Pepsi Power Hour

Last updated

The Pepsi Power Hour was a live one-hour program that aired on the MuchMusic television channel in Canada from 1986 to 1991. It ran once weekly every Thursday, until 1989 when a Tuesday hour was added. The show was dedicated to hard rock and heavy metal music videos, and showcased a variety of well and lesser-known artists. It balanced coverage of major international acts, with newer bands, and a variety of Canadian acts both major label and independent. For example, members of Canadian bands such as Brighton Rock, Helix, and Triumph were invited to co-host the show. On other installments, independent artists such as Mif from Slash Puppet were brought in for live, in-studio interview segments. [1] International artists also often co-hosted, such as Iron Maiden, Rob Halford, and Motörhead.

Contents

The format of the program varied, but in general, it was hosted live by one of MuchMusic's VJ's. The VJ would play new and old metal videos, taped interviews, play requests, and go over recent metal news. Fans were encouraged to write in requests every week, and the most creative of which were often shown. The show offered contests, for prizes such as meeting or interviewing bands, or for rare merchandise. Frequently, episodes would feature live interviews with artists in or outside the MuchMusic studio. Occasionally, artists would also perform songs live in the studio. A notable example was Rik Emmett, who co-hosted an episode and played the then-new Triumph single "Let the Light (Shine on Me)" acoustically before jamming with his co-writer Sil Simone in a guitar battle. Emmett was later brought back to co-host a special episode entitled "The Axemen Cometh", which showcased popular guitar soloists of the time.

In the late 1980s, Muchmusic released a series of compilation albums based on their various specialty shows, two Power Hour albums were released, featuring artists such as Iron Maiden, Accept, Megadeth, Kick Axe and more.

In 1991, the Power Hour was replaced by the Power 30 , an every-weekday program with a scaled-down half-hour time slot. While this meant more music each week, it also meant the end of one-hour special programs focusing on a single artist. A spiritual successor to the Power Hour, entitled Loud, aired on MuchMusic and its namesake specialty channel MuchLoud from 1998 to 2011, with George Stroumboulopoulos hosting in early seasons, and an increased focus on extreme metal genres.

Hosts

Occasional hosts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manowar</span> American heavy metal band from New York

Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy and mythology, as well as numerous songs celebrating the genre and its core audience. The band is also known for a loud and emphatic sound. In an interview for MTV in February 2007, bassist Joey DeMaio lamented that "these days, there's a real lack of big, epic metal that is drenched with crushing guitars and choirs and orchestras... so it's nice to be one of the few bands that's actually doing that". In 1984, the band was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for delivering the loudest performance, a record which they have since broken on two occasions. They also hold the world record for the longest heavy metal concert after playing for five hours and 1 minute in Bulgaria in 2008. They also have been known for their slogan "Death to false metal". The band maintains a strong cult following.

<i>Total Request Live</i> American music video television program

Total Request Live was an American television program broadcast on MTV that premiered on September 14, 1998. The series featured popular music videos played during its countdown, and was also used as a promotion tool by musicians, actors, and other celebrities to promote their newest works to the show's target teen demographic.

<i>Later... with Jools Holland</i> British contemporary music television programme

Later... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 8 October 1992 and is now part of BBC Two's Saturday Night Music block, usually broadcast at around 10pm The day of transmission has varied over the years, but it is usually recorded on a Tuesday for Saturday broadcast and features a mixture of both established and new musical artists, from solo performers to bands and larger ensembles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Much (TV channel)</span> Canadian music television channel

Much is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. through its Bell Media subsidiary that airs programming aimed at teenagers and young adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Triumph was a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, it has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. It was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the 'Group of the Year Award' in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. It was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.

<i>Countdown</i> (Australian TV program) Australian music television series

Countdown was a weekly Australian music television program that was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987. It was created by Executive Producer Michael Shrimpton, producer/director Robbie Weekes and record producer and music journalist Ian "Molly" Meldrum. Countdown was produced at the studios of the ABC in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea. It was screened Sunday night from 6:00pm to 7:00.

Al TV is an American comedy TV series created by and starring singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic, which aired as periodic specials on MTV and VH1, beginning in 1984.

Martha Conrad Quinn is an American actress and television personality, best known as one of the original video jockeys on MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed the Sock</span> Fictional character

Ed the Sock is a sock puppet character, created and voiced by Steven Joel Kerzner, who first appeared on Canadian local cable television in 1987. He is best known for his hosting appearances in the 1990s on MuchMusic and his own late night talk show, Ed's Night Party. He is a gray sock puppet with green hair, round eyes, a scowl, a cigar and a rough, gravelly voice.

<i>MuchOnDemand</i> Canadian television series

MuchOnDemand is an hour-long per broadcast viewer interactive television program aired on MuchMusic, Monday through Friday at 5pm ET. It was broadcast live from 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario. The Best of MuchOnDemand, aired Sundays at 10am ET, highlighting the best moments on the show from the past week. MuchOnDemand acted as MuchMusic's flagship show in a similar manner as MTV's U.S. music video countdown show Total Request Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Gazzo</span>

Jane Gazzo is an Australian television presenter, radio presenter, performance and club DJ, television personality, voice artist, author, and music journalist.

<i>Headbangers Ball</i> Heavy metal music television program

Headbangers Ball is a music television program that consisted of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obscure artists. The show offered a stark contrast to Top 40 music videos shown during the day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riki Rachtman</span> American television and radio personality

David Alan "Riki" Rachtman is an American television and radio personality. He is best known for his association with the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s hard rock and heavy metal scene, hosting MTV's Headbangers Ball from 1990 to the show's cancellation in 1995, and he was the owner of the Hollywood-based nightclub The Cathouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Trunk</span> American radio personality

Edward Scott Trunk is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author, best known as the host of several hard rock- and heavy metal-themed radio and television shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Pinfield</span> American VJ, TV host and radio personality

Matthew Pinfield is an American television host, disc jockey, and music executive. He first reached national prominence as VJ on MTV. He served two stints as the host of the alternative music program 120 Minutes, from 1995 to 1999 on MTV and from 2011 to 2013 on MTV2.

WCBN-FM is the student-run radio station of the University of Michigan. Its format is primarily freeform. It broadcasts at 88.3 MHz FM in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gil Moore</span> Canadian musician

Gil Moore is a Canadian musician. Born in Toronto, Moore was the drummer and co-vocalist of the Canadian power trio Triumph. Before Moore was in Triumph he was in a band called Sherman & Peabody which also featured Buzz Shearman of Moxy and Greg Godovitz of Goddo.

<i>Strictly Global</i> American TV series or program

Strictly Global was an American weekly music-television program, which aired from November 19, 2004, to June 3, 2011. It showcased music videos covering every genre of music from every corner of the globe. The program highlights international artists as well as independent and ethnic American talent. The program was produced by MHz Networks, and was broadcast every Friday night on MHz WorldView.

The Strombo Show is a Canadian radio show hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, which has aired since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slash Puppet</span>

Slash Puppet were a Canadian hard rock band that debuted in Toronto in 1989. The group originally consisted of lead vocalist Mif, guitarists Lou Garscadden and Frank Bartoletti, bassist Pete Dove and drummer Franklin Wyles. In 1992 Dave Carreiro joined the band taking over as bassist. The band released three records and received awards for Best Toronto Club Band and Best Independent Music Video before disbanding in 1995.

References

  1. "SLASH PUPPET - Much Music Power Hour Interview". YouTube. 2010-07-17. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2014-05-19.