History Series / HeadbangersBall

** When getting rid of an older version of the set in 1988, the host prior to Rikki encouraged then-upcoming band Music/GunsNRoses to do just this...and they did.

* NostalgiaFilter: Was *hated* back in the day by some metalheads for prioritizing Hair and Glam over more eztreme forms of metal. Same thing happened with Grunge and Alt-Rock in the 90's and Metalcore in the 00's

''Headbanger's Ball'' is a music video show that has aired on the Creator/{{MTV}} networks in various incarnations since 1985. Originally hosted by Dee Snider of Music/TwistedSister, its most famous incarnation was the Rikki Rachtman era from 1989 to 1995. Airing Saturday nights, it showcased a lot of HeavyMetal acts not seen on regular daytime MTV or mainstream radio, as well as sprinklings of more commercial heavy metal acts and classic metal videos.

The original show was cancelled abruptly in 1995, while the European incarnation continued for three more years. The show was revived on [=MTV2=] in 2003 with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed hosting, and continues in varying forms until 2012 (although it became merely a music block vice a hosted show, and by the end, a webseries hosted by Jose Mangin of [=SiriusXM=] Radio's Liquid Metal station).

* InMemoriam: The week following the tragic murder of Pantera's Dimebag Darrel, the MTV 2 version of the show put together a tribute show hosted by Dave Mustaine featuring videos by Pantera and Dime's then-current project Damage Plan, as well as a few phone interviews with friends of Dime's from the metal community.
* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Metal Mayhem'' on MTV Classic, previously airing as ''Metal Mania'' when the network was still Creator/{{VH1}} Classic. This is just a block of music videos with no host or interviews, but it has a rotation similar to what aired on the original series, going with the network's theme around the "classic" era of MTV.
** Some consider its true successor to be ''Series/ThatMetalShow'' (also on Creator/{{VH1}} Classic), though it was a classic metal talk show with guest interviews and special segments, and no music videos.

The Rachtman era of the show was a fan-favorite for its loose, fun vibe and interviews and music videos from acts that didn't get a lot of exposure elsewhere. The set was also made by Music/WhiteZombie frontman Rob Zombie (he can be seen in the background painting in several episodes during its creation). The show made several road trips, like going to Tijuana with Anthrax and a water park with Music/AliceInChains.

* TransatlanticEquivalent: The ''Pepsi Power Hour'' and ''Power 30'' served as this for Canadian audiences on {{MuchMusic}} from 1986 into the early 1990s. The Jasta/Mangin era series was complimented in Canada by ''Loud'' from 1998-2011, which was hosted by [[Radio/TheStromboShow George Stroumboulopoulos]] until 2004, and became the namesake for it's own specialty rock music channel [=MuchLoud=] (now Stingray Loud.) Later Canadian equivalents included the metal artist interview series ''Hard'' and the half hour metal video block ''Bangers & Thrash'', both airing in the 2010s on Aux (now A.Side TV.), while the video block ''Metal at Midnight'' has ran on the renamed Stingray Loud since June 2017.

* TransatlanticEquivalent: The ''Pepsi Power Hour'' and ''Power 30'' served as this for Canadian audiences on {{MuchMusic}} from 1986 into the early 1990s. The Jasta/Mangin era series was complimented in Canada by ''Loud'' from 2001-2011, which was hosted by [[Radio/TheStromboShow George Stroumboulopoulos]] until 2004, and became the namesake for it's own specialty rock music channel [=MuchLoud=] (now Stingray Loud.) Later Canadian equivalents included the metal artist interview series ''Hard'' and the half hour metal video block ''Bangers & Thrash'', both airing in the 2010s on Aux (now A.Side TV.), while the video block ''Metal at Midnight'' has ran on the renamed Stingray Loud since June 2017.

The Rachtman era show was cancelled abruptly in 1995, while the European incarnation continued for three more years. The show was revived on MTV2 in 2003 with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed hosting, and continues to this day (although it became merely a music block vice a hosted show).

Some consider its true SpiritualSuccessor to be ''Series/ThatMetalShow'' on Creator/{{VH1}} Classic (although sans music videos).

The Rachtman era of the show was a fan-favorite for its loose, fun vibe and interviews and music videos from acts that didn't get a lot of exposure elsewhere. The set was also made by Music/WhiteZombie frontman RobZombie (he can be seen in the background painting in several episodes during its creation). The show made several road trips, like going to Tijuana with Anthrax and a water park with Music/AliceInChains.

!!Tropes associated with Headbanger's Ball include:

* ImportantHaircut / TraumaticHaircut: Rikki cutting off his trademark heavy metal long hair in the early 90s was a MAJOR point of contention among fans. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth even taunted him about it in one episode.

* TrashTheSet: When getting rid of an older version of the set in 1988, the host prior to Rikki encouraged then-upcoming band GunsNRoses to do just this...and they did.
** GWAR apparently ruined the couch on one set. Just by sitting on it.
* UnpluggedVersion: Although the show is mostly known for it's loud, hard-rocking vibe, it's done a few of these. Most famously is StoneTemplePilots doing an unplugged version of ''Plush'' on the show, a version that is still played on the radio to this day.

* ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontWatch: Invoked. Or videos you don't have, really. One of the biggest complaints Rikki said they got was people complaining they didn't play any videos from death metal act CannibalCorpse. Problem is they never MADE any vidoes until ''Staring Through The Eyes of the Dead'', something Rikki pointed out during the video's introduction.
** Same thing applied to complaints they didn't play any early Metallica. They didn't release a video until 1988's ''One''. Their live home video release finally got some early Metallica songs onto the show though.

Headbanger's Ball is a music video show that has aired on the MTV networks in various incarnations since 1985. Originally hosted by Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, it's most famous incarnation was the Rikki Rachtman era from 1989 to 1995. Airing Saturday nights, it showcased a lot of HeavyMetal acts not seen on regular daytime MTV or mainstream radio, as well as sprinklings of more commercial heavy metal acts and classic metal videos.

The Rachtman era of the show was a fan-favorite for its loose, fun vibe and interviews and music videos from acts that didn't get a lot of exposure elsewhere. The set was also made by WhiteZombie frontman RobZombie (he can be seen in the background painting in several episodes during its creation). The show made several road trips, like going to Tijuana with Anthrax and a water park with AliceInChains.

Some consider its true SpiritualSuccessor to be Series/ThatMetalShow on Vh1 Classic (although sans music videos).

* BeachEpisode: Famously did an episode at a Seattle water park with AliceInChains. Considered one of the funnest/funniest ones they ever did, the actual shooting was a nightmare, as frontman Layne Staley was dope sick throughout the shoot.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The show is a favorite among heavy metal tape traders, especially for some more obscure videos and band interviews.

* TheCorrupter: Metal in general has been given this title, so it's no surprise this show was accused by some to be corrupting the youth of America. Amusingly, Pantera literally did this in one episode, getting two 18-year-old contest winners completely wasted and tattooed in one episode (the underage drinking was only alluded to on-air, tho).

* ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontWatch: Or videos you don't have. One of the biggest complaints Rikki said they got was people complaining they didn't play any videos from death metal act CannibalCorpse. Problem is they never MADE any vidoes until ''Staring Through The Eyes of the Dead'', something Rikki pointed out during the video's introduction.

Some consider it's true SpiritualSuccessor to be Series/ThatMetalShow on Vh1 Classic (although sans music videos).

Some consider it's true SpiritualSuccessor to be ThatMetalShow on VH1Classic (although sans music videos).

Some consider it's true SpiritualSuccessor is ThatMetalShow (although sans music videos).

* InMemorium: The week following the tragic murder of Pantera's Dimebag Darrel, the MTV 2 version of the show put together a tribute show hosted by Dave Mustaine featuring videos by Pantera and Dime's then-current project Damage Plan, as well as a few phone interviews with friends of Dime's from the metal community.

ImportantHaircut / TraumaticHaircut: Rikki cutting off his trademark heavy metal long hair in the early 90s was a MAJOR point of contention among fans. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth even taunted him about it in one episode.

The Rachtman era of the show was a fan-favorite for its loose, fun vibe and interviews and music videos from acts that didn't get a lot of exposure elsewhere. The set was also made by WhiteZombie frontman RobZombie (he can be seen in the background painting in several episodes during its creation). The show made several road trips, like going to Tijuuana with Anthrax and a water park with AliceInChains.