Fridays newest story: The morphing of MTV
By Steve Spears, Times Staff Writer In Print: Sunday, July 31, 2011 Thirty years ago, the music world changed forever with the words: “Ladies and gentlemen . rock ‘n’ roll.” No longer would we just listen. 1, 1981, complete with footage of a rocket launch, a moon landing and the planting of an MTV flag complete with a grinding guitar riff that would serve as the network’s theme music during its early years. Pretty heady imagery, comparing a 24-hour music channel to mankind’s reach into outer space. But looking back three decades later, it was entirely appropriate