History Series / BehindTheMusic

* CreatorBacklash: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in-universe where an artist has regret over a particular work regardless of its popularity. For instance, [[Music/{{Heart}} Ann and Nancy Wilson]] disliked the image they portrayed in the 80s although some of their most beloved hits came out at this time and Flea of Music/RedHotChiliPeppers expressed dislike about Music/WeirdAlYankovic's song parody of their song "Give it Away".[[note]]the former felt that way due to executives pushing Ann into the background for music videos due to her [[HollywoodPudgy supposed weight gain]] and the latter ''is'' a fan of Al, but he thought the "Bedrock Anthem" was corny. For what it's worth, in the years since Al has more or less [[OldShame agreed with him.]][[/note]]

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent:
** A few episodes, instead of featuring a musical act, would instead feature a year (1984, 1999, 2000, etc.), an event (Woodstock, The Day The Music Died) or something else (one episode--that only aired once--featured ''[[NightmareFuel stalkers]]).''
** Some episode were extended to an hour and a half, such as Music/{{Madonna}}'s and Music/{{Cher}}'s.

** Creator/BettyWhite also made an appearance on The Osmonds episode to talk about their professionalism, even during a time when Donny accidentally stepped on Marie's foot, but kept on dancing like nothing happened in spite of her pain.

* TheCameo: Fellow musicians and other celebrities sometimes appear the featured artist's episode, such as Music/LennyKravitz appearing in Music/VanillaIce's episode due to their friendship.

* ContentWarning: Even with several episodes featuring subjects that deserve such warnings, only two episodes actually included it: the Music/TedNugent episode (likely due to his radical views, infinity for guns and discussion of his ''many'' sexual escapades) and Music/{{Pantera}} episode (due to including the heavily edited video of Dimebag Darrell's murder).

** Averted in the case of [[Music/{{Pantera}} Vinnie Paul and Phil Anselmo]]. After the latter told a magazine that the former's brother, Dimebag Darrell, should be beaten severely and his subsequent murder later on that year, several friends of both men knew that it would be impossible for Vinnie to forgive Phil. True to form, the two men never spoke again before Vinnie's 2019 demise.

** A few episodes, instead of featuring a musical act, would instead feature a year (1984, 1999, 2000, etc.), an event (Woodstock, The Day The Music Died) or something else (one episode--that only aired once--featured ''[[NightmareFuel stalkers]])''

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: An in-universe example came in the Music/BillyIdol episode where it was mentioned that he was supposed to have a significant part in ''Film/TheDoors'', but due to his near-fatal motorcycle crash, his role was greatly reduced to mostly a cameo.

* DysfunctionJunction: Often during episodes featuring bands, the professional and personal strife among its members leads to either a breakup or a [[CreatorBreakdown decline in their popularity/talent]], if not both. Notable examples include Music/TheGoGos (involving drugs, debauchery and fighting/jealousy among its members), Music/TheMamasAndThePapas (involving in-band relationships that ended messily, depression and death) and Music/FleetwoodMac (all of the above).

* CreatorBacklash: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in-universe where an artist has regret over a particular work regardless of its popularity. For instance, [[Music/{{Heart}} Ann and Nancy Wilson]] disliked the image they portrayed in the 80s although some of their most beloved hits came out at this time and both [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers Flea]] and [[Music/{{Devo}} Mark Mothersbaugh]] express dislike about Music/WeirdAlYankovic's song parodies of their songs "Give it Away".[[note]]Heart felt that way due to executives pushing Ann into the background for music videos due to her [[HollywoodPudgy supposed weight gain]] and the latter two ''are'' fans of Al, particularly Flea, but he thought the "Bedrock Anthem" was corny. For what it's worth, in the years since Al has more or less [[OldShame agreed with them.]][[/note]]

** The first two episodes (featuring Music/MilliVanilli and Music/MCHammer) are not narrated by Jim Forbes.

''Behind the Music'' (also known as ''[=VH1=]'s Behind the Music'') is a hour-long documentary style series by Creator/{{VH1}} that first premiered in 1997. It chronicles the rise, fall and aftermath of various musical artists or groups from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and often interviews the subject of the episode themselves (if they're still alive) as well as friends, family members, producers, colleagues and even critics. The first episode chronicled the aftermath of the rise and fall of infamous musical duo Music/MilliVanilli[[note]]that was updated seven months later after Rob Pilatus' untimely death[[/note]] and it remained one of the network's most popular and long-running shows, ultimately ending in 2014.

* LighterAndSofter: The episode featuring Music/WeirdAlYankovic was far more light-hearted than the majority of the other episodes.

* SurvivorsGuilt: In the Music/{{Selena}} episode, her father wonders her murderer--the president of her fan club--didn't kill ''him'' since he was more closely involved with Selena's business dealings while she performed.

** Averted in the case of [[Music/{{Pantera}} Vinnie Paul and Phil Anselmo.]] After the latter told a magazine that the former's brother, Dimebag Darrell, should be beaten severely and his subsequent murder later on that year, several friends of both men knew that it would be impossible for Vinnie to forgive Phil. True to form, the two men never spoke again before Vinnie's 2019 demise.
* HesBack: Plenty of artists have experienced a [[CareerResurrection career resurgence due to a successful new album and/or song and gaining a new generation of fans.]] Two fine examples are of Music/MeatLoaf and Music/{{Cher}}.

* OhCrap: Averted and played straight in the Music/{{TLC}} episode. Whereas T-Boz and Chilli were horrified about Left Eye burning down her ex-boyfriend's house, she admitted that she never had a "What did I do?" moment during the aftermath, even though she did admit it was only the intention to burn his bathtub instead of his palatial mansion.

** A few episodes, instead of featuring a musical act, would instead feature a year (1984, 1999, 2000, etc.), an event (Woodstock, The Day The Music Died) or something else (one episode--that only aired once--featured ''[[NightmareFuel stalkers.]])''

* CreatorBacklash: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in-universe where an artist has regret over a particular work regardless of its popularity. For instance, [[Music/{{Heart}} Ann and Nancy Wilson]] disliked the image they portrayed in the 80s although some of their most beloved hits came out at this time and both [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers Flea]] and [[Music/{{Devo}} Mark Mothersbaugh]] express dislike about Music/WeirdAlYankovic's song parodies of their songs "Give it Away" and "Dare to be Different".[[note]]Heart felt that way due to executives pushing Ann into the background for music videos due to her [[HollywoodPudgy supposed weight gain]] and the latter two ''are'' fans of Al, particularly Flea, but he thought the "Bedrock Anthem" was corny and Mothersbaugh was particurly angered by "Dare to Be Stupid". For what it's worth, in the years since Al has more or less [[OldShame agreed with them.]][[/note]]

* Catchphrase: "But backstage, things were falling apart."

* MoneyDearBoy: Outright admitted in the Music/VanillaIce episode where he admitted that as he became more successful, he sold out and licensed his name and image to plenty of mediums, which included his own fashion doll, an [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes obscure]] ''board game'' and the popular "Ninja Rap" song from the ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIITheSecretOfTheOoze'' soundtrack. That said, unlike his contemporaries (namely Music/MCHammer), he has ''remained'' well-off. [invoked]

* PoorMansSubstitute: Lampshaded in Music/TheBangles episode where one of the girls spoke about how the band made sure that they stood out from rival band Music/TheGoGos. [invoked]

* StepfordSmiler: Discussed during Donny and Marie's episode, where the former was seen to be this in their 70s heyday in spite of the pressures of fame and life that he was going through.

''Behind The Music'' (also known as ''[=VH1=]'s Behind The Music'') is a hour-long documentary style series by Creator/{{VH1}} that first premiered in 1997. It chronicles the rise, fall and aftermath of various musical artists or groups from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and often interviews the subject of the episode themselves (if they're still alive) as well as friends, family members, producers, colleagues and even critics. The first episode chronicled the aftermath of the rise and fall of infamous musical duo Music/MilliVanilli[[note]]that was updated seven months later after Rob Pilatus' untimely death[[/note]] and it remained one of the network's most popular and long-running shows, ultimately ending in 2014.

* CreativeDifferences: Oftentimes, the reason for why plenty of bands break up.

See also Creator/{{MTV}}'s ''Driven'' and [=TVOne=]'s ''Unsung'', two later shows that [[FollowTheLeader closely follow this show's format.]]

** Averted in the case of [[Music/{{Pantera}} Vinnie Paul and Phil Anselmo.]] After the latter told a magazine that the former's brother, Dimebag Darrell, should be beaten severely and his subsequent murder less than two years later, several friends of both men knew that it would be impossible for Vinnie to forgive Phil. True to form, the two men never spoke again before Vinnie's 2019 demise.
* HesBack: Plenty of artists have experienced a [[CareerResurrection career resurgence due to gaining a new generation of fans.]] Two fine examples are of Music/MeatLoaf and

''Behind The Music'' is a hour-long documentary style series by Creator/{{VH1}} that first premiered in 1997. It chronicles the rise, fall and aftermath of various musical artists or groups from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and often interviews the subject of the episode themselves (if they're still alive) as well as friends, family members, producers, colleagues and even critics. The first episode chronicled the aftermath of the rise and fall of infamous musical duo Music/MilliVanilli[[note]]that was updated seven months later after Rob Pilatus' untimely death[[/note]] and it remained one of the network's most popular and long-running shows, ultimately ending in 2014.

** The Leif Garrett episode contains a tearful reunion of him and his former best friend, Roland Winkler, who was left a paraplegic following a 1979 DUI crash he caused. Roland said that the crash actually saved his life and that he didn't hold any ill will towards him over it. The two men remained close until the latter's 2017 death.

* HesBack: Plenty of artists have experienced a [[CareerResurrection career resurgence due to gaining a new generation of fans.]] Two fine examples are of Music/MeatLoaf and Music/{{Cher}}.

* RiddleForTheAges: The infamous encounter between Music/VanillaIce and Suge Knight. While in the episode Ice admits that the royalties situation was handled smoothly, he told 20/20 years earlier (and many people believe the story to be) that Knight ha0d ''held him over a balcony by his ankles'', threatening to drop him.

** Also, the earliest episodes did not feature the well-known instrumental.