Headbangers Ball

Definition

A late-night MTV program that premiered in 1987 and showcased heavy metal and hard rock music videos, becoming the platform for metal bands to reach mainstream audiences.

Example Usage

If you wanted to see metal videos in the late 1980s, you'd catch Headbangers Ball on MTV late Saturday nights.

Origin

MTV created the show to capture the heavy metal audience; 'headbangers' refers to fans who vigorously move their heads to the beat.

Fun Fact

Headbangers Ball was so successful that MTV relaunched it multiple times, and it helped legitimize metal music during an era when it was often dismissed by mainstream media.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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