Studio 54 as "the" place to be, where the wannabe crowd outside was as much of a show as the privileged party inside.Studio 54 became the embodiment of the phrase, "if it feels good, do it," fueled by the prevailing liberated, birth-controlled, drug-infused, pre-AIDS atmosphere of the era. Or, as described by eyewitness Michael Musto, Studio 54 was "a Felliniesque crossed with Busby Berkeley playground filled with everything for your hedonistic needs.""Studio 54: Behind The Music" features new and exclusive candid interviews with many of those who not only observed but helped to create the Studio 54 experience, including Grace Jones, Liz Smith, Jerry Hall, Robin Leach, Anthony Haden-Guest, Nile Rogers, and many of the bartenders and doormen who had front row seats to the Studio 54 spectacle. The program also includes the last known interview of Rubell, who died an AIDS-related death in 1989 at the age of 45.Rubell's and Schrager's Studio 54 flashed brilliantly and crashed hard, with the two eventually convicted of tax evasion and forced to turn in their evening wear for prison garb. As disco is making an unexpected comeback, and everything 70's is popular again, "Studio 54: Behind The Music" examines the highs and the lows, the innovations and disappointments, that went beyond the velvet rope to capture the attention of the entire world.
Keith Moon
S01 E30 • Sunday, May 31, 1998 • May 31 • 1h
Keith Moon will always be remembered as a wild man of rock and roll who wrecked hotel rooms and destroyed his drums. What is often forgotten about Keith is that he was a drummer extraordinaire who had a zest for life that was full of comedy, drama and tragedy. In this episode, KeithÍs friends, bandmates and family provide a stirring portrait of a man who packed a lot of life into his short 31 years. Viewers will hear Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Kim McLagan (KeithÍs ex-wife) and Peter ˜DougalÄ Butler (KeithÍs personal assistant for close to 10 years) discuss KeithÍs struggles, triumphs and tragedies in intimate detail. Plus, in her first television interview since KeithÍs death in 1978, Annette Hunt (KeithÍs last girlfriend) discusses KeithÍs final days.
Bonnie Raitt
S01 E31 • Sunday, Jun 7, 1998 • Jun 7 • 1h
An intimate look at one of the most successful and respected female rockers, from her early roots in Blues to her current pop/rock stardom.
Robbie Robertson
S01 E32 • Sunday, Jun 14, 1998 • Jun 14 • 1h
Robbie Robertson reflects on the history and break-up of his critically acclaimed group, The Band. When drugs began to erode the bond that held them together, Robbie decided to put an end to the group. Their final performance together on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 was immortalized in the Scorsese-directed film, "The Last Waltz." Though the other members of The Band eventually got back together, Robbie forged ahead on his own. Robbie talks about the 20 years since he left the group-- he has composed a number of movie scores, acted in a handful of films and released three critically acclaimed solo albums. On his latest solo effort, Robbie has returned to his Native American roots, mixing such unlikely elements as peyote chants, archive recordings and a testimonial from an imprisoned Indian activist.
Def Leppard
S01 E33 • Sunday, Jun 21, 1998 • Jun 21 • 1h
The biggest selling pop band of the '80's lived the text book rock star life: limos and liquor, drugs and groupies – hedonism defined their daily ritual. But even record sales over 20 million couldn't prepare these former factory workers from Sheffield, England for the consequences of their excesses. Behind The Music revisits the devastating overdose of guitarist Steve Clark and talks to Rick Allen about how he managed to continue drumming after the loss of an arm.
Tony Orlando
S01 E34 • Sunday, Jun 28, 1998 • Jun 28 • 1h
One of the hottest pop music performers of the 70's candidly discusses his struggle with cocaine addiction and his mental breakdown. Songs include "Knock Three Times," "Candida," "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and "What are you Doing Sunday." Orlando talks candidly about the death of his best friend, Freddy Prinze, and his sister's death due to Cerebral Palsy. Orlando is currently performing at different venues in Branson, Missouri.
Gloria Estefan
S01 E35 • Sunday, Jul 5, 1998 • Jul 5 • 1h
The triumph and tribulations of a "Diva" who has come to symbolize the American dream. Highlights include Gloria discussing her accident, her fatherÍs death, the birth of her son in 1980 and her involvement in raising money for families devastated by the wreckage of Hurricane Andrew. Includes rare home movies footage plus interviews with family members, Jon Secada and other music associates.
Jan and Dean
S01 E36 • Sunday, Jul 12, 1998 • Jul 12 • 1h
A look at the successful 60's surf rock duo, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. With hits like "Surf City," "Dead Man's Curve" and "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" these California crooners hit the top of the charts until Jan suffered severe brain damage from a terrible car accident in 1966. Includes interviews with Jan, who continues to write music, Dean Torrence, who has built a successful graphic arts career.
Harry Chapin
S01 E37 • Sunday, Jul 19, 1998 • Jul 19 • 1h
Singer/songwriter Harry Chapin made a successful career out of setting short stories to music with hits like "Taxi," "W.O.L.D.", "Cats in the Cradle" and "Sequel." A staunch supporter of the socially disenfranchised, Chapin raised over five million dollars for various causes, yet in an ironic twist, he died in an auto accident on July 16, 1981, while on his way to perform at a benefit concert. We hear from Chapin's wife, friends and family as they discuss the musical storyteller whose life ended too short. Features interviews with Chapin's wife, friends and family.
Gloria Gaynor
S01 E38 • Sunday, Jul 26, 1998 • Jul 26 • 1h
Profile of superstar Gloria Gaynor, the disco diva whose song, titled, "I Will Survive," inspired millions of fans with a confident message of hope, but for Gloria to survive, she had to overcome weight problems and agonizing self doubt. Just as Gloria was reaching the pinnacle of stardom, a freak stage accident nearly ended her career. Later, better conflict threatened her storybook marriage. Just when it seemed she put her troubles behind her, Gloria endured her greatest heart break - the brutal murder of her younger sister. When tragedy threatened to overwhelm her, the queen of disco surrendered to a higher power. Interviews with Gloria, her husband/mgr, former band members, friends and the cowriter of "I Will Survive."
Madonna
S01 E39 • Sunday, Aug 16, 1998 • Aug 16 • 1h
Madonna's blonde ambition was born when she was still a brunette living in Detroit. Her desire to "rule the world" drew the dancer and fledgling musician to New York's East Village, where she became a fixture on the early '80s punk scene. Those who knew her back then recall that she turned heads with a sexy ragamuffin look that would eventually spawn a world of wanna-bes. Always leading the pop zeitgeist, Madonna's music has evolved from dance-pop to earthy R&B to balladry to techno. From club scenester to cultural icon to mother (her most satisfying role yet), Madonna's moves are endlessly fascinating. She talked with BTM about the price of fame, the great love of her life, and the one "m" word she never wants to hear again.
1968
S01 E40 • Sunday, Aug 30, 1998 • Aug 30 • 1h
A look back to the SixtiesÍ most explosive, chaotic, tragic and inspiring year. A time when youth raged in the streets, leaders were martyred, and cities burned. This episode explores some of the most exciting, enduring, influential music of our times and the stories "Behind the Music" through dramatic footage and revealing interviews with many of the great musicians who spoke for an angry, alienated generation. Includes interviews with Grace Slick, David Crosby, James Brown, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, Aretha Franklin, P.J. OÍRourke, Art Garfunkel, Rennie Davis and Country Joe McDonald.
Steppenwolf
S01 E41 • Sunday, Sep 6, 1998 • Sep 6 • 1h
Steppenwolf was a band of rock and roll wild men whose high times and big hits, "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", could not hold the pack together. We hear from former lead bandsman, John Kay, who retired the band in the late 70's, and band mates Goldy and Nick, who attempted to bring Steppenwolf back to life, signed away their record royalties in order to do so, yet failed in the end. Today, John is touring with his band John Kay & Steppenwolf, while Nick and Goldy are still fighting to get their royalties back.
Blondie
S01 E42 • Sunday, Sep 27, 1998 • Sep 27 • 1h
Blondie, co-founded by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, was the most successful band to grow out of New York's downtown punk rock scene in the late 1970's. But success did not come without a price. As the band got bigger, lead singer Harry became the focal point of attention, and harmony was replaced by discord. "Blondie: Behind The Music," traces the ups and downs of the group, featuring rare footage and interviews with group members Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri; Blondie biographer Victor Bockris; rock critic Lisa Robinson; Chrysalis Records co-founder Terry Ellis, rocker Joey Ramone and director John Waters.Before they hit in America, Blondie enjoyed huge success in Europe and Australia, scoring six number ones in England. Their third album, "Parallel Lines," sold six million copies and made them superstars. Although they released two more monster albums, the band was growing increasingly apart, and in 1982 Harry walked away from the band.At the same time, her longtime boyfriend and Blondie guitarist Stein became ill with a rare genetic disease called Pemphigus. Debbie and Chris quietly disappeared from the music scene, and it took Chris nearly two years to recover. When he and Debbie tried to re-enter the music world, in the age of Madonna, Blondie had become eclipsed.Debbie pursued her solo career, as well as finding roles in film and television. In 1997 the core band of Harry, Stein, Destri and Burke regrouped as Blondie once again, and after a sixteen year absence will release a new album, "No Exit," in early 1999.
Shania Twain
S01 E43 • Sunday, Oct 4, 1998 • Oct 4 • 1h
The classic rags to riches story. Shania grew up poor in Canada, spending much of her childhood on the Mattagami Indian Reservation where many of her stepfather's relatives lived. At 21, she had to care for her siblings when her parents were killed in a head-on car collision. Yet she overcame these hardships when a successful Nashville entertainment attorney discovered her performing in a Las Vegas style review in Huntsville, Ontario. He helped her land a contract with Mercury Nashville. Although her first album was not a huge success, legendary rock producer, Mutt Lange spots her talent. They meet, fall in love and he helps Shania cross over from country singer into Pop superstar. Shania is currently touring to sell out crowds. Includes interviews with Shania's sibling, relatives, Richard Frank (the lawyer who discovered her) and Norro Wilson (producer on her first album).
John Denver
S01 E44 • Sunday, Oct 11, 1998 • Oct 11 • 1h
The story of one of America's most treasured singers. We are premiering this episode 1 day before the 1 year anniversary of Denver's death. Denver was a huge sensation in the 70's, with a string of hits including "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Rocky Mountain High", "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". His success dipped in the 80's, yet this did not deter him from continuing to perform and devoting much of his time to environmental issues and flying. Denver was attempting a musical comeback in the 90's, but died in a plane crash while testing out an experimental plane. Includes interviews with Lyle Lovett, who discusses Denver's influence on his music, long-time friend Geraldo Rivera, Denver's two ex-wives (Annie Denver and Cassandra Delaney Denver) and his children.
Stevie Nicks
S01 E45 • Sunday, Nov 1, 1998 • Nov 1 • 1h
She was crowned the queen of Rock & Roll. A country girl who cast a spell on the world of pop music. She ascended to the top with Fleetwood Mac, then stole the spotlight when she struck out on her own. Stevie Nicks accomplished the unprecedented feat of launching a successful solo career while still a key member of one of rock's most successful bands. Then her fairytale life was turned upside down, first by cocaine abuse, and later by a debilitating dependency on tranquilizers. But Stevie turned her pain into song, reclaiming her confidence and her career.
John Mellencamp
S01 E46 • Sunday, Nov 8, 1998 • Nov 8 • 1h
This small town boy lived the American dream, topping the charts with his tales of everyman. After two decades of hard living and endless touring, though, he paid the price, with a heart attack that nearly took his life. Our little ditty follows the heartland hero from Indiana into the arms of supermodel Elaine Irwin.
Metallica
S01 E47 • Sunday, Nov 22, 1998 • Nov 22 • 1h
We're just four lucky fans that got together and started playing; this could be you, says James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica, which built its success on an uncompromising musical vision and the fierce loyalty of its fans. For Metallica, hard rock meant playing hard, on-stage and off. Their drinking became the stuff of legend, and the rock press dubbed them "Alcoholica." Amid the mayhem, the most popular heavy metal band in the world endured its share of hardship and tragedy, including the death of bassist Cliff Burton and an on-stage accident in which Hetfield suffered serious second and third degree burns. "Metallica: Behind The Music" charts their rise from garage band to global stadium phenomenon, always on their own terms.Two things that kept Metallica going, according to Hetfield, are "honesty and selfishness; we're doing this for ourselves." Through it all, they set the standard for straight ahead heavy metal mastery. "Metallica: Behind The Music" includes interviews with the band, former members Ron McGovney (bassist) and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth (guitarist), Anthrax's Scott Ian, Primus' Les Claypool, Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Jerry Cantrell, Ozzy Osbourne, Torben Ulrich, co-founding member Lars Ulrich's father and producer Bob Rock.
KC & The Sunshine Band
S01 E48 • Sunday, Nov 29, 1998 • Nov 29 • 1h
They blasted onto the American airwaves in the fall of 1975 with a sexy, explicit invitation to just let go...a multi-cultural group of musicians who were all about the groove..led by a charismatic singer who was convinced that someday he would make it big. KC & the Sunshine Band crossed pop melodies with disco rhythms to the tune of 75 million albums sold. But the boogie superstar would be tripped up by rock and roll excess-- his band torn apart by jealousy, paranoia and personal tragedies. KC was devastated by the death of his father and he disappeared into obscurity for a decade, before recapturing the spirit of his early years. Includes interviews with KC, his mom, his sister, his collaborator/close associate, Rick Finch and Harry Stone, the man who gave KC his first break.
R.E.M.
S01 E49 • Wednesday, Dec 16, 1998 • Dec 16 • 1h
Tells the story of four friends from Athens, Georgia who formed a band in 1979 because they loved to play music together. For almost two decades, R.E.M. blended four personalities into a group that was greater than the sum of its parts, and while they never took themselves too seriously, they gave their music everything they had. They refused to compromise, and the more they resisted taking the easy road to fame and fortune, the more their legend grew. Through celebration and adversity -- including the near death of drummer Bill Berry, who suffered a brain aneurysm while on-stage and who left the band in 1997 -- R.E.M. has proved itself to be one of the great rock bands of our time. "R.E.M.: Behind The Music" includes new interviews with all three band members as well as ex-band member Bill Berry, The B-52's Kate Pierson, manager/lawyer Bertis Downs, who has been with the group since the beginning, producers Don Dixon, Mitch Easter and Pat McCarthy, Ian Copeland (brother of Miles Copeland, who signed R.E.M. to their first record contract) and Athen's mayor, Gwen O'Looney.
Motley Crue
S01 E50 • Sunday, Dec 13, 1998 • Dec 13 • 1h
Rock's most notorious band embraced excess and pushed it as far as they could: from their wild stage theatrics (Nikki Sixx would light himself on fire), to the hair, makeup, spandex and stilettos with which they adorned themselves, to the drugs and alcohol they consumed, and of course the girls, girls and more girls. Even "settling down" was done with rock star attitude: Three of the Crue's four members married Playboy playmates, Tommy Lee most famously uniting with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson after his marriage to TV star Heather Locklear disintegrated. Now sober. like all the members of the band, Lee talks to BTM about both those relationships, including the famous "adult viewing" tape of himself and then-wife Anderson. Nikki Sixx gets philosophical about his overdose and out-of-body death experience, and Vince Neill shares the moving story of the loss of his four-year-old daughter Skylar. This heavy metal morality tale includes an interview with pal and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
Previous
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Season 1
1997 • 230 Episodes
Activity from Friends
Milli Vanilli
S01 E01 • Sunday, Aug 17, 1997 • Aug 17 • 1h
Girl, you know it's true…but unfortunately it wasn't, for the 80's dance duo whose Grammy-winning triumph turned sour when their producer revealed that his hunky proteges were shaking their booty to someone else's song. The ensuing humiliation led to the suicide of Rob Pilatus, whose anguish is palpable in these final interviews. Milli Vanilli, Rob Pilatus and Fabrizio Morvan won the hearts of millions, but when their deception was revealed after their win of a Best New Artist Grammy, the public’s shock and disappointment gave way to contempt. The two lip-synching hunks became the butt of jokes and were ostracized by the music industry.
MC Hammer
S01 E02 • Sunday, Aug 24, 1997 • Aug 24 • 1h
The dawn of the 1990's was unquestionably Hammer time. A scrappy striver from Oakland CA. named Stanley Burrell took hip-hop to P.T. Barnum scales: baggy trousers over rubbery legs, sizable samples of past hits, commercial endorsements galore. But the MC Hammer show was also "fun for the family," which, as Hammer pal Arsenio Hall notes, hardcore hip-hop heads despised. By the middle of the decade, Hammer's commercial viability - not to mention his huge fortune - had somehow vanished. Still "too legit to quit," MC Hammer then downsized, pledging to bring his positively charged hip-hop back to the top. BTM brings you the particulars of each Hammer epoch.
Boy George
S01 E03 • Sunday, Aug 31, 1997 • Aug 31 • 1h
In 1984, George O'Dowd accepted a Grammy Award for Culture Club by quipping that America "knows a good drag queen" when it sees one. And Boy George was not just a good drag queen, but a drag queen with a tremendously soulful voice, fronting one of the '80s' best pop bands. And yet, there was trouble from the start. If George's affair with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss lent emotional authenticity to the band's hits, it also jeopardized the band's ability to work together, as each Clubber attests to Behind the Music. Once Moss rejected George once and for all, the singer rapidly descended into an abyss of heroin addiction. At a 1986 anti-apartheid benefit, George was so out of it that fellow pop stars recoiled from him. After his brother publically spoke of George's problems, the singer finally took the steps to recover. Healthy and happy these days, George only regrets now that Moss has yet to acknowledge the extent of their relationship.
Fleetwood Mac
S01 E04 • Sunday, Sep 7, 1997 • Sep 7 • 1h
A successful British blues band in the '60s, Fleetwood Mac became the legends we know today when they hooked up with a young singer-songwriter couple who were almost ready to give up the biz. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham brought passion, looks and incredible vocal harmonies to the moody intensity of Fleetwood Mac. Their relationship wouldn't survive past the first album, nor would that of longtime members Christine and John McVie, but all that heartbreak fueled the fire of Rumours - a modern pop masterpiece which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time. As they embarked on their 30-year Reunion Tour in 1997, all the members of this "dysfunctional family" checked in with Behind the Music to muse on the drugs, the dough, and how it feels to attract a whole new generation of listeners after all these years...
Nowhere to Hide
S01 E05 • Sunday, Sep 21, 1997 • Sep 21 • 1h
This cautionary episode of Behind the Music documents the growing menace of stalkers. Considered by some the "prototype" for fans who take their celebrity obsessions to dangerous and often criminal extremes, John Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, is the focus of this investigative piece. With a detailed account of the events of the day he shot the former Beatle; to interviews with Chapman conducted during his prison sentence; comments from his psychiatrist and the photographer who caught Lennon and his killer on film; BTM paints a frightening picture of a deranged individual who is up for parole this year. Security consultant Gavin de Becker outlines warning signs. Lilith founder Sarah McLachlan comes forward about her own terrifying experience and the song ("Possession") that came out of it. Two real-life stalkers explain their motivations. Bjork's victimizer records himself on video just moments before his suicide.
Imagemakers
S01 E06 • Sunday, Sep 28, 1997 • Sep 28 • 1h
Rock 'n' roll wouldn't exist without its image, and it's been the job of rock photographers to capture that divine union of talent, passion and style that makes a singer a star. Ever since Elvis Presley melted the camera lens with his wiggling hips and pouty lips, fans have hungered for that uncensored intimacy with their idols. BTM gets inside the visionary minds who created the iconography of rock 'n' roll: from the German photographer who gave the Beatles their mop top haircuts, to Andy Warhol and his classic album art, to the young upstarts whose work appeared in the influential rock magazine Rolling Stone and eventually defined a culture. Annie Liebowitz talks about how Yoko Ono's sudden camera shyness turned into one of her greatest photographs, and fashion imagemakers like Herb Ritts talk about how they made the shift from print to video when MTV opened the doors for a whole new mode of expression.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
S01 E07 • Sunday, Oct 19, 1997 • Oct 19 • 1h
This episode marked the 20th anniversary of the infamous plane crash (10/20/77) with a special episode on the bad boys from Jacksonville, Florida who put Southern Rock and Roll on the map with classic songs like Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. During the seventies, they released a string of million-selling records and performed to sold out audiences in the U.S. and Europe. Fronted by their charismatic leader, Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd had it all until the pressures of stardom led them down a road of violence and alcohol abuse that resulted in countless fights, arrests, and car wrecks. Interviews with the surviving members of the band and the families.
Teddy Pendergrass
S01 E08 • Sunday, Oct 26, 1997 • Oct 26 • 1h
Teddy's early experiences in life and music: "I wasn't raised with baby-sitters, my mother couldn't afford to have someone watch me. It just didn't work like that in the ghetto so because of that I had the unique opportunity to see the artists come in and out that would play the supper club (where his mother worked). It was exposure for me.On Melvin and the Blue Notes: "What I learned was priceless; I learned how to entertain. I learned how to be the best at what I could be."On the accident of March 18, 1982: "It was the most horrible experience I could have ever had in my life."His feelings after the accident: "You want to know what's going to happen to you, the hell with whether or not I'm going to sing...you go back to the basics. 'What does this mean for me?'"On Live-Aid, his first performance after the accident: "I felt relieved like a big load had been lifted from my back... I felt 'OK' so we can do this. It was one more hurdle that I had crossed."On his song Truly Blessed: "The song was natural for me to do. I wanted the world to know how I was feeling. And if there was anyone that was wondering 'Am I getting along, or what my thought's were." I was saying, 'I'm fine, this is where I am.'"On walking again: "Anything can happen tomorrow. If the technology is there tomorrow, I'll be right there in line, but, until then, it is more important to try to achieve things while I am here."
Billy Joel
S01 E09 • Sunday, Nov 9, 1997 • Nov 9 • 1h
He has penned enough hits to fill three Greatest Hits compilations. Yet, Billy Joel's rise to fame has been anything but smooth sailing. Behind the Music chronicles the ups and downs of the pop star's career and life... from his earlier days as a solo performer when he signed away many of the rights to his songs... to his incredible rise to fame and fortune... to the betrayal of his manager that nearly left Billy Joel broke.
Lilith Fair
S01 E10 • Sunday, Nov 16, 1997 • Nov 16 • 1h
In the summer of 1997, Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan launched an event that would surpass Lollapalooza as the most successful concert tour of the year. Against all odds, the women-only Lilith Fair lineup sold out arenas across the country. When the dust settled, Lilith had shown the world a different side of rock, challenging the short-sighted old-school attitude that girls don't sell records. BTM's honest look at the first Lilith tour is the ultimate backstage pass: superstars like Sheryl Crow and Jewel, and of course McLachlan and the Indigo Girls, talk about their personal struggles and triumphs as well as how it feels to be part of the cultural moment that was occurring in '97. Rock godmothers Pat Benatar and Emmylou Harris discuss their involvement in what Benatar says she'd "waited 20 years for." Other featured artists include Shawn Colvin, Meredith Brooks and Lisa Loeb. Episode highlights? A dressing room jam session between Crow and the Indigo Girls, and concert footage of the song that closed every show, Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
Andy Gibb
S01 E11 • Sunday, Nov 30, 1997 • Nov 30 • 1h
He was the prince of Pop idols and by the tender age of 22, Andy Gibb had three #1 songs under his belt. But over the next 8 years, his career would falter, the love of his life, Victoria Principal, would leave him, and the world would learn that this the teen idol with the honey voice had a devastating drug and alcohol problem. For the first time ever, all three of Andy's brothers, The Bee Gees speak about Andy's lifelong battle against drugs and alcohol and for the first time since their breakup nearly 15 years ago, Victoria Principal talks about the Andy she loved and what finally broke them apart. Interviews also with: Pam Dawber, Marilyn McCoo, Marie Osmond and Andy's producer, Robert Stigwood.
Jim Croce
S01 E12 • Tuesday, Dec 2, 1997 • Dec 2 • 1h
Featuring never before seen family photos and performance footage, "Jim Croce: Behind the Music" traces the life and career of the man responsible for such hit songs as "Bad Bad Leroy Brown," "Time in a Bottle" and "Operator." Through exclusive interviews with Croce's wife Ingrid and friends Cheech Marin and Arlo Guthrie, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" uncovers the musical passion that kept Croce churning out hits he would make virtually no money from. Ingrid Croce recalls how a contract Croce signed early in his career sent the majority of his earnings to his representatives, keeping him and Ingrid in relative poverty even as Croce's career soared. Killed in a plane crash just as he was gaining worldwide recognition, Croce was destined to never see the money his records earned. Ingrid recounts picking up the pieces, including her successful court battle to win back the money that was rightfully Croce's. Additionally, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" features a Croce recording never before made public called "I'm Just a Country Boy," the first song Croce ever sang to wife Ingrid.
The Carpenters
S01 E13 • Thursday, Jan 1, 1998 • Jan 1 • 1h
In 1970 The Carpenters won the Best New Artist Grammy, and for five years it seemed as though they were indeed on "Top of the World" as song after song continued to ride up the charts. Easy listening lovers of all generations found the clean-cut combo's orchestrated melodies and Karen's warm voice irresistible; even President Richard Nixon was a fan. But behind the smiles and the string of soft pop hits is the tragic tale of a woman whose quest for love and acceptance led to anorexia and finally, death at 32. In 1983 Karen Carpenter suffered a fatal heart attack while seemingly on the road to recovery, leaving Richard alone to mourn the loss of his sister and all the songs that would never happen. Now happily married and back on the road performing Carpenters songs to adoring fans, Richard reminisces about their early jazz trio, and speaks frankly about his past addiction to pain killers. Singers Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick pay tribute to Karen's talent.
Sonny Bono
S01 E14 • Sunday, Jan 11, 1998 • Jan 11 • 1h
He couldn't sing or read music but he became a songwriter and pop star. And though he never cast a vote in his life, he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs, then Congressman. If there's a lesson to be learned from Sonny Bono's life, which ended tragically in a skiing accident in early 1998, it's that ideas and perseverance will get you far - even if you're a funny -looking guy who didn't go to college. It wasn't until Sonny was 28, when he met then-16-year-old Cher, that his musical path presented itself. Sonny brought the songs, Cher brought the style and the voice, and by 1965 they created a pop sensation, kicking off a string of hits with their #1 signature song "I Got You Babe." By the early '70s, the pair were household names, but their TV bickering became all too real, and after several bits of on-screen teasing, the couple divorced. Sonny never achieved the same level of success in the entertainment industry; in fact, when Cher was starring in films like Silkwood , he was flubbing his lines on Fantasy Island. But at 51 things turned around for him: Sonny remarried and opened a successful restaurant. One day it occurred to him to run for Mayor and he won by the largest margin in Palm Springs history. Like everything he set his mind to, Sonny had accomplished it by sheer determination. BTM follows his remarkable story, talking with friends and associates, and most movingly, his grief-stricken mother.
The Mamas & the Papas
S01 E15 • Sunday, Jan 18, 1998 • Jan 18 • 1h
A look at the trials & tribulations surrounding one of folk rockÍs most talented groups. Interviews with the remaining band members, Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty. They speak openly about how the band came together, their drug use and the love triangle that existed between them. For the first time ever, Mama CassÍ sister, Leah Kunkel puts to rest the real cause of Mama CassÍ death.
Meat Loaf
S01 E16 • Sunday, Feb 1, 1998 • Feb 1 • 1h
The incredible rise, fall and comeback of Meat Loaf. Interviews with Meat Loaf, his wife Leslie Aday, their two daughters, Todd Rundgren (producer, Bat Out of Hell), Karla DeVito (former back-up singer) and Sam Ellis (tour manager). Released in 1977, Bat Out of Hell was one of the top-selling albums of all time, making Meat Loaf a rock & roll superstar. However, superstardom got the best of him -- Meat Loaf suffered a nervous breakdown and soon dropped out of the music scene. In 1993, 16 years after the release of Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf finally came out with a new album, Bat Out of Hell II, which earned him a Grammy for his #1 song, "I Will Do Anything for Love" and made him a rock & roll success, again.
Gladys Knight
S01 E17 • Sunday, Feb 15, 1998 • Feb 15 • 1h
Her career spans more than 50 years, 37 of which were spent headlining "Gladys Knight and the Pips." She has collected four Grammys, 12 gold records and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Gladys Knight's life has never been easy. On this episode, the other Queen of Soul reveals the hardships she has battled since her career took off at the age of seven, and why, in spite of them all, she has always come out on top.In "GLADYS KNIGHT: BEHIND THE MUSIC," Knight candidly discusses the ordeals that have turned so many of her successes bittersweet, beginning with her first brush with racism after winning a televised singing competition at the age of seven. Knight goes on to recount more personal as well as professional trials: her near rape at age 15; her unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage at age 16; the pain of three failed marriages; the custody battle that cost her youngest son; her legal battle with Motown; and the ten year gambling addiction that cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interviews with Little Richard, friend Dionne Warwick and Knight's children also shed light on how a woman who suffered through so much can continue to rise to such heights.
Willie Nelson
S01 E18 • Sunday, Mar 1, 1998 • Mar 1 • 1h
With 100 albums behind him and a career that spans 50 years, you might think Willie Nelson has had a smooth ride to fame and fortune.Behind The Music sets the record straight on the life of a country legend who has endured plenty of professional and personal setbacks along with his successes.Over the years, Willie Nelson has written monster hits for the likes of Patsy Cline and Faron Young, amassed three Grammys, created country music's first multi-platinum album, and performed with everyone from Ray Charles to U2. Yet when Nelson first hit it big in 1975 with his smash album Red Headed Stranger, he was over 40, had been performing for 32 years, and had already churned out over 20 albums. Success did not come quickly for Nelson, whose resume also lists stints as a janitor and Bible and vacuum cleaner salesman. In "Willie Nelson: Behind the Music," Nelson candidly discusses the hurtles that have nearly derailed him, from his years growing up without his parents in Abbott, Texas, to his struggles to find the right record label and his monstrous problems with the IRS that began in 1978. By 1988, the IRS had charged that Nelson owed over $10 million in back taxes. Interviews with Nelson's friends and colleagues plus archival footage round out the hour.
Jerry Lee Lewis
S01 E19 • Sunday, Mar 8, 1998 • Mar 8 • 1h
Four decades have passed since the release of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," but it's fair to say that no one has matched the sheer rock and roll excitement of the pioneering piano pounder Jerry Lee Lewis. It's also fair to say that no one has matched his misadventures: On a trip to Britain in 1958, it was revealed that Lewis had married his 13-year-old cousin Myra Hindley without divorcing his wife. Immediately afterwards, radio stations refused to play his records, only relenting when he made the move to country music. It wasn't long until Lewis began living even harder than he previously had, hitting the bottle and guzzling pills with abandon. After 13 years of marriage (which included the death of their son) Lewis divorced Hindley, only to lose several more wives and children in tragic circumstances that would shatter lesser men. But Lewis has survived as a family man and a giant in the annals of American music.
Rick James
S01 E20 • Sunday, Mar 15, 1998 • Mar 15 • 1h
In the early 80s, Rick James was the king of funk, dominating the charts with hits like "Superfreak," "Mary Jane" and "Give It To Me Baby." James was best known for his outrageous live concerts and flamboyant drug use. Ironically, it was his notorious cocaine habit that cost him his freedom and nearly cost him his life. James went to prison for assaulting an associate while high on cocaine.During this episode James does not hold anything back, speaking frankly about his destructive behavior, how his mother's death devastated him and how prison was the best thing that ever happened to him. Among those interviewed in "Rick James: Behind The Music" include one-time love Linda Blair, his new wife Tanya and former Motown executive Suzanne DePasse.
David Crosby
S01 E21 • Sunday, Mar 22, 1998 • Mar 22 • 1h
An advanced pop musician by anyone's standards, David Crosby has become a poster boy for a crash and burn hippie culture. From his early days with the Byrds, he had a wild twinkle in his eye, and while recording political and romantic hymns like "Wooden Ships" and "Guinevere" during the '60s and '70s, the superb vocalist was sewing the seeds of the profoundly drugged-out lifestyle to come. Crosby's friend Carl Gottlieb describes him as a fundamentalist hedonist, awash in stimulants and free sex. At first, he was able to make great music with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, but eventually his addiction overtook his passion for music. By 1985, after his friends attempted to intervene, an Olympian appetite for cocaine had taken him from the comfort of stardom to the cold arms of the Texas prison system. Behind the Music is there as Crosby's subsequent redemption fails to prevent a life-threatening liver transplant, but ends up yielding a son he had abandoned 32 years before.
Selena
S01 E22 • Sunday, Mar 29, 1998 • Mar 29 • 1h
By the age of 23, Selena Quintanilla Perez had conquered the Tejano music scene and had become embraced by tens of thousands of fans. With her blend of natural talent, boundless energy and magnetic charm she was poised to become popular musicÍs next big superstar. But, just when Selena was about to become a crossover sensation, her ascent was cut short as she lost her life at the hands of someone she believed to be a loyal friend. We hear from SelenaÍs family and the woman who murdered her.
Jefferson Airplane/Starship
S01 E23 • Sunday, Apr 5, 1998 • Apr 5 • 1h
Includes first-time interviews with all 6 members of the classic Jefferson Airplane line-up as well as an interview with Grace Slick.
Takin' It to the Streets
S01 E24 • Sunday, Apr 12, 1998 • Apr 12 • 1h
A cross-cultural look at people who sing for their supper features five different groups/artists from New York, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles; features original compositions and stories from street musicians throughout the show; New Orleans segment features a profile of clarinetist Doreen Ketchens and performance footage of her (with trombonist Keith "Wolf" Anderson and others) on the streets of the French Quarter.
Ozzy Osbourne
S01 E25 • Monday, Apr 19, 1999 • Apr 19 • 1h
A look at this heavy metal legend, from his early days as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, to his controversial concert acts as a solo performer (he bit the head off a live bat onstage as well as a live dove during a Columbia Records publicity meeting!) Osbourne discusses the lawsuits brought on by three different families, all claiming that their sons had been inspired to commit suicide after listening to his songs. He spent some time in the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-80s to battle his drug addiction and alcoholism. Although Osbourne is currently clean & sober, he has not completely cleaned up his image.
Ted Nugent
S01 E26 • Sunday, Apr 26, 1998 • Apr 26 • 1h
Nugent started performing at age 13 and became one of the the biggest live acts in the '70s. Ted's not your typical rock 'n' roller. He is a political conservative, preaching family values & anti-drug messages. He's also fond of hunting game, eating raw meat and having strong opinions on just about everything.
Joe Cocker
S01 E27 • Sunday, May 3, 1998 • May 3 • 1h
The dramatic ups and downs of Cocker's career including a recent interview before launching his April '98 tour, behind the scenes footage from his world-famous "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour, a candid look at his infamous, drug-fueled "drop-out period," and a rare, voyeristic glimpse into his personal life through the eyes of his wife, family and close friends.
Behind the Music (Ver 2)
S01 E28 • Monday, May 18, 1998 • May 18 • 1h
Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”
Studio 54
S01 E29 • Sunday, May 24, 1998 • May 24 • 1h
It has been more than twenty years since Studio 54 first opened its doors on April 26, 1977, driven by a disco beat and ruled by the unlikeliest of overlords: gay, sociable restaurant chain owner Steve Rubell and straight, shy real estate lawyer Ian Schrager. Former college friends Steve and Ian, through a combination of business savvy, good timing and luck, quickly established Studio 54 as "the" place to be, where the wannabe crowd outside was as much of a show as the privileged party inside.Studio 54 became the embodiment of the phrase, "if it feels good, do it," fueled by the prevailing liberated, birth-controlled, drug-infused, pre-AIDS atmosphere of the era. Or, as described by eyewitness Michael Musto, Studio 54 was "a Felliniesque crossed with Busby Berkeley playground filled with everything for your hedonistic needs.""Studio 54: Behind The Music" features new and exclusive candid interviews with many of those who not only observed but helped to create the Studio 54 experience, including Grace Jones, Liz Smith, Jerry Hall, Robin Leach, Anthony Haden-Guest, Nile Rogers, and many of the bartenders and doormen who had front row seats to the Studio 54 spectacle. The program also includes the last known interview of Rubell, who died an AIDS-related death in 1989 at the age of 45.Rubell's and Schrager's Studio 54 flashed brilliantly and crashed hard, with the two eventually convicted of tax evasion and forced to turn in their evening wear for prison garb. As disco is making an unexpected comeback, and everything 70's is popular again, "Studio 54: Behind The Music" examines the highs and the lows, the innovations and disappointments, that went beyond the velvet rope to capture the attention of the entire world.
Keith Moon
S01 E30 • Sunday, May 31, 1998 • May 31 • 1h
Keith Moon will always be remembered as a wild man of rock and roll who wrecked hotel rooms and destroyed his drums. What is often forgotten about Keith is that he was a drummer extraordinaire who had a zest for life that was full of comedy, drama and tragedy. In this episode, KeithÍs friends, bandmates and family provide a stirring portrait of a man who packed a lot of life into his short 31 years. Viewers will hear Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Kim McLagan (KeithÍs ex-wife) and Peter ˜DougalÄ Butler (KeithÍs personal assistant for close to 10 years) discuss KeithÍs struggles, triumphs and tragedies in intimate detail. Plus, in her first television interview since KeithÍs death in 1978, Annette Hunt (KeithÍs last girlfriend) discusses KeithÍs final days.
Bonnie Raitt
S01 E31 • Sunday, Jun 7, 1998 • Jun 7 • 1h
An intimate look at one of the most successful and respected female rockers, from her early roots in Blues to her current pop/rock stardom.
Robbie Robertson
S01 E32 • Sunday, Jun 14, 1998 • Jun 14 • 1h
Robbie Robertson reflects on the history and break-up of his critically acclaimed group, The Band. When drugs began to erode the bond that held them together, Robbie decided to put an end to the group. Their final performance together on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 was immortalized in the Scorsese-directed film, "The Last Waltz." Though the other members of The Band eventually got back together, Robbie forged ahead on his own. Robbie talks about the 20 years since he left the group-- he has composed a number of movie scores, acted in a handful of films and released three critically acclaimed solo albums. On his latest solo effort, Robbie has returned to his Native American roots, mixing such unlikely elements as peyote chants, archive recordings and a testimonial from an imprisoned Indian activist.
Def Leppard
S01 E33 • Sunday, Jun 21, 1998 • Jun 21 • 1h
The biggest selling pop band of the '80's lived the text book rock star life: limos and liquor, drugs and groupies – hedonism defined their daily ritual. But even record sales over 20 million couldn't prepare these former factory workers from Sheffield, England for the consequences of their excesses. Behind The Music revisits the devastating overdose of guitarist Steve Clark and talks to Rick Allen about how he managed to continue drumming after the loss of an arm.
Tony Orlando
S01 E34 • Sunday, Jun 28, 1998 • Jun 28 • 1h
One of the hottest pop music performers of the 70's candidly discusses his struggle with cocaine addiction and his mental breakdown. Songs include "Knock Three Times," "Candida," "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and "What are you Doing Sunday." Orlando talks candidly about the death of his best friend, Freddy Prinze, and his sister's death due to Cerebral Palsy. Orlando is currently performing at different venues in Branson, Missouri.
Gloria Estefan
S01 E35 • Sunday, Jul 5, 1998 • Jul 5 • 1h
The triumph and tribulations of a "Diva" who has come to symbolize the American dream. Highlights include Gloria discussing her accident, her fatherÍs death, the birth of her son in 1980 and her involvement in raising money for families devastated by the wreckage of Hurricane Andrew. Includes rare home movies footage plus interviews with family members, Jon Secada and other music associates.
Jan and Dean
S01 E36 • Sunday, Jul 12, 1998 • Jul 12 • 1h
A look at the successful 60's surf rock duo, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. With hits like "Surf City," "Dead Man's Curve" and "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" these California crooners hit the top of the charts until Jan suffered severe brain damage from a terrible car accident in 1966. Includes interviews with Jan, who continues to write music, Dean Torrence, who has built a successful graphic arts career.
Harry Chapin
S01 E37 • Sunday, Jul 19, 1998 • Jul 19 • 1h
Singer/songwriter Harry Chapin made a successful career out of setting short stories to music with hits like "Taxi," "W.O.L.D.", "Cats in the Cradle" and "Sequel." A staunch supporter of the socially disenfranchised, Chapin raised over five million dollars for various causes, yet in an ironic twist, he died in an auto accident on July 16, 1981, while on his way to perform at a benefit concert. We hear from Chapin's wife, friends and family as they discuss the musical storyteller whose life ended too short. Features interviews with Chapin's wife, friends and family.
Gloria Gaynor
S01 E38 • Sunday, Jul 26, 1998 • Jul 26 • 1h
Profile of superstar Gloria Gaynor, the disco diva whose song, titled, "I Will Survive," inspired millions of fans with a confident message of hope, but for Gloria to survive, she had to overcome weight problems and agonizing self doubt. Just as Gloria was reaching the pinnacle of stardom, a freak stage accident nearly ended her career. Later, better conflict threatened her storybook marriage. Just when it seemed she put her troubles behind her, Gloria endured her greatest heart break - the brutal murder of her younger sister. When tragedy threatened to overwhelm her, the queen of disco surrendered to a higher power. Interviews with Gloria, her husband/mgr, former band members, friends and the cowriter of "I Will Survive."
Madonna
S01 E39 • Sunday, Aug 16, 1998 • Aug 16 • 1h
Madonna's blonde ambition was born when she was still a brunette living in Detroit. Her desire to "rule the world" drew the dancer and fledgling musician to New York's East Village, where she became a fixture on the early '80s punk scene. Those who knew her back then recall that she turned heads with a sexy ragamuffin look that would eventually spawn a world of wanna-bes. Always leading the pop zeitgeist, Madonna's music has evolved from dance-pop to earthy R&B to balladry to techno. From club scenester to cultural icon to mother (her most satisfying role yet), Madonna's moves are endlessly fascinating. She talked with BTM about the price of fame, the great love of her life, and the one "m" word she never wants to hear again.
1968
S01 E40 • Sunday, Aug 30, 1998 • Aug 30 • 1h
A look back to the SixtiesÍ most explosive, chaotic, tragic and inspiring year. A time when youth raged in the streets, leaders were martyred, and cities burned. This episode explores some of the most exciting, enduring, influential music of our times and the stories "Behind the Music" through dramatic footage and revealing interviews with many of the great musicians who spoke for an angry, alienated generation. Includes interviews with Grace Slick, David Crosby, James Brown, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, Aretha Franklin, P.J. OÍRourke, Art Garfunkel, Rennie Davis and Country Joe McDonald.
Steppenwolf
S01 E41 • Sunday, Sep 6, 1998 • Sep 6 • 1h
Steppenwolf was a band of rock and roll wild men whose high times and big hits, "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", could not hold the pack together. We hear from former lead bandsman, John Kay, who retired the band in the late 70's, and band mates Goldy and Nick, who attempted to bring Steppenwolf back to life, signed away their record royalties in order to do so, yet failed in the end. Today, John is touring with his band John Kay & Steppenwolf, while Nick and Goldy are still fighting to get their royalties back.
Blondie
S01 E42 • Sunday, Sep 27, 1998 • Sep 27 • 1h
Blondie, co-founded by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, was the most successful band to grow out of New York's downtown punk rock scene in the late 1970's. But success did not come without a price. As the band got bigger, lead singer Harry became the focal point of attention, and harmony was replaced by discord. "Blondie: Behind The Music," traces the ups and downs of the group, featuring rare footage and interviews with group members Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri; Blondie biographer Victor Bockris; rock critic Lisa Robinson; Chrysalis Records co-founder Terry Ellis, rocker Joey Ramone and director John Waters.Before they hit in America, Blondie enjoyed huge success in Europe and Australia, scoring six number ones in England. Their third album, "Parallel Lines," sold six million copies and made them superstars. Although they released two more monster albums, the band was growing increasingly apart, and in 1982 Harry walked away from the band.At the same time, her longtime boyfriend and Blondie guitarist Stein became ill with a rare genetic disease called Pemphigus. Debbie and Chris quietly disappeared from the music scene, and it took Chris nearly two years to recover. When he and Debbie tried to re-enter the music world, in the age of Madonna, Blondie had become eclipsed.Debbie pursued her solo career, as well as finding roles in film and television. In 1997 the core band of Harry, Stein, Destri and Burke regrouped as Blondie once again, and after a sixteen year absence will release a new album, "No Exit," in early 1999.
Shania Twain
S01 E43 • Sunday, Oct 4, 1998 • Oct 4 • 1h
The classic rags to riches story. Shania grew up poor in Canada, spending much of her childhood on the Mattagami Indian Reservation where many of her stepfather's relatives lived. At 21, she had to care for her siblings when her parents were killed in a head-on car collision. Yet she overcame these hardships when a successful Nashville entertainment attorney discovered her performing in a Las Vegas style review in Huntsville, Ontario. He helped her land a contract with Mercury Nashville. Although her first album was not a huge success, legendary rock producer, Mutt Lange spots her talent. They meet, fall in love and he helps Shania cross over from country singer into Pop superstar. Shania is currently touring to sell out crowds. Includes interviews with Shania's sibling, relatives, Richard Frank (the lawyer who discovered her) and Norro Wilson (producer on her first album).
John Denver
S01 E44 • Sunday, Oct 11, 1998 • Oct 11 • 1h
The story of one of America's most treasured singers. We are premiering this episode 1 day before the 1 year anniversary of Denver's death. Denver was a huge sensation in the 70's, with a string of hits including "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Rocky Mountain High", "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". His success dipped in the 80's, yet this did not deter him from continuing to perform and devoting much of his time to environmental issues and flying. Denver was attempting a musical comeback in the 90's, but died in a plane crash while testing out an experimental plane. Includes interviews with Lyle Lovett, who discusses Denver's influence on his music, long-time friend Geraldo Rivera, Denver's two ex-wives (Annie Denver and Cassandra Delaney Denver) and his children.
Stevie Nicks
S01 E45 • Sunday, Nov 1, 1998 • Nov 1 • 1h
She was crowned the queen of Rock & Roll. A country girl who cast a spell on the world of pop music. She ascended to the top with Fleetwood Mac, then stole the spotlight when she struck out on her own. Stevie Nicks accomplished the unprecedented feat of launching a successful solo career while still a key member of one of rock's most successful bands. Then her fairytale life was turned upside down, first by cocaine abuse, and later by a debilitating dependency on tranquilizers. But Stevie turned her pain into song, reclaiming her confidence and her career.
John Mellencamp
S01 E46 • Sunday, Nov 8, 1998 • Nov 8 • 1h
This small town boy lived the American dream, topping the charts with his tales of everyman. After two decades of hard living and endless touring, though, he paid the price, with a heart attack that nearly took his life. Our little ditty follows the heartland hero from Indiana into the arms of supermodel Elaine Irwin.
Metallica
S01 E47 • Sunday, Nov 22, 1998 • Nov 22 • 1h
We're just four lucky fans that got together and started playing; this could be you, says James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica, which built its success on an uncompromising musical vision and the fierce loyalty of its fans. For Metallica, hard rock meant playing hard, on-stage and off. Their drinking became the stuff of legend, and the rock press dubbed them "Alcoholica." Amid the mayhem, the most popular heavy metal band in the world endured its share of hardship and tragedy, including the death of bassist Cliff Burton and an on-stage accident in which Hetfield suffered serious second and third degree burns. "Metallica: Behind The Music" charts their rise from garage band to global stadium phenomenon, always on their own terms.Two things that kept Metallica going, according to Hetfield, are "honesty and selfishness; we're doing this for ourselves." Through it all, they set the standard for straight ahead heavy metal mastery. "Metallica: Behind The Music" includes interviews with the band, former members Ron McGovney (bassist) and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth (guitarist), Anthrax's Scott Ian, Primus' Les Claypool, Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Jerry Cantrell, Ozzy Osbourne, Torben Ulrich, co-founding member Lars Ulrich's father and producer Bob Rock.
KC & The Sunshine Band
S01 E48 • Sunday, Nov 29, 1998 • Nov 29 • 1h
They blasted onto the American airwaves in the fall of 1975 with a sexy, explicit invitation to just let go...a multi-cultural group of musicians who were all about the groove..led by a charismatic singer who was convinced that someday he would make it big. KC & the Sunshine Band crossed pop melodies with disco rhythms to the tune of 75 million albums sold. But the boogie superstar would be tripped up by rock and roll excess-- his band torn apart by jealousy, paranoia and personal tragedies. KC was devastated by the death of his father and he disappeared into obscurity for a decade, before recapturing the spirit of his early years. Includes interviews with KC, his mom, his sister, his collaborator/close associate, Rick Finch and Harry Stone, the man who gave KC his first break.
R.E.M.
S01 E49 • Wednesday, Dec 16, 1998 • Dec 16 • 1h
Tells the story of four friends from Athens, Georgia who formed a band in 1979 because they loved to play music together. For almost two decades, R.E.M. blended four personalities into a group that was greater than the sum of its parts, and while they never took themselves too seriously, they gave their music everything they had. They refused to compromise, and the more they resisted taking the easy road to fame and fortune, the more their legend grew. Through celebration and adversity -- including the near death of drummer Bill Berry, who suffered a brain aneurysm while on-stage and who left the band in 1997 -- R.E.M. has proved itself to be one of the great rock bands of our time. "R.E.M.: Behind The Music" includes new interviews with all three band members as well as ex-band member Bill Berry, The B-52's Kate Pierson, manager/lawyer Bertis Downs, who has been with the group since the beginning, producers Don Dixon, Mitch Easter and Pat McCarthy, Ian Copeland (brother of Miles Copeland, who signed R.E.M. to their first record contract) and Athen's mayor, Gwen O'Looney.
Motley Crue
S01 E50 • Sunday, Dec 13, 1998 • Dec 13 • 1h
Rock's most notorious band embraced excess and pushed it as far as they could: from their wild stage theatrics (Nikki Sixx would light himself on fire), to the hair, makeup, spandex and stilettos with which they adorned themselves, to the drugs and alcohol they consumed, and of course the girls, girls and more girls. Even "settling down" was done with rock star attitude: Three of the Crue's four members married Playboy playmates, Tommy Lee most famously uniting with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson after his marriage to TV star Heather Locklear disintegrated. Now sober. like all the members of the band, Lee talks to BTM about both those relationships, including the famous "adult viewing" tape of himself and then-wife Anderson. Nikki Sixx gets philosophical about his overdose and out-of-body death experience, and Vince Neill shares the moving story of the loss of his four-year-old daughter Skylar. This heavy metal morality tale includes an interview with pal and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
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