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| Headbangers Ball | |
|---|---|
 Classic logo | |
| Genre | |
| Presented by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 410 |
| Production | |
| Editor | Danny Hinnenkamp |
| Running time | 90 mins. (1988–1989) 120 mins. (1989–2008) 60 mins. (2011–present) |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | April 18, 1987 – September 13, 2012 |
| Related | |
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| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
Headbangers Ball is a music television program that consists of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates.[1] The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987,[2] playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obscure artists. The show offered (and became famous because of) a stark contrast to Top 40 music videos shown during the day.
However, with the mainstream rise of alternative rock, grunge, pop punk and rap music in the 1990s, the relevance of Headbangers Ball came into question, and the show was ultimately canceled in 1995. Over eight years later, as new genres of heavy metal were gaining a commercial foothold and fan interest became unavoidable, the program was reintroduced on MTV2. It had remained in varying degrees on the network's website, but by the early 2020s, it was no longer shown on television. A similar show, titled The Ball and hosted by former Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman, debuted in March 2021.[3]
Many of the videos that aired on the first incarnation of the series would find a home on the similarly themed Metal Mayhem on sister channel MTV Classic.
- ^ Versions of the program aired on MTV2 (its sister channel), MTV Australia, MTV Rocks (formerly known as MTV2 Europe), MTV Adria (the MTV subsidiary covering the former Yugoslavia), MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV Israel, MTV Hungary, MTV Japan; MTV Brasil aired a program with a similar premise, named Fúria Metal.
- ^ "30 Years Ago: MTV's Headbangers Ball Premieres With Motorhead Mirth". ultimateclassicrock.com. May 2, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ "Former 'Headbangers Ball' Host RIKI RACHTMAN Returns With 'The Ball' On GIMME METAL TV". Blabbermouth.net. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.