Vj

MTVâÈçs original VJs offer a behind-the-scenes oral history of the early years of MTV, 1981 to 1987, when it was exploding, reshaping the culture, and creating âÈêthe MTV generation.âÈë Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, and Martha Quinn (along with the late J. J. Jackson) had front-row seats to a cultural revolutionâÈ'and the hijinks of music stars like Adam Ant, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, and Duran Duran. Their worlds collided, of course: John Cougar invited Nina to a late-night âÈêpartyâÈë that proved to be a seduction attempt. Mark partied with David Lee Roth, who offered him cocaine and groupies. Aretha Franklin made chili for Alan. Bob Dylan whisked Martha off to Ireland in his private jet. But while VJ has plenty of dishâÈ'secret romances, nude photographs, incoherent celebritiesâÈ'it also reveals how four VJs grew up alongside MTVâÈçs devoted viewers and became that generationâÈçs trusted narrators. They tell the story of the âÈç80s, from the neon-colored drawstring pants to the Reagan administration, and offer a deeper understanding of how MTV changed our culture. Or as the VJs put it: âÈêWeâÈçre the reason you have no attention span.âÈë