As previously noted in Rocks Off, August 1st, 2011 will mark the 30th anniversary of that moon man planting that flag, claiming cable for MTV. In 1981, even the biggest dreamers at the channel couldn't have imagined what it would become, or that they would relegate videos to 3 a.m. to show pregnant teenagers and juiceheads during the day, but that's a discussion for another time.
In the three decades that have passed, the network has had its great moments bringing monumental artists together for performances. It's had its sad moments honoring those musicians and entertainers who left us too soon. And, most notably, MTV has had its fair share of moments that made us say WTF?
Here is a list of Music Television's - a name by which it is no longer called, seriously - most WTF moments. Of course, people like Tom Green and the Jackass crew are disqualified, because we have the lowest expectations for them.
Most members of the KISS army would like to forget this moment. To those who are familiar with the Detroit Rock City rockers, they are known as unbridled, unrelenting badasses. At least as much as you could be with cat whiskers.
So in 1983, when KISS decided to ditch the makeup as an attempt for a fresh start, it shocked everyone to discover that they really just looked like our ugly uncles. There's nothing really dangerous or badass about that.
It would take over 10 years to rectify this misstep, when in 1996 KISS returned to the stage with full makeup and costume. Now those are the dudes who wrote "Love Gun" a song about, well, if it isn't obvious already.
The '90s were a simpler time. A time when someone could make a three-minute-long fart joke, and it was pleasantly accepted. On his trip to becoming the "king of all media" Howard Stern decided to crash the crux of the day's youth, the VMAs, with the very thing the youth identified with strongest: fart jokes.
Borrowing wardrobe inspiration from his purple highness Prince, Stern descended from the rafters of UCLA's Pauley Pavilion only to have Beverly Hills, 90210's Luke Perry hold on to his buttocks for power. Also, fans rushed the stage to touch Stern's ass, but this crowd surprise was welcomed, unlike others that were to come in the future.
Notably, while this was happening onstage, Nirvana and Guns N' Roses nearly had a backstage brawl after tough talk between the bands' two lead singers Kurt Cobain and Axl Rose. However, not even a whiff a fight occurred.
