, often bringing them to immediate stardom due toconstant publicity. MTV was expanding and gaining many fans along the way. MTV hadno competition until Tuesday Jan.1, 1985, when VH1 premiered as a twenty four hourmusic video channel with Marvin Gaye’s “ Star spangled banner” video. Still MTV hadnothing to fear since VH1 catered to an adult audience, while MTV focused mainly onteens and young adults ( early twenties). Van Halen was quite popular during these years. He was named new guitarist ofthe year in 1978. They were one of the most successful heavy metal bands. Their lead offsingle” Why can’t this be love” reached number three in Billboard chart, while their albumbecame their first US number one. U2 was one of the most popular rock acts of the 80s.They gained fame with their creative music videos and with their use of music, not just asmere entertainment but to raise awareness on certain issues of the world. This changingattitude towards rock culminated on Saturday July, 13, 1985 with Live Aid. This was thefirst rock benefit concert that brought stars such as Queen, The Police, Tina Turner andmany others, together for a cause- raising money to aid African famine relief. MTVbroadcast the entire concert live. 16.3 million viewers in 156 countries and capacitycrowds in Philadelphia and London gathered to watch the fourty bands perform for sixteenhours. The Cars and The Police were also popular in the 80s. Bruce Springstien is a greatsymbol of the success of rock music in the 80s. Rolling stones critic, Jon Landau stated” Isaw Rock n’ Roll future and its name is Bruce Springstien”.In the late 80s, music videos became more innovative and rock music took aslightly harder edge. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers led the way with their creativevideo “Don’t come around here no more”. They started involving actors such as a KimBasinger and Johnny Depp into their music video...
