The Merry Babes / Salad

This tallened British alternative rock formation had always very strong connections with MTV EUROPE broadcasts. Not only because their music videos appeared during 120 Minutes or Alternative Nation. The main reason is that their Dutch vocalist and keyboard player, Marijne van der Vlugt, was a MTV VJ since the early 90's until the MTV went regional in 1997. She was a face of several MTV shows, including aforementioned Alternative Nation (the successor of 120 Minutes show) as well as The Pulse (non music show, devoted to fashion), night music block and during special MTV Weekends.

The band formed in London in 1992, as The Merry Babes. They changed their name into Salad quite fast and released two studio longplays under that name, during MTV years as wel as numerous singles and EPs. Though they played rather harder guitar oriented rock, they were sometimes classified as britpop band, whereas they were ahead of those times. What is left are several music videos played by MTV: My Life's Crown (from 1992), Diminished Clothes (from 1993, beginning strap missing), On a Leash (from 1994), Your Ma (from 1994) and Dring the Elixir (from 1995). Additionaly, Coca Cola Report strap is included from their peformance of Drink the Elixir from MTV studio. And Marijne voice...

Basic data:
british band, founded in 1992, London,
line-up: Marijne van der Vlugt - voc, k; Paul Kennedy - g; Pete Brown - b; Rob Wakeman - dr + Charlie Stone - g,k,voc (joined in 1996)
studio discography: Drink Me, 1995; Singles Bar, 1995 (compilation); Ice Cream, 1997.

Slowdive on MTV Europe (Morning Rise)

Today, let us take a closer look at the british group Slowdive. Though we were able to find only one video from MTV's 120 Minutes broadcast (Morning Rise, which was released as the title track of EP in 1991), thanks to our Dutch friend, Piet (thank you so much!), this group fully deserves a honorable mention in our database. Founded in 1989 in Reading, they released several EPs before the full-length debut album in 1991 ("Just for a Day"). In "MTV days", two other albums were released, in 1993 and 1995 respectively. Group disbanded in 1995, however they returned in 2014 and their brand new album "Slowdive" is in music shops out now! We did not have a possibility to listen to it yet, however first professional reviews are very encouraging.
Their music was melancholic dream pop, with intriguing wall of gutiar sound, similar to My Bloody Valentine or  Cocteau Twins. Perfect proposition for someone who wants to relax after long hard working day, just before going to bed. 

Basic data:

british band, founded in 1989, Reading,

line-up: Neil Halstead - voc, g; Rachel Goswell - voc, g; Brook Christian Savill - g; Nicholas Chaplin - b; Adrian Sell - dr (replaced in 1989 by Neil Carter - dr and in 1991 by Simon Scott - dr),

studio discography: Just for a Day, 1991; Souvlaki, 1993; Pygmalion, 1995; Slowdive, 2017.

Chapterhouse on MTV Europe (Pearl, Mesmerise)

British band, who never had an opportunity to taste real stardom, fully deserved. Probably the reason was that their music wasn't very easy to classify. Their first release "Whirlpool" (1991), may be considered as the part of shoegaze movement (like My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive), however the next album "Blood Music" (1993) was something more than that. It combined earlier influences with then-modern dance music (especially house and techno) and even with psychedelic rock traces in veins of The Byrds, Pink Floyd or Cocteau Twins. Sad thing they did not record anything else, besides those two  great albums, couple of singles and EPs. They split in 1994 and even short reunion in XXI century did not help to improve their studio catalogue. All is left are their 90's records and two of their videos which were able to find on old VHS tapes with MTV's 120 Minutes recordings: Pearl - one of their most memorable songs from debut album as well as Mesmerise - single release only, taped in 1991 and 1992, respectively. 
Video for Pearl is typical for dream pop/shoegaze style, clear and blurred images of band members, dreamy atmosphere. Video for Mesmerise is quite different - band members are drifting on the water, playing their music calmly, while the group of pretty ladies are trying to drag them down into water. Both worth seeing. Let's hope straps of their other videos appear here soon!

Basic data:

british band, founded in 1987, Reading,

line-up: Andrew Sheriff - voc, g; Stephen Patman - voc, g; Simon Rowe - g; John Curtis - b (replaced in 1991 by Russell Barrett - b); Ashley Bates - dr (left in 1992),

studio discography: Whirlpool, 1991; Blood Music, 1993.

Morrissey - Our Frank (120 Minutes, taped in 1991)

This man needs no longer introduction. Though representing more mainstream root of alternative rock genre, Morrissey himself along with his videos were frequent guests on MTV's 120 Minutes. The Smiths legend was still very strong back in those days, as they were (and still are) considered as one of the most influential bands of all times. 

There is not enough space here to present the whole Morrissey music accomplishments, therefore let us pay attention on the song and video "Our Frank". It was the leading single of the third Morrissey LP, "Kill Uncle", released in 1991. The music video was taped in 1991, as well. Though working with verified producers, most of the songs on this LP were conceived with the former Fairport Attraction guitarist, Mark Nevin. And that was probably the reason why most of them, old-fashioned ballads, did not have a standard Morrissey touch. They were dominated by the sound of acoustic guitars, violins, piano, resembling the old 50's and 60's tunes. This particular song "Our Frank" is a perfect example and good representative for the whole album. It constitutes an album literary highlight as well, being an overwhelming confession of helplessness and confusion in the darkness of the modern world.

Kitchens of Distinction - Drive That Fast (120 Minutes, taped in 1991)

This time, quite underrated british band, which never had a luck to gain as much popularity as they  deserved. Founded in 1986, the band debuted in 1987 while their first release "Love is Hell" saw light of a day two years later. This particular video "Drive That Fast", one of their most well-known songs  appeared on their 2nd LP, "Strange Free World", and was tapes from 120 Minutes at the moment of its release (1991). Their catalogue was dominated by such poetic songs and powerful ballads.

Close resemblance to The Cure and Cocteau Twins styles may be clearly seen here, while Kitchens of Distinction's guitarist, Julian Swales, additionally cited Robert Fripp's and The Edge's guitar styles and experiments as his main inspiration. Trivia: band's name, "Kitchens of Distinction", was randomly chosen from the add campaign, while in their former years they used more funny name "Toilets of Distinction".

Basic data:

british band, founded in 1986, Tooting,

line-up: Patric Fitzgerald - voc,b; Julian Swales - g; Daniel Goodwin - dr,

studio discography: Love is Hell, 1989; Strange  Free World, 1991; The Death of Cool, 1992, Cowboys and Aliens, 1994; Folly, 2013.

Nizter Ebb - Ascend (from MTV's120 Minutes, taped in 1994)

At the 17th of March Depeche Mode released their fourteenth studio album and seventh after Alan Wilder's departure. Depeche Mode fans are still divided about Alan's influence on Depeche Mode music but for sure Alan was an important figure responsible for the succes of Nitzer Ebb. MTV played Nitzer Ebb videos pretty often. Here's classic MTV strap for "Ascend" with "clock" logo (VHS rip directly from the tape, SP-->XP mode).

120 Minutes of introduction

This is a place created by collectors of MTV's 120 Minutes memorabila (european edition) for everyone who remember this excellent music show.

This blog is devoted to alternative, weird music videos, MTV Europe used to play on 120 Minutes, Alternative Nation, Post Modern, XPO, Greatest Hits and so on.

This blog is also the beginning of a wider project. We want to create MTV's 120 Minutes archive that will be a data base of european edition of this famous show. Such data base shall contain not only a list of videos but also an original visual content, to the maximum extend, allowed by the copyright law.

Anyone who is interested in taking part of this project is very welcomed ;-) if you still have any MTV recordings on VHS tapes, don't hesitate and contact us. Don't let this legendary channel and show be forgotten.