When the relentless grindcore legends Napalm Death appeared on a BBC children’s show “What’s That Noise?” in 1989, it was more than just a musical performance; it was a groundbreaking moment in music television.
From the dark depths of the underground metal scene to the glitzy stages of mainstream television, Nergal, the frontman of Behemoth, took a leap that left many scratching their heads.
In a fascinating intertwining of pop culture icons, The Simpsons committed a “heavy” faux pas by labeling Judas Priest as “death metal”. But the way the show owned its mistake offers a lesson in humility and respect for the genre’s intricacies.
As a mainstay of late-night television, MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball set the stage for the explosion of metal and rock, becoming a cultural phenomenon and shaping a generation.