‘80s Rocker Reveals He Rejected This Life-Changing Job in Favor of Touring

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‘80s Rocker Reveals He Rejected This Life-Changing Job in Favor of Touring originally appeared on Parade.

When MTV debuted on Aug. 1, 1981, “Take It on the Run” by REO Speedwagon was the ninth video and the first concert clip to be played on the nascent music video channel.

In a recent podcast interview, REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin revealed that he was offered a chance to be even more involved in the channel prior to its launch.

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“I was approached in 1979 or 1980,” Cronin revealed in a recent interview on the Sound Up! podcast hosted by Mark Goodman and Alan Light. “Our press agent at the time, the infamous Howard Bloom, invited me to a lunch meeting with some earnest young executives from Time Warner AMEX.

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“We go to this fancy New York restaurant, and we’re sitting at a private table, and they’re giving me their spiel about this new 24-hour video station that’s going to play music videos all day and all night, and would I like to be one of the announcers.”

Cronin went on to reveal that the original concept was to have rock stars as VJs. “Their short list was Peter Wolf from J. Geils Band, Steven Tyler, and of course, Alice Cooper, just well-known frontmen because they figured we knew how to talk, and we had friends in the business and whatever, and they did this big, long meeting.”

However, Cronin had to break the news to the aspiring TV executives that their concept of rock stars as VJs wouldn’t work.

Related: ‘80s MTV Icons Meet in Vegas, See Each Other’s Shows

“They did this big, long meeting and then I was like, guys, with all due respect, and I really take it as a compliment that you’re approaching me to do this, but—I was the first one they approached and I was like—everyone on your list is currently touring, and there’s no way they could [do this]. We will all have to quit our bands to sit in a room.”

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Although Cronin said it would be fun and he could imagine himself in the role, it wouldn’t have worked. “I swear you guys; their faces just sank,” he recalled.

Funny thing is, Cronin shared that story with Goodman, who famously served as one of the original MTV VJs.

“I would like to thank you at this juncture for really opening the opportunity in my life,” Goodman quipped.

“It’s only been 45 years, Mark,” Cronin shot back, “but I appreciate it, you’re welcome.

‘80s Rocker Reveals He Rejected This Life-Changing Job in Favor of Touring first appeared on Parade on Jul 2, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.