FROM THE VAULT: Interview with Geoff Downes: How "Video Killed the Radio Star" Became an 80s Icon Despite Peaking in the 70s

Professor of Rock

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11d ago 27:24

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On This Day in Rock History, 1981, music changed forever with the launch of MTV, and the very first video to air was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.

It became an anthem of the new era, but here’s the twist: it wasn’t an '80s song at all. Written, recorded, released, and even charted in the late '70s, the track peaked modestly at #40 in the U.S., yet it became one of the most iconic songs of the MTV generation.

In this vault episode, the Professor of Rock talks with Buggles co-founder Geoff Downes, who, with Trevor Horn, created a track that sparked a music revolution—despite its modest chart success.

Hear the real story behind “Video Killed the Radio Star,” how it came to define a decade it technically didn’t belong to, and what it was like to be the first face of MTV.

Coming up next on Professor of Rock!

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