Behind the Music

August. 17,1997      TV-14
Rating:
7.4
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Trailer Synopsis

An intimate look into the personal lives of pop music's greatest and most influential artists.

Seasons & Episode

1
Seasons 1 : 1997

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230 Episode

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Episode 28 - Behind the Music (Ver 2)
May. 18,1998

Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”

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Episode 29 - Studio 54
May. 24,1998

It has been more than twenty years since Studio 54 first opened its doors on April 26, 1977, driven by a disco beat and ruled by the unlikeliest of overlords: gay, sociable restaurant chain owner Steve Rubell and straight, shy real estate lawyer Ian Schrager. Former college friends Steve and Ian, through a combination of business savvy, good timing and luck, quickly established Studio 54 as "the" place to be, where the wannabe crowd outside was as much of a show as the privileged party inside.Studio 54 became the embodiment of the phrase, "if it feels good, do it," fueled by the prevailing liberated, birth-controlled, drug-infused, pre-AIDS atmosphere of the era. Or, as described by eyewitness Michael Musto, Studio 54 was "a Felliniesque crossed with Busby Berkeley playground filled with everything for your hedonistic needs.""Studio 54: Behind The Music" features new and exclusive candid interviews with many of those who not only observed but helped to create the Studio 54 experience, including Grace Jones, Liz Smith, Jerry Hall, Robin Leach, Anthony Haden-Guest, Nile Rogers, and many of the bartenders and doormen who had front row seats to the Studio 54 spectacle. The program also includes the last known interview of Rubell, who died an AIDS-related death in 1989 at the age of 45.Rubell's and Schrager's Studio 54 flashed brilliantly and crashed hard, with the two eventually convicted of tax evasion and forced to turn in their evening wear for prison garb. As disco is making an unexpected comeback, and everything 70's is popular again, "Studio 54: Behind The Music" examines the highs and the lows, the innovations and disappointments, that went beyond the velvet rope to capture the attention of the entire world.

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Episode 42 - Blondie
September. 27,1998

Blondie, co-founded by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, was the most successful band to grow out of New York's downtown punk rock scene in the late 1970's. But success did not come without a price. As the band got bigger, lead singer Harry became the focal point of attention, and harmony was replaced by discord. "Blondie: Behind The Music," traces the ups and downs of the group, featuring rare footage and interviews with group members Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri; Blondie biographer Victor Bockris; rock critic Lisa Robinson; Chrysalis Records co-founder Terry Ellis, rocker Joey Ramone and director John Waters.Before they hit in America, Blondie enjoyed huge success in Europe and Australia, scoring six number ones in England. Their third album, "Parallel Lines," sold six million copies and made them superstars. Although they released two more monster albums, the band was growing increasingly apart, and in 1982 Harry walked away from the band.At the same time, her longtime boyfriend and Blondie guitarist Stein became ill with a rare genetic disease called Pemphigus. Debbie and Chris quietly disappeared from the music scene, and it took Chris nearly two years to recover. When he and Debbie tried to re-enter the music world, in the age of Madonna, Blondie had become eclipsed.Debbie pursued her solo career, as well as finding roles in film and television. In 1997 the core band of Harry, Stein, Destri and Burke regrouped as Blondie once again, and after a sixteen year absence will release a new album, "No Exit," in early 1999.

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Episode 59 - Iggy Pop
March. 14,1999

Born James Jewel Osterberg in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1947, Iggy has been shocking audiences since he emerged on the Detroit music scene in 1968 as front man for his original band, The Stooges. He has been known to do just about anything on stage, including spit, strip, swear, smear himself with peanut butter, and cut himself with a knife. Iggy's off-stage life has been equally tumultuous. He conceived a son backstage at a performance in 1968 whom he has cultivated a relationship with over the years. He has struggled with drugs and almost lost his battle with heroin in 1975, when he ended up homeless on the streets of L.A.In 1983, Iggy married a fan he met at a show in Japan and soon after, kicked drugs. Just as he began straightening his life out, his son Eric took a turn for the worse in his own battle with drugs, until 1994 when Iggy intervened and got him the help he needed. Now Eric is training to be Iggy's tour manager. Iggy's career has received renewed attention during the past decade, from his late 80's hit, "Real Wild Child," to the inclusion of two songs on the popular "Trainspotting" soundtrack in 1996, to last year's duet with Lenny Kravitz on David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" at the "VH1 Fashion Awards."The revealing "Iggy Pop: Behind The Music" includes interviews with Iggy's son Eric and all of the surviving members of The Stooges, together for the first time ever in one program. Also included is exclusive, never-before-seen clips.

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Episode 64 - Julian Lennon
April. 25,1999

Born into one of the most recognizable music legacies in history, Julian has struggled with the world's expectations of what his life should be. His life began in the public spotlight as the first child born into Beatlemania. As a young boy Julian watched his famous father, John Lennon, abandon him and his mother, much like John's father did when he was young. Publicly John was a symbol of peace and love but Julian says there was little peace or love in his house while growing up. After John divorced Julian's mother Cynthia, he fell in love with an artist, Yoko Ono, which caused further emotional separation between John and Julian. By the time Julian became a teenager he found his talent as a musician/ songwriter. As a young man Julian and his father began to reinvent their relationship. But on December 8th, 1980 John Lennon was brutally murdered, leaving Julian with unresolved feelings and emptiness. Julian Lennon: Behind The Music explores Julian's fight for individuality in his life and career through in-depth interviews with family, friends and business associates. Julian's mother, Cynthia Lennon, reveals the pressure Julian faced growing up to be similar to a father he barely knew. World renowned record producer Phil Ramone describes how Julian exploded on to the music scene only to struggle with personal and professional hardships in the process. And Julian speaks out about his strained relationship with John's second wife Yoko Ono with his belief that Yoko has pillaged the Lennon family. Julian also explains why he put his career on hold after he made a splash in the music industry. After seven years off, Julian has re-emerged with a new album Photograph Smile. Julian says he has finally found this own voice on Photograph Smile and has come to terms with the legacy of his father.

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Episode 82 - Peter Tosh
August. 29,1999

Peter Tosh was born in Jamaica in 1944 into a very religious Christian family. At age 15, he moved into the city of Kingston to pursue a music career, and soon met and befriended the young Bob Marley. The two, along with another youth nicknamed "Bunny," formed a reggae band called the Wailers. Although widely successful in Jamaica, The Wailers' international success was minimal. Tosh and Bunny left the band to pursue solo projects, only to see Marley take the Wailers to huge international acclaim. This left Tosh jealous of his childhood friend and ex-band mate. Tosh's solo projects including "Legalize It" and "Equal Rights" promoted an anti-oppression, pro-Rastafarinism, pro-Black, pro-marijuana message. The albums did not sell well. This fact, paired with Tosh's jealousy over Marley's success, and following a police assault on him after he spoke out against government corruption, left Tosh broken down both mentally and physically. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, both fans of Tosh's music, soon took an interest and signed Tosh as the first act on their own label. However, Tosh's outspoken and stubborn personality caused problems between him and the Stones. He hijacked Keith's house as payback for what he saw as an unsatisfactory salary. After Bob Marley's death in 1981, Tosh went into semi-retirement until 1987. Ready to start anew, he faced his final misfortune when an ex-con/old friend in need of money gunned him down in his own home.

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Episode 94 - Michael Hutchence
January. 09,2000

Michael Hutchence became an international rock and roll superstar in the 1980s, fronting the Australian pop band, INXS. And though his celebrity never faded, his impact on the pop music charts certainly did. In the '90s, Hutchence turned into a target for the tabloid press, who were much more interested in who he was dating, than what kind of music he was recording. A freak accident in '92 robbed Hutchence of his senses of taste and smell and initiated a depression that continued for years. In the mid '90s, Hutchence had an affair with Paula Yates, the wife of Sir Bob Geldof, which would result in the birth of his daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily. However, the public scandal surrounding his affair with Yates, and Yates' divorce/ custody battles with Geldof (over their 3 children) were too much for him to bear, and Hutchence 's depression worsened. In November of '97, Hutchence and INXS returned to Australia for the last leg of their 20th Anniversary tour. He was found dead on November 22nd, in his Sydney hotel room. Interviews include: Hutchence 's father, Kell; his brother, Rhett; his mother, Patricia Glassop; his sister, Tina. Hutchence 's good friends Greg Perano and Nick Conroy, as well as U2 frontman, Bono, who knew Hutchence for years and sang on his solo album (on one track called, "Slide Away"), due out in February 2000. Plus, Martha Troup, one of INXS's longtime managers, and David Fricke, a senior editor at Rolling Stone Magazine.

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Episode 99 - Tina Turner
March. 05,2000

A candid first-hand account of rock 'n' roll tragedy and triumph, featuring rare and never-before-seen archive video, film and home movie footage, concert clips, and songs, plus exclusive interviews with Tina's sister Aileen Bullock, her son Craig Turner, Ike Turner, Sir Elton John, Cher, Phil Spector, Al Green and The Ikettes.Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tenn., Tina Turner moved to St. Louis as a teenager and sang in honkytonks and nightclubs, where she was discovered in 1956 by guitarist Ike Turner, already an R&B star with hits like Rocket 88. In 1960, the band was renamed "The Ike & Tina Turner Revue" (though they duo didn't marry until 1962) and scored a #1 hit with A Fool in Love. For the next 14 years, Tina charted numerous hit singles and albums, raised four children, became the Rolling Stones' favorite opening act, appeared in films like The Who's "Tommy," and toured relentlessly in a wild, raucous stage show with her backup singers The Ikettes, the band and the ever-volatile Ike.Along the way, there was violence, depression, despondence, a suicide attempt -- and redemption. At the top of their fame, Tina left Ike, who had made her life a living hell for years, and struggled for four more years to remake herself as a solo artist. With the help of Australian management wizard Roger Davies, Tina Turner again burst onto the international scene in 1984 with her megahit Private Dancer album, spawning the blockbuster song What's Love Got to Do with It (later the title of the feature film based on her life). She has since followed with several Grammy Awards, more movies like "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," her best-selling autobiography I, Tina, recordings with Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Elton John, David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In her most recent gig, Tina Turner played to an audience of almost a billion worldwide when she opened the show for Super Bowl 2000.

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Episode 107 - 1977
May. 17,2000

1977 - the Year of the Outsider. In 1977 an eclectic group of original do-it-yourself (DIY) bands rose up to challenge the tired, bloated world of corporate rock ruled by the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, and Linda Ronstadt. The year saw diverse debut albums by the Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Pere Ubu and Television, along with second albums by the Ramones, Blondie, and Patti Smith. These outsiders brought rock and roll both back to its roots and to new highs of creativity.1977 was also a peak year for disco. The music and the culture that came from the outsider minorities of blacks and gays gained a world-wide audience with the opening of Studio 54 and Saturday Night Fever. Donna Summer, Thelma Houston, the Trammps and the Bee Gees had huge hits with "I Feel Love", "Don't Leave Me This Way", "Disco Inferno" and "Stayin' Alive". Jimmy Carter marched into the White House in 1977, backed by Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels and the Allman Brothers. As a Southerner and born-again Christian, he was certainly an outsider, and after the reign of Richard Nixon, he seemed a breath of fresh air in '77. 1977 was also the year the King died. Elvis Aaron Presley died at 42 years of age, the result of prescription drug abuse. The way was now clear for the new guard to stake their rock revolution. 1977 - the year behind the music.Includes interviews with Joe Strummer, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison, Joey Ramone, Roberta Bayley, Danny Fields, Siouxsie Sioux, and Malcolm McLaren, not to mention Jerry Falwell, Jerry Brown and Camille Paglia.

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Episode 143 - Blues Traveler
May. 27,2001

First joining forces as a basement band in 1983 in Princeton, New Jersey, Blues Traveler charted a course that would have them playing 250 plus concert dates a year throughout the late 80's and 90's. With their brand of high-octane improv rock mixed with jazz, blues and funk, the band earned a massive following of loyal free-spirited fans. In 1995, Blues Traveler jumped on to the super stardom highway with their rollicking hit "Runaround". Spending an amazing 49 weeks on the Billboard charts, the single propelled their album "Four" to multi-platinum status. But Blues Traveler hit a few detours in the years following this success. Front man, harmonica great John Popper and bassist Bobby Sheehan were racing to death's door as they battled addiction and health problems. Popper's weight ballooned to 420 pounds as he indulged an addiction to junk food. Chest pains led to an emergency angioplasty in July 1999 to clear an artery to his heart found to be 95% blocked. Bobby Sheehan's more traditional Rock & Roll excesses, drugs and alcohol, finally took their toll in August of 1999. He was found dead in his New Orleans home from a deadly mixture of cocaine, Valium and heroin. Sheehan's death devastated the band and had them on the verge of calling it quits. But Popper was scared into confronting his health problems and in April 2000 had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Within a year, Popper lost close to 200 pounds and gained control of his food addiction. Ready to return to the stage with the slimmed down John Popper leading the way, Blues Traveler refueled with two new members in May 2000. Their new album "Bridge" is set for release in May 2001 and Blues Traveler is geared up for the next ride on their Rock & Roll journey with Bobby Sheehan's spirit a guiding force.

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Episode 148 - Notorious B.I.G.
July. 08,2001

Biggie Smalls, a/k/a Notorious B.I.G., grew up dealing drugs on the streets of Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy, but traded the crack game for the rap game. Composing mesmerizing rhymes about the gangsta life, Biggie ascended to the throne of Hip Hop. But the violent life he left behind caught up to him when a hail of bullets ended his life in L.A. four years ago.And when an L.A.P.D. detective found that the murder trail led back to dirty cops in the department, he was forced to drop his investigation. Biggie Smalls' killing remains unsolved to this day.Now, those who knew Biggie Smalls best speak out on his tumultuous life -- and still-unsolved murder.Behind the Music: Notorious B.I.G. tracks the rapper's life from his youth in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in the '80s (where the one-time Catholic school student succumbed to the "easy" money of dealing drugs at age 13), to his first gigs as a freestyle rapper, to his ascension to the top of the charts under the wing of Sean "Puffy" Combs. The special also examines Biggie's violent, bi-coastal feud with West Coast rap moguls Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight, his rocky relationships with wife Faith Evans and others -- and that night in 1997 when a black Chevy Impala pulled up next to Biggie's SUV on an L.A. street, and a gunman pumped four bullets into the singer's chest.Behind the Music: Notorious B.I.G. features interview footage with Puffy Combs, Russell Simmons, journalists Rob Marriott and Dream Hampton, manager Mr. C, and members of Biggie's "Junior Mafia" crew, as well as Biggie's wife, R&B singer Faith Evans, and his mother Voletta Wallace. In addition, former L.A.P.D. detective Russell Poole reveals his disturbing theory about dirty cops, Death Row Records, and a plot to kill Notorious B.I.G.

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Episode 150 - Neil Diamond
July. 22,2001

Neil Diamond: Behind The Music profiles one of music's most popular, enduring and misunderstood superstars - a singer-songwriter whose tunes never seem to go away. From mid-Sixties when the moody "Solitary Man" and the infectious "Cherry, Cherry" introduced him to the pop audience in 1966 to today, Neil Diamond has enjoyed an remarkably enduring connection with his masses of fans. Born in 1942 on the "Brooklyn Roads" about which he would later memorably sing, Diamond dropped out of New York University in order to pursue his dream of a life in music. He tried to make his name as a songwriter in New York's famed Tin Pan Alley just as the Brill Building era was peaking. Before long, though, he would emerge as a massively popular singer-songwriter in his own right. After an early Seventies retirement from the road, he reemerged with another long run of hits including "If You Know What I Mean," "Longfellow Serenade," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "Love On The Rocks," "America" "Love On The Rocks" and "Heartlight." Diamond remains one of the biggest draws in the touring business and this month releases his latest album, "Three Chord Opera".Interviews include Ellie Greenwich who helped discover Diamond, Lucie Arnez who co-starred as his love interest in The Jazz Singer, producers Bob Gaudio and Peter Asher, band members Reine and Linda Press, comic actor Jack Black who appeared with Diamond in "Saving Silverman," singer Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth who recently sang "I'm A Believer" for the soundtrack to Shrek and Surreal Neil, frontman of the popular tribute band Super Diamond, as well as comments from U2 and Tim McGraw, among others.

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Episode 171 - Bob Marley
June. 30,2002

"Behind the Music: Bob Marley" tells the story of the rasta rebel with rare and never-before-seen photos, film, news video, performance footage and more, plus new interviews featuring The Wailers' co-founder Bunny Wailer, Keith Richards, I-Threes vocalists Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths, pioneering ska artist Joe Higgs, reggae historian Roger Steffens, lawyer and friend Diane Jobson, author Chris Salewicz, recording engineer Tony Platt, friend Neville Garrick, record producer Coxson Dodd, friend and music publisher Danny Sims, and Cindy Breakspeare, plus Bob's mother Cedella Booker, wife Rita Marley and children Sharon, Ziggy and Stephen.A former colony steeped in profound social inequity and abject poverty after three centuries of British colonial rule, Jamaica was awakening to freedom when Bob Marley was born to a single mother in a tiny rural shack with a dirt floor. Later moving to the Trenchtown section of Kingston where his mother sought better work opportunities, a young music-loving Marley eventually hooked up with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh to start a group that became Jamaica's top band by the late '60s, cranking out hit after hit of ska-based country, rock, and pop.But the hits didn't make a lot of money for them, as the studio owned their recordings. Marley objected and turned his back on the recording industry's cozy arrangements. He followed his mother to Delaware and labored in hotels and on an auto assembly line -- while becoming more politicized in the turbulent America of the time -- and saved his money to start a label with The Wailers. Marley also came to embrace the Rastafarian religion, with its dreadlocks and marijuana rituals, and its goal to spread the word of the Lion of Judah. Battling oppression and injustice with reggae anthems of empowerment and inspiration, Marley was still known only in Jamaica -- until Island Records' Chris Blackwell intervened and gave Bob Marley to the world.Though co-founders Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh split after the release of the band's second album, Marley held The Wailers together and conquered the music charts. Hugely influential back home in Jamaica, he refused to align himself with what he felt was a corrupt Jamaican political scene. Two days before a 1976 concert that he hoped would unify the citizenry -- a show that was instead co-opted by prime minister Michael Manley and made to appear as an endorsement of his party -- Marley and his wife were shot in an attempted assassination. The assailants were never caught. Now a larger-than-life legend, Marley left for a world tour in 1977. When he badly injured his foot during an impromptu soccer game in Paris, Marley received word that he was also suffering from cancer. Despite surgery and treatment, the cancer spread to his brain and lungs, and finally stilled reggae's most vibrant voice on May 11, 1981.Among the highlights from "Behind the Music: Bob Marley":Wailers co-founder Bunny Wailer, on Marley's struggle to be heard: "Bob was geared for it -- whatever sacrifices he had to make, he was determined to make those sacrifices."Keith Richards, on first hearing The Wailers: "There's definitely a buzz in there -- and you can't keep me away from a buzz ... 'Catch a Fire' caught fire, and Bob just basically exploded."Rita Marley, on first meeting Bob: "You come in as a female, young girl, everybody wants to lay you down -- but Bob had a different attitude, and a different approach, and we started to share letters. He would send little notes, 'cause he was shy, very shy."Judy Mowatt, on Marley's mission: "This is of God. People need to know that Bob understood his God- given purpose, and that was what propelled him and pushed him."Neville Garrick, on Marley's use of marijuana: "He would just explain it by saying that, you know, we smoke herb not for giddiness or happiness but to heighten our consciousness."Keith Richards, on Marley's global superstardom: "Bob struck a universal chord. I mean, why are Scandinavians leaping around to 'No Woman No Cry' or 'Buffalo Soldier,' eh? It's in the genes."Cindy Breakspeare, on Marley's brief life: "Looking back now, you have to wonder what more could he have done? It seems that he really did do it all, he accomplished what he set out to do."Nelson Garrick, on Marley's infidelities: "Bob loved women. Like Solomon, that was his weakness. Being a handsome man, women gravitated to him."

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Episode 172 - Boston
January. 01,0001

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Episode 173 - Boyz II Men
August. 25,2002

From having no water or heat in their childhood homes to having the longest-running #1 single in music history, Boyz II Men brought New Jack Swing to the classic Philly sound. Through the highs of success and the lows of losing a close friend, the group worked hard to keep their egos and integrity in check. But troubles with their label and a rapidly changing musical climate would leave Boyz II Men faced with their greatest challenge--climbing back to the top.Although they didn't meet until high school, the trials and tribulations of the Boyz were almost identical from the very beginning. Each was born into poverty in the projects of Philadelphia--Nathan Morris (6/18/71) on Philly's South side; Michael McCary (12/16/71) and Wanya Morris (7/29/73) in North Philly; and Shawn Stockman (9/26/72) in Southwest Philly. Each had an abusive or absent father which forced them to rely on their mothers for financial and emotional support. Nate's parents got divorced when he was ten and his family often went without food, heat and water. Mike's father was an ex-convict whose methods of making money weren't always legal. Shawn grew up in a fatherless family of seven brothers and two sisters. Wanya's mother and father were never married; they split up when he was only three. His mother's boyfriend often beat him for no apparent reason. To escape the dangers of their crime-ridden neighborhoods, the boys turned to music and faith, often finding safety in the church choir. The smooth tunes of Motown artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Temptations provided further inspiration. Yet their passion for music and clean-cut image did little to boost their popularity with other kids. By the time they were ready to enter high school, each of the boys came to a life-changing conclusion--the only way they would succeed was if they found a supportive environment where they could hone their talents.Their salvation came in the form of Philadelphia's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. For Wanya, going to the school was like stepping into Fame, one of his favorite television shows. By 1985, all four boys were enrolled there, although they had yet to meet. Nate and his best friend Marc Nelson had come to the school with dreams of forming a doo-wop group like the ones they remembered from the streetcorners of their childhood. Calling themselves Unique Attraction, Nate and Marc enlisted the help of a revolving student line-up. When Wanya joined as a freshman, he became the first permanent member alongside the two founders. Shawn was quickly added after he was heard performing a solo in the school choir. By now Unique Attraction was becoming a school staple. Anxious to be the fifth official member, Mike began following the group around school, attempting to impress them with his deep bass vocals. After an impromptu performance in the boy's restroom, the others caved in and welcomed Mike into the fold (although Marc continued to view Mike as more pest than partner). Combining their classical training with the a cappella "Philly sound," Unique Attraction quickly took their graceful harmonizing style from the school to the streets, performing everywhere from local hangout The Gallery to subway platforms.Still, the streets of Philadelphia were a long way from the stages on which their heroes New Edition and Take 6 performed. The group would have to take drastic measures to ensure musical stardom. When Bell Biv Devoe held a concert at the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1989, the boys did not wait for opportunity to knock. Sneaking backstage, Unique Attraction located BBD member Michael Bivins and performed an a cappella version of New Edition's "Can You Stand the Rain" before a crowd that included Will Smith and Paula Abdul. Bivins was so impressed by the group's raw talent that he contacted them a few weeks later and quickly signed on as their manager.But two important changes had to take place before the boys could evolve from high school talent shows to R&B superstars. The first was a much-needed name change. Sources vary on who was responsible for the switch in moniker, but the group eventually settled on Boyz II Men (taken from the similarly-titled New Edition song). The second major change was the departure of Marc Nelson. Nelson had never quite gelled with the other members of Unique Attraction, and it soon became apparent that his growing animosity was in danger of destroying the group. With visions of solo success dancing in his head, Marc left Boyz II Men behind (he later formed the vocal group Az Yet which was widely considered a second-rate Boyz II Men).For the next year, Bivins worked with his new proteges, developing a retro sound that would change the face of early '90s R&B. He also created the "Alex Vanderpool" style of preppy sweaters and ties based on a character from the soap opera All My Children. But unlike popular boy bands of today, the Boyz proved to Bivins that they were more than mere voices by co-writing seven of the ten tracks on the album. On April 30, 1991, Cooleyhighharmony was released on Motown Records. It entered the Billboard 200 at #58, eventually advancing all the way to #3 (it went to #1 on the R&B chart). The first single, "Motownphilly," was an instant hit and a perfect introduction to the Boyz sound. The second single, a cover of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" from the 1975 film Cooley High, gave audiences a taste of Boyz II Men's softer side. It shot to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This paved the way for their first record-breaking single, "End of the Road," from the Boomerang soundtrack. "Road" was another nearly a cappella love song in the "Yesterday" mold, and audiences ate it up. "Road" spent an incredible 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first single to do so since Elvis Presley released "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" in 1956. They did not hold the record for long; three months later, Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" stole it away by topping the charts for 14 weeks. But the Boyz had little to worry about. Cooleyhighharmony was earning them multiple awards, including a NAACP Image award, an American Music Award, two Soul Train awards, and a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.In the meantime, the Boyz joined MC Hammer on his 1992 Too Legit 2 Quit tour. It was a trip that would forever change the lives of the four young crooners. While performing in Chicago, road manager Khalil Roundtree and his assistant Qadree El-Amin were shot by robbers outside the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel. Qadree recovered from his wounds, but Khalil was killed in the attack. Nate, Shawn, Mike, and Wanya were devastated by the news. Khalil had been like a father to the group. They dropped out of the tour for two weeks to come to terms with Khalil's death. At his funeral, the group sang a tearful version of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."After releasing a successful Christmas album in 1993, Boyz II Men returned to the studio to record their follow-up effort. This time they moved their production to California, as their popularity made it increasingly difficult to work in Philadelphia. Shaken by the extreme highs and lows of 1992, Boyz II Men avoided the sophomore slump with an album that reflected their new-found maturity. II hit the charts on September 17, 1994, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. The first single from the album, "I'll Make Love to You," tied Whitney Houston's record but was eventually dethroned by Brandy's single "I Wanna Be Down." Always humble, Wanya gave Brandy a call to congratulate her. The two would eventually begin dating, sparking rumors of marriage (they later broke up but remain friends). Other chart-topping songs from II followed, including "On Bended Knee," "Thank You" and "Water Runs Dry." II was hailed by critics as one of the best albums of 1993 and earned Boyz II Men two more Grammys (plus one to Babyface for writing "I'll Make Love To You"). In 1995, Boyz II Men finally reclaimed their record with the single "One Sweet Day," a duet with Mariah Carey. The song stayed at #1 for an incredible 16 weeks.In late 1995, the relationship between Motown Records and Boyz II Men began to crumble. Motown had gone behind their backs and released The Remix Collection in an effort to capitalize on II's phenomenal success. Boyz II Men felt betrayed by their parent company and in 1996 they established their own label, Stone Creek Recordings, a division of Sony. Although Stone Creek eventually shut down, it widened the gap between Boyz II Men and Motown.After a minor controversy at the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics (their rendition of the National Anthem was called "too soulful" by the Olympic committee), Boyz II Men began work on their third album of original material, Evolution. Evolution debuted at #1 on October 11, 1997, but quickly slipped from the charts. Critical reaction was mixed, and Motown did little to promote the album. Frustrated with Motown's lack of support, Boyz II Men left the label in 1999 and signed with Universal to release their next album, Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya. The title signified a new beginning for Boyz II Men, one where they would take complete control of their career. Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya was released on September 30, 2000 and debuted at #4. But three weeks later, it had completely vanished from the charts. 2001's Legacy: The Greatest Hits Collection spent only one week on the charts (#89). The era of the Motownphilly sound appeared to be over.In 2002 the Boyz went back to work with old friend Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in an effort to regain their past glory. Having left Univeral for Arista, Boyz II Men are optimistic about their future. "We are at a point right now where we know we can only go up," Nate told Billboard. Shawn agreed. "The slate is clean, and it feels great."

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Episode 174 - Aerosmith
September. 01,2002

Think that Aerosmith had an easy time climbing to the top of the rock 'n' roll mountain? Dream on...In a 30-year career, the Boston-based group has hit the highest highs and the lowest lows -- and lived to tell it all. VH1's Behind The Music: Aerosmith profiles the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rockers in a special two-hour episode.Behind The Music: Aerosmith features footage from a trove of several thousand hours of original and archived film and video (much of it never seen before), plus exclusive new interviews with Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer, plus actress Liv Tyler and many more. And in this first-ever two-hour BTM episode, complete access on the band's Just Push Play tour in the US and Japan -- with cameras everywhere from backstage, to the hotel suites, to the tour buses and the private planes, and occasionally in the bathroom -- lend a voyeuristic present-day perspective rarely seen.For over 30 years, Aerosmith has been a rock tour de force. Spanning several generations, their appeal is just as strong today as it was during their mammoth initial success in the 1970s. Through their very own brand of raunchy blues swagger, arena rock anthems and gutsy power ballads, the Bad Boys from Boston have become a worldwide phenomenon.But along the way Aerosmith had to survive every rock 'n' roll test imaginable. Years of drug and alcohol addictions, financial woes, fading record sales, sour times with ex-managers, friction with ex-wives, near-death car crashes, on-stage collapse and mental breakdowns are just some of the hurdles they miraculously overcame. But perhaps the biggest obstacle they overcame was each other: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer have co-existed as "brothers of choice" for the greater part of their lives. And like any family unit, it hasn't always been easy.Aerosmith discuss in bone-chilling detail their struggles with drugs, detail the ego battles and personal disputes among the band members and their wives that led to their nasty breakup in 1979, and speak out bitterly about their former managers and how financial mismanagement and drug binges left them in the poorhouse -- until their massive comeback in the late '80s:Lambasting former manager Tim Collins, Aerosmith relate how he moved them towards life-saving sobriety, only to attempt to take them down once again through power-hungry manipulation.Steven responds angrily to well-publicized rumors that he had a drug relapse in the late '90s.For the first time on television, Steven Tyler and actress Liv Tyler discuss the discovery of their father/daughter relationship after eight years of separation.

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Episode 177 - Top Gun
January. 01,0001

Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”

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Episode 178 - Britney Spears
November. 09,2003

She came from nowhere to capture America's heart ... and blossomed into a global sensation, becoming the fastest selling female artist of all time while still just a teen. But amazingly, even after three blockbuster albums, a burgeoning movie career, and an ever-increasing role as an advocate for various charities, Britney Spears' astounding journey as an entertainer has only just begun.As Britney embarks on an exciting new stage in her already remarkable career, VH1's landmark series Behind the Music is there to document her record-setting past, chronicle the goings-on of her whirlwind present, and promote her promising future as she prepares to release her fourth album.In keeping with Britney's transformation from teen pop sensation to full-fledged diva, we will show the fans details about the Britney that was and give them an unprecedented look at the Britney that is ... now fully a woman, with a new image, a new outlook, and a new album that will change sonic perceptions about her forever.In addition to interviews with Jamie Lynn Spears (her little sister), Bryan Spears (her older brother), Lynne Spears (her mom), Laura Lynne Covington (her cousin), Larry Rudolph (her manager), Barry Weiss (President of Jive Records), Felicia Culotta (her assistant), JC Chasez (NSYNC), Taryn Manning (Crossroads co-star), Jenny Eliscu (Rolling Stone), Marci Klein (SNL) and Britney herself, and to chronicling her storied rise from small-town girl to mega-selling superstar, we will spend considerable time documenting Britney in the here and now examining everything from video and photo shoots to working with The Matrix on her new release to rehearsing for upcoming performances.

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Episode 179 - Spice Girls
November. 23,2003

They are a proud and sassy slew of songsters whose catchy dance-pop and colorful, sexy personalities made them musical superstars. Spice Girls are a British pop sensation who exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. In the summer of 1996, they released their first single "Wannabe" which became the first debut single by an all-female band to enter the charts at number one in England.As they exploded in the UK, every member of Spice Girls was given a specific identity by the British press: Geri Halliwell was called "Ginger Spice," Melanie Janine Brown (Mel B) was nicknamed "Scary Spice," Melanie Jayne Chisolm (Mel C) went by "Sporty Spice," Emma Lee Bunton was called "Baby Spice," and Victoria Addams was called "Posh Spice."Each one of these personas were exploited in the group's press articles and videos which helped send "Wannabe" climbing to the top of the charts in 1996. It remained at number one for seven weeks, and by the end of the year, "Wannabe" was a number one hit in 21 other countries.Spice Girls became media icons in Britain and in early 1997, they focused their attention on America. When they released the hit "Wannabe," they became massive stars - and role models - in the U.S.With more hits including "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1," Spice Girls were a musical force to be reckoned with. Additionally, they appeared in their own feature film Spiceworld. Then, in May 1998, Geri Halliwell made a dramatic exit from the group, she departed and released a solo album, Schizophonic, a year later.Still, Spice Girls prevailed - they scored a number one hit with "Goodbye" and dazzled the media with their spectacular personal lives as well. Scary Spice married dancer Jimmy Gulzar and released a solo single with Missy Elliott called "I Want You Back." Posh Spice married soccer star David Beckham; their relationship has been a source of tabloid fodder ever since. Sporty Spice took over the English charts with her successful solo effort Northern Star, which was released in the U.S. in fall 1999. Baby Spice guested on Tin Tin Out's "What I Am" in 1999, and two years later returned with the catchy "What Took You So Long?" which shot to number one during its first week of release. The following year, the girls headed back into the studio with high-profile producers to record a follow-up to their pop-friendly Spiceworld, and Forever was released in the fall of 2000. But will Spice Girls ever reclaim their throne at the top of the pop charts? VH1's landmark series Behind The Music brings you the story of the girls' rocky past and the uncharted territory that lies ahead.

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Episode 180 - TLC: The Final Chapter
March. 13,2004

They went bankrupt. One of them nearly died. Another one burned down a mansion. And that was just the first four years.TLC: The Final Chapter picks up where the first Behind The Music: TLC left off, chronicling the alternately triumphant and tragic second half of the TLC story. Beginning with the release of 1999's multi-platinum Fanmail LP, this one hour documentary follows Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas on a five year journey through ego-clashes, backstage blowouts, romance, weddings, births, sickness, breakups, makeups and, ultimately, death.With new interviews from T-Boz and Chilli (as well as those close to the trio), TLC: The Final Chapter uncovers the drama and heartache behind the greatest selling female act in musical history. As with no other group in the annals of Behind the Music, TLC truly merit a sequel. This second installment details:Lisa's nagging solo aspirations and how they threatened the core of the TLC sisterhoodThe infamous "Challenge" letter in Entertainment Weekly in which she dared her groupmates to outsell her solo album with albums of their own.Tionne's marriage to hardcore emcee Mac-10 and her near-death experience following the birth of their first child.Chilli's romance with R&B heartthrob Usher . a boy nearly ten years her junior. Lisa's spiritual cleansing with an herbal guru and, ultimately, her tragic death in a car crash outside his Honduras retreat.TLC: The Final Chapter is a candid look inside America's favorite threesome as they struggle to balance fame, family, platinum highs, and unthinkable lows. New interviews with both associates (producer Dallas Austin, ex-Arista boss LA Reid) as well as the Lopes family, will offer fresh insight on a turbulent five year trip, from 1999's Fanmail to 2002's 3-D (completed after Lisa's death) to their new greatest hits set, a ten year retrospective of TLC hits from "Ain't 2 Proud to Beg" to "Waterfalls" to "No Scrubs."

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Episode 181 - Guns N' Roses
July. 04,2004

Guns N' Roses emerged from thicket of the hair metal jungle on Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the mid-80s and single-handedly reinvented rock and roll with righteous riffs and a real and present element of danger. Songs like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City" were not merely rebellious anthems; they were autobiographical snapshots of a band that lived and worked on the edge. The band's exploits became as notorious as its music as members dabbled with drugs, booze and other forms of debauchery.Guns' 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, struck a raw nerve - enrapturing teens and enraging parents. Thanks to arena-ready tunes like "Jungle" and "Sweet Child O Mine," the album would become one of the most successful debuts ever, selling more than 14 million copies worldwide.Led by vocalist Axl Rose, Guns were a magnet for controversy - be it album covers, song lyrics, or bad behavior. And even as the band was quickly rising up the pop music food chain, internal struggles always threatened to tear the band apart. Original drummer Steven Adler was fired for his losing battle with heroin in 1990. Founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin would leave soon thereafter.In spite of the turmoil, after the 1991 release of Use Your Illusion I and II Guns N' Roses were the biggest, baddest band in the world, with expensive videos and elaborate stage show to match. Guns stayed on the road to support Illusion for two and a half years, tours that were marred by tragedy - riots in St. Louis and Montreal - Axl showing up hours late or not at all. Founding members Slash and Duff McKagen dealt with Axl's unpredictable behavior by drinking the frustration away. Soon after they got off the road in 1993, Guns N' Roses disappeared into the world of rock myth. Band members came and went, with the only constant being the mercurial Axl Rose. A decade later, the world still awaits the follow-up to Illusion.Behind the Music: Guns N' Roses tells the true story of this band of rock and roll outlaws.

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Episode 182 - George Michael
August. 22,2004

He ranks beside Prince, Madonna, Springsteen and Jacko in the pantheon of true '80s pop giants. He's sold over 70 millions albums worldwide and his fashion trademark - leather jacket, Ray-Bans, five o'clock shadow - is an image burned in the mind of anyone who lived in the Reagan era. He's Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, aka George Michael.As one half of Wham and a solo artist, George wrote and sang song after song after song you know by heart (to name a few: Careless Whisper, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, I'm Your Man, Everything She Wants, I Want Your Sex, Faith, Father Figure, Freedom and so on). But for every platinum album and jam-packed arena, the singer has known unthinkable struggles, heartache and loss. Some of which you might remember (a little bathroom escapade) but most have been locked in the closet of an intensely private man.From childhood to now, BTM examines the hurdles and hurt on Michael's road to greatness, with never-before-told stories from the man himself and those who know him best (his father Jack, members of Wham, Elton John, Geri Halliwell, managers, etc.).Among those stories covered: George's childhood, wracked by grave insecurity and an oppressive father who did everything he could to keep his only son from chasing his pop dreams. His early struggles with his sexual identity and a one-night rendezvous that changed his life forever. The absolute hugeness of "Faith" and how the image he created would ultimately haunt him. His first true love, with a Brazilian named Anselmo Felappa, who would die of AIDS. The tragic and sudden death of his mother. His infamous Beverly Hills bathroom fiasco and subsequent coming out. His present day life with longtime partner, Kenny Goss. Tune in for an amazingly candid interview George himself calls the definitive conversation of his life.

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Episode 183 - LL Cool J
October. 10,2004

He's the first true hip-hop sensation, something like a phenomenon in the rap world. By the age of eighteen, LL Cool J had achieved the rank of platinum performer and was defining a unique, new genre of American music. Amazingly, twenty years and two Grammy's later, LL is still bustin' out ferocious rhymes and has attained a mythical status as a true pioneer of pop music.Born James Todd Smith on January 14th of 1968, the kid from St. Albans, Queens had a rough childhood. At the tender age of four years old, he watched as his mother and grandfather were injured by gunshot wounds inflicted by his own father. His mother would move on but ultimately date another man who for years physically and verbally abused the young boy, unbeknownst to his caring mother. There was only one thing that saved James Todd Smith from possible personal destruction: Rapping.Beginning at age 9, he would stand in front of a mirror and rhyme to himself. By the time he turned eleven he was mixing beats and molding a style that would dominate rap music for two decades. Calling himself LL Cool J, short for "Ladies Love Cool James," LL's career took off in 1984 when he shopped his demo tape around the recording industry. He found believers in a couple of young entrepreneurs named Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. The pair released LL's "I Need A Beat" as a launching pad for their new label, Def Jam. The record sold 100,000 copies and made LL Cool J an instant celebrity. With the success of the single, LL dropped out of high school to concentrate on music full-time and released his debut album, Radio. The catchy rhymes and innovative style propelled the album up the charts and earned LL his first platinum achievement. James Todd Smith - LL Cool J - was just eighteen years old.By 1990, with gangsta rap firmly in control of the rap scene, LL Cool J smoothly adapted his style with "Mama Said Knock You Out." Backed by a legendary, live acoustic performance on MTV Unplugged, the album peaked at double platinum and officially made the acronym "LL" part of the American subconscious.Since the mid-90's, building on the overwhelming success of his music, LL branched into other pop culture mediums, appearing in over twenty films, a hit television show and playing a presidential inauguration-while still continuing to make music for his fans.After eleven albums and countless hit singles, LL's longevity in the rap game is unprecedented. Most importantly, he's now a father of four beautiful children and has conquered the demons of his past. Behind The Music explains how the man has cemented his place in the history of American music.

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Episode 184 - New Edition
April. 28,2005

They were the original boy band. Five friends from Boston whose undeniable talent lifted them out of the projects and into the hearts of countless teenage girls. But while New Edition was paving the way for some of the biggest bands of the past twenty years, they were plagued by bad business deals, internal battles, and a frustrating struggle for respect.In the late 1970s, Roxbury was the most impoverished and crime-ridden district in Boston. And in the middle of it all sat the Orchard Park Housing Projects. It was there that four friends -- Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell and Ralph Tresvant -- began singing and dancing together as a way to escape the turmoil that surrounded them. They called themselves New Edition and, after gaining some local notoriety, they attracted the attention of Maurice Starr, a local record producer who was looking for the next Jackson Five. The boys added a fifth member, Ronnie Devoe, and with Starr's guidance, New Edition recorded and released their first single, a perfect pop confection called "Candy Girl." The single and subsequent album exploded, selling hundreds of thousands of copies, sending the boys on a seemingly endless tour around the country. Yet, for all of their hard work, the boys came home to Roxbury still broke and living in the projects.Determined to reach greater heights of success, New Edition split with Maurice Starr in 1984 and signed with MCA. They released the top ten hits "Cool It Now" and "Mr. Telephone Man" and toured the world, only to discover that they had once again signed to a record deal that had left them all in debt.Meanwhile, other problems were brewing. Lead singer Ralph Tresvant had emerged as the fans' favorite member, and the others, particularly Bobby Brown, became jealous and were eager to step out of the background and into the spotlight. With tensions rising, Bobby Brown left New Edition, leaving fans to wonder what the future held.After a brief stint as a four piece, New Edition added new member Johnny Gill, hoping to attract a new, more mature audience. But once again internal clashes threatened the band's future as Ralph and Johnny squared off. Their differences settled, the band released their most successful album to date, Heart Break, only to be unexpectedly overshadowed by the multi-platinum juggernaut that was Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel, one of the most successful R&B albums of all time.In the early 90s, the band splintered into a series of side projects that brought them their greatest success. Following Bobby's lead, Johnny and Ralph released solo albums, and Ricky, Mike and Ronnie formed Bell Biv Devoe. Divided, the members of New Edition put an unprecedented stranglehold on the pop chats, racking up a string of top ten hits and multi-platinum sales.As their solo success began to fade, all six members of New Edition reunited and released the album Home Again, and instant number one album. But the subsequent tour was less successful. Bogged down by bigger egos, and bigger battles, the band was nearly torn apart on a worldwide tour that Johnny Gill described simply as "Hell." Meanwhile, Bobby Brown had begun what would turn out to be a decade-long downward spiral of drug and alcohol addiction and run-ins with the law.In 2002, New Edition looked to revive their careers by signing with P. Diddy's Bad Boy label and in November of 2004 released One Love. Throughout a career that has spanned three decades, New Edition pioneered a style of music that is still strong today and have achieved tremendous success both as a group and in side projects. But for all they have accomplished, the members of this pop dynasty wonder if they can ever truly achieve the respect and notoriety they deserve. This is Behind the Music: New Edition.

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Episode 185 - Backstreet Boys
June. 13,2005

The Backstreet Boys are by far one of the most famous boy bands in music history. They've sold over sixty million albums worldwide and have left millions of screaming girls love sick along the way. These five heartthrobs have managed to stay together for over eleven years but have had to overcome health scares, drug addiction, and several tragic deaths along the way. If you thought being a pop star was easy ... had better guess again.The boys back-story is as unusual as their music journey. In 1978 A.J. McClean was born in West Florida but by age two was abandoned by his father after his parents divorced. By age 8 A.J. fled to the stage performing in local talent shows and mastering the art of puppetry. It was on stage that he met 11 year old Howie Dorough. The two toured the Orlando theme park circuit for several years trying to make it big. Nicknamed the second Hollywood, Orlando had became a breeding ground for young talent and Nick Carter and his family moved to the Disney crazed environment to join in the struggle.In July 1992, with no musical background to speak of Transcontinental Airlines owner Lou Pearlman put an ad in the entertainment circular Blue Note looking for five talented boys to form a new boy band. He was looking for a New Kids on the Block look with a Boys II Men sound. A.J., Howie and Nick auditioned for Lou and were hired. The group was then rounded out by Kentucky native Kevin Richardson and his cousin Brian Littrell.But the US wasn't ready for their clean--cut sounds. In 1994 Lou shipped the boys to a pop friendly place called Europe and it was there that they became an international phenomenon. It would take three long years before The Backstreet Boys would be accepted in the United States as serious pop band. In 1997 "Quit Playin Games With My Heart" was finally played on MTV and the fan following and pressures began to grow at an enormous rate. The Backstreet Buzz had begun to grow and now there was no continent left to conquer.By March '98, the Boys had been touring for over six years straight and had sacrificed sleep, personal health and normal childhood for their fans and demanding press schedules. They were exhausted, and Brian's health suffered the most. In March 1998 he was given news that the congenital heart disease he had since birth had grown dramatically worse due to the strain of touring. Doctors advised three surgeries before Brian finally took a break from performing to undergo the operation. Meanwhile the stress of touring pushed A.J. into full-fledged cocaine and Jack Daniels dependence and after watching his grandmother pass away from cancer A.J. lost control completely. After threatening to quit he finally sought out rehab instead and his patient bandmates watched as twenty-six year old A.J. was finally getting control over his life.The exhausting tours, health problems and out of control addictions had soiled the Backstreet Boys' spirits as a group and after their last tour in September 2001, they decided it was time to take a break from each other.In their four year hiatus, Brian Littrell became a father, Kevin found the Broadway stage, Nick sought out a brief solo career and Howie has kept busy as a real estate mogul. A.J. continued battling his addictions and cleaning up his life.In 2002 the Backstreet Boys reunited again and started working on their new album. Edgier, more mature and honest, BSB hope Never Gone can recapture the same success they had years before. They are more determined to remain a family and stick together no matter where the road takes them. This is not your typical boy band ... but this is their story.

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Episode 186 - Kid Rock
March. 02,2006

He's a rapper, a rocker and a country charter, a stone cold pimp with a deep love for music. By the turn of the 20th century, Kid Rock was one of America's most well known personalities and best-selling musicians, commanding admiration from his peers and bringing the funk back to Motown. But he faced a titanic struggle in a decade long quest for respect.Born Bob Ritchie on January 17th, 1971, he was the third of four children in an upper class family in Romeo, Michigan. By the time Bob was four though, the cozy, country atmosphere of his youth was shattered forever. On a wintry Michigan day in 1975, his brother Billy lost a leg in a tractor accident, changing the family dynamic forever. Forgotten by parents who now had to care for a crippled son, Bob turned to music and immersed himself in a sea of beats and rhymes by early rap pioneers. At just 15, the white kid with the six inch flat top was a polished DJ, performing at basement parties in the neighboring black community of Mt. Clemens. Thanks to his skills, people began to gasp in amazement: "Look at that kid rockin' the turntables!" Kid Rock was thus born.Despite his parents' disapproval, Bob signed a deal with Jive Records in the summer of '89 and took off for New York with dreams of hip hop stardom. Unfortunately his first album, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, was released during the fateful odyssey of Vanilla Ice and Jive subsequently dropped Kid Rock from its artist roster. Re-signed the very next year by a small imprint called Continuum, the rapper released his second album but the label soon folded and Rock was once again relegated to obscurity in his hometown of Detroit. Undeterred, he polished his act in the mid-90's, implementing more instrumentation, signing up a pint-sized hype man named Joe C and taking advantage of a new form of music called rap-rock. With a fresh sound and a new look, Kid Rock was signed by Atlantic in the summer of '97 and released his fourth album, Devil Without a Cause. Riding the rap-rock craze and with a huge boost from MTV, Devil shot up the charts and sold ten million albums by years end; Kid Rock was finally a musical icon.Taking advantage of his newfound popularity, Kid Rock began dating babes from porn stars to pop stars and even proposed to one of Hollywood's hottest women, Pamela Anderson. Despite the amazing ride, 2000 marked a sad year for Rock. With barely any warning, his three foot nine inch sidekick and best friend Joe C passed away due to complications from Celiac disease. Gathering himself and his band, Rock rocked out another album in November of 2001, Cocky, and went four times platinum thanks to a country duet with Sheryl Crow. Now a rap, rock and country icon, Kid Rock has jammed with legends such as Hank Williams, Jr. and Stevie Wonder and has himself become a musical marvel. For a man who fought his way through years of adversity, his is a story of sheer inspiration.

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Episode 188 - Pantera
May. 11,2006

In the early 1990s, when hair metal was being sheered from the charts by grunge and earnest hard-rockers like Guns N Roses, Pantera, righteously flew the hard-edged heavy metal flag, almost single-handedly saving the genre from extinction.Formed in 1981 by brothers "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott while still in high school, Pantera quickly developed a rabid following as hard-drinking, hard rockers in the Southwest triangle of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana while issuing four independent albums throughout the `80s.National success would elude them, however, until vocalist Phil Anselmo joined the party in 1988. Signed to Atlantic in 1990, Pantera's major label debut Cowboys From Hell, put the thrashy petal to the metal, earning guitarist Dimebag Darrell recognition as one of heavy rock's true innovators.On the road, Pantera's traveling show was legendary for its debauchery. Vinnie Paul and Dimebag were known to imbibe a cocktail or ten before, during and after gigs. By the mid-90s, vocalist Phil Anselmo developed a nasty heroin habit. He overdosed in 1996 after a Pantera gig in Dallas. The singer hid his drug use from the band, and became increasingly estranged from his bandmates, spending more time on side projects like Down and Superjoint Ritual.Pantera formally disbanded in 2003, though they hadn't recorded together since 2000's "Reinventing the Steel," a platinum seller that culminated with another Grammy nomination. Then, on December 8, 2004, the ultimate rock and roll tragedy struck. Shortly after his new band Damageplan hit the stage at a Columbus, Ohio club, Dimebag Darrell was murdered, shot three times at point blank range by former Marine and Pantera fan Nathan Gale. Behind the Music: Pantera uncovers the true story of this resilient, hard rocking band.

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Episode 190 - New Kids on the Block
September. 28,2008

In 1988, when the New Kids On The Block's second album "Hangin' Tough" was released, there were very few acts that equaled the success of The Beatles or Michael Jackson. But overnight, "Hangin' Tough" sales catapulted the five young teens into superstardom. With each airplay the "New Kids" sold more merchandise and concert tickets than virtually any other musical act. They became a money-making machine. Their success set a new standard for many, many imitators to follow.Through the millions of screaming girls, tours around the world, homesick nights, private jets, psychotic groupies, rumors and deceptions, they had developed a bond like soldiers in a foxhole.However, the whirlwind of exploitation soon surrounded the New Kids. Combined with the changing music climate and the ever-escalating pressures of being international superstars, the group was pushed to an unexpected breakup.But what if they could do it all over again? What if they're given the opportunity to do it their own way -- unlike before? Is that brotherhood bond still strong enough? Do they still have what it takes?VH1, in association with Allentown productions, will trace the history of New Kids On The Block while also documenting their inspired 2008 reunion. Thru rare archival images and modern day verite footage, intercut with interviews from all five band members, their enterprising producer, and the people closest to them throughout their career, this hour long documentary will take viewers on a wild ride "behind the music." This isn't just another reunion show. It's about five "brothers" whose experience was unmatched by anyone else in history.

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Episode 191 - Lil Wayne
September. 10,2009

By the time he was 11 years old, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., aka Lil Wayne, had lost his virginity, dealt drugs, snorted cocaine and nearly shot himself to death after accidentally pulling the trigger on a gun he found in his mother's bedroom. That was life in the dangerous, poverty stricken neighborhood on New Orleans 17th ward, where Lil Wayne grew up. A musical prodigy, hip hop was Wayne's ticket to a better life. As a nine year old, he began recording rhymes with his surrogate family and mentors, Baby and Slim Williams, who owned the fledging label, Cash Money Records. Together, they shared in Wayne's success, first as a teenage sensation with the Hot Boys, then as a solo artist. But Wayne's path to stardom was littered with personal challenges. The violence of New Orleans struck again as his stepfather was gunned down when Wayne was just 14. To support his mother he dropped out of high school and put everything he had into jumpstarting his music career. A year later, at 15, Wayne became a father and now had a family to support. Then, just as his solo career was taking flight, his hometown was decimated by Hurricane Katrina, a tragedy that profoundly affected Wayne. Rumors of an addiction to prescription cough syrup and an arrest in New York City for gun possession only fueled the controversy surrounding the outlaw rapper. Regarded as a renegade, Wayne then released a prolific and game changing record, Tha Carter III. Almost instantly, Lil Wayne rocketed to superstardom and became the pop icon of 2008. The self proclaimed "greatest rapper alive" received the ultimate validation when Wayne walked away with four Grammy Awards, completing a remarkable journey for the 27 year old.

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Episode 193 - Bobby Brown
September. 24,2009

Growing up in the tough, poverty stricken projects of Roxbury, MA, Bobby Brown was a bad boy from the start. He experimented with drugs and idolized the gang leaders who ruled the neighborhood. He was also enormously talented. A naturally gifted singer and dancer, he became a child superstar with New Edition and lived the good life, travelling the world and enjoying the spoils of success. But Bobby quickly grew tired of New Edition's squeaky clean image and began to rebel. He wanted a tougher image, more control, and to be the undisputed lead singer. Tensions soon boiled over and Bobby was kicked out of the group. This hardly slowed him down. He thrived as a solo artist and behind the smash single, "My Prerogative," took his success to new heights. Bobby lived life fast, spending his money on women and a growing cocaine habit. And then he met Whitney Houston. When the Bad Boy of R-n-B married America's Pop Princess, it became instant headlines. Bobby soon retreated from the spotlight, deferring to his wife's career, and found himself mired in an increasingly nasty drug habit, feeling "alone." His well documented and turbulent relationship with Whitney quickly deteriorated and when they divorced, Bobby was left with nothing. His life continued to spiral out of control; the low point coming when video vixen Karrine Stephans filmed him passed out on her couch and released the clip on the internet. Humiliated, Bobby slowly began to pickup the pieces, got clean and sober, and resurrected himself with a stirring performance on the CMT reality series, "Gone Country." Inspired to be on stage again, Bobby is now back together with former New Edition members Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gil in a group they call Heads of State. Bobby also has a new romantic interest, welcomed a baby boy into the world in 2009 and, perhaps most importantly, is at peace with himself.

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Episode 194 - Bret Michaels
October. 01,2009

Bret Michaels and his band of brothers left home in Pennsylvania with a rock-n-roll dream and a desire to taste the good life on L.A's notorious Sunset Strip. It was the 80's, hair metal was thriving and Poison soon exploded onto the scene. Living fast and partying hard, Bret took decadence to a new level. Drugs, booze, women and more women -- anything and everything happened. A diabetic, Bret's self indulgence took its toll, but not even collapsing on stage could slow him down. The lifestyle also cost Bret a valued romantic relationship (he turned his heartbreak into the hit power ballad "Every Rose Has It's Thorn") and a trusted friendship, as he and bandmate CC Deville came to legendary blows. One of the biggest groups of their time, Poison soon crashed and burned. Bret then turned to the bottle and, driving under the influence, nearly lost his life after a brutal crash. This served as a wake up call and Bret cleaned himself up, starting a successful solo career and even dabbling in film production, writing and starring in 1997's "A Letter From Death Row." Making amends with a now sober CC Deville, Bret triumphantly reunited with Poison but the best was yet to come. In 2007, he starred in his own reality show, VH1's "Rock of Love." Over the course of three plus seasons, Bret showed fans a different side of him and once again skyrocketed into a mainstream star, completing a long and turbulent road living in and out of the spotlight.

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Episode 195 - T.I.
October. 08,2009

T.I, aka Clifford Harris Jr, grew up on the tough streets of Atlanta's Bankhead neighborhood, an area filled with crime, violence and drugs. By the time he was 18, he was a high school dropout who was behind bars for dealing crack.Stuck in a cell, he channeled his frustration and sadness into rhymes, talking about "life in the trap." Paroled, he quickly turned those rhymes into a rap career and inked a deal with LaFace Records. But after his first album flopped, he was dumped from the label and was back to square one. This time, T.I took to the streets with his own independent mix tapes and generated enough buzz to get a second chance. Signing a new deal with Atlantic Records, he broke thru with the successful 2003 release "Trap Muzik." But once again, just as T.I began to make progress, he ended up on the wrong side of the law. Busted for gun possession, he spent another six months in jail. Upon his release, his career took off and by 2006, T.I was on top of the world. Then tragedy would rock his world forever. When a bar room brawl escalated into a shoot out, T.I watched his close friend, Philant Johnson, die. Riddled with guilt, T.I went into a tailspin and suddenly his life as a celebrity was filled with paranoia and threats against his life. To protect himself, he began collecting a vast array of weapons. In 2007, while attempting to buy another firearm, T.I was set up in a sting operation and busted by federal agents. Facing 30 years in prison, T.I settled on a unique deal: one year behind bars and 1500 hours of community service. Using his charismatic personality, T.I has thrived in his role of mentor, reaching out to troubled youth and preaching against the very mistakes he once made. T.I is admittedly a reformed man, and while he says he will never get over the death of his friend, he is at peace with past, is currently serving his prison sentence and looks forward to working for a "higher cause."

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Episode 196 - 50 Cent
October. 13,2009

Curtis Jackson III, aka 50 Cent, grew up on the violent and drug infested streets of Jamaica, Queens. His mother was murdered when he was 8, and by the time he was a teenager, he was following in her footsteps, dealing crack to make ends meet. Several arrests led to hard time in a "shock incarceration" boot camp. Headed down the wrong road, 50 Cent gave up the hustle and chased a new dream: to become a hip hop star. But his road to superstardom wouldn't be easy. With gritty street rhymes, 50 attacked the industry and his bad boy reputation grew as fast as his list of enemies. A public feud with fellow Queens' rapper Ja Rule led to a brawl and 50 got stabbed. Then, in May 2000, nine bullets nearly ended 50 Cent's life. Facing his moment of truth, 50 persevered thru intense physical pain, emotional self doubt and came back to the game even stronger. Teaming up with Dr Dre and Eminem, his first two albums, Get Rich or Die Trying and The Massacre, were hugely successful. 50 Cent parlayed his street hustle instincts into an empire, forming the G Unit business enterprise and inking a lucrative deal with Vitamin Water that reportedly earned him over 100 million dollars. Always a target, 50's street cred was attacked as he engaged in feuds with everyone from Fat Joe to his protégé, The Game. The beefs only fuel 50's drive. Older and wiser, he hasn't lost the edge he honed on the streets of New York as he continues his relentless quest for success.

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Episode 202 - Jennifer Lopez
July. 04,2010

Perhaps no other entertainer in the last two decades has dominated the media landscape more than the Bronx, New York bombshell, Jennifer Lopez. Better known to her fans as JLO, she is an undeniably charismatic dancer--actor-singer who personifies the American dream.This Behind the Music tells the story of a Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx who made it big. Jennifer was a "girl from the block" who literally danced her way onto the national stage as a Flygirl on "In Living Color." She battled with the other "Flygirls" and eventually left the show to pursue acting. As an actor, she had to overcome "sassy Latina" stereotyping... cruising through a slate of forgettable TV appearances, before landing the coveted role of slain Tejano singer Selena. Jennifer's brilliant portrayal shifted her career into overdrive and put her on the road to superstardom.Not content with a successful acting career, Jennifer fulfilled her childhood dream of being a recoding artist and released her debut album "On the 6", which shot to #1. But fame came with drama and controversy. She began dating rap impresario Sean Combs, but left him after dodging bullets in a nightclub shooting. She married dancer Chris Judd, but then divorced him and fell in love with Hollywood golden boy Ben Affleck. Their romance played out on the cover of tabloid magazines. The attention caused stress on their relationship and ended with them calling off their wedding at the last minute. Eventually, Jennifer found her Prince Charming in Latin superstar Marc Anthony. They were married and one year later Jennifer gave birth to twins, filling an emotional void in her life. Now at 40, Jennifer says she has found a way to have it all, after living through a lifetime of hard lessons.In addition to Jennifer Lopez, this Behind The Music includes interview with Marc Anthony, Sean Combs, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tommy Mottola, Kevin Smith (Dir.), Gregory Nava (Dir.), and others.

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Episode 204 - Fantasia
August. 24,2010

In this episode of Behind the Music, Fantasia speaks for the first time - in an exclusive interview -- about her harrowing pill overdose and suicide attempt; and her relationship with a married man that triggered a national scandal. But Fantasia's emotional breakdown was years in the making.Fantasia grew up in rural High Point, North Carolina and was a singing sensation with her family group, which performed locally in the south. But despite her talent, she was a target of abuse in school--for her big lips and dark skin. Fantasia suffered from low self-esteem and dressed provocatively in high school to gain attention. She would be scarred for life when she was raped, at age 14, by a fellow classmate. After dropping out of school, she disappeared down a self-destructive path, became pregnant at 17, and the victim of domestic abuse.A single teenage mother who couldn't find a job, Fantasia was running out of options --until she turned back to music.In 2004, after watching an episode on TV, Fantasia decided to take a shot at American Idol. After arriving to the auditions late (and finding the doors locked), she was the last one to perform after a kind security guard discreetly helped her into an Atlanta stadium. She would go on to impress all of America and win the title, outshining such notable singers as Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson. Her first album was a huge hit and was nominated for four Grammys. She had continued professional success starring on Broadway in The Color Purple and in her own reality show, Fantasia For Real.But Fantasia has endured numerous struggles away from the microphone, including a lawsuit from her father, a scare with cancer, near bankruptcy, and the financial stress of supporting a large family. Her most recent headlines pushed her over the edge -- and nearly cost Fantasia her life. Now, she discusses her tumultuous journey in riveting detail. Just 26 years old, Fantasia has been to hell and back, but thru it all, she's found an inner strength to help overcome even the most daunting of obstacles.

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Episode 206 - Nelly
July. 03,2011

Behind the Music: Nelly will trace the artist's epic journey from St. Louis hoodlum to rap superstar. Born to parents who were unable to care for him, Nelly spent his early years bouncing from home to home, sleeping on couches and changing schools with alarming regularity. This lack of supervision quickly led to a life of crime. Before he was old enough to have a driver's license he had already been arrested for stealing cars. Later, he joined a gang, shot a man, and sold drugs while his infant daughter slept in the back seat.What eventually saved him was his love of music. He joined a group called the St. Lunatics and finally found the family he'd been lacking his whole life. But loyalty to that family would be tested when record labels came calling, saying, "We want you--not them."With his group's blessing, Nelly signed to Universal and released "Country Grammer." The album sold nearly 10 million copies and forever changed the face of hip hop. But since then, life has hardly been easy for Nelly. From album flops and controversial videos to his best friend's incarceration and his sister's tragic death from leukemia, Nelly has battled plenty of demons. "Yeah I've had my fair share of tragedies," says Nelly, "but I also feel like karma's a bitch and it's payback for all the dumb s*** I did, all the people's lives that I helped ruin."In this Behind the Music, Nelly tells stories he's never told before publicly and for the first time addresses his relationship with Ashanti, who is also interviewed. Hear the tragic and triumphant tale of his life through in-depth interviews with close friends, family, and the person who knows it best of all--Nelly himself.VH1 has re-imagined "Behind The Music" to now focus on top current artists who have had a major impact on the music scene from rock to hip hop to pop. Expanding on the storytelling legacy that has earned the series five Emmy nominations, each episode will include verite footage of the artists at work today, connecting the past with the present, the music with the life.

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Episode 210 - Enrique Iglesias
July. 31,2011

Enrique Iglesias is the son of a legendary musical family and one of few artists who can legitimately be called a "global sensation." Beginning his career by singing Spanish love songs, Enrique soon conquered the Latin music market and was a breakout star leading the charge of the Latin music explosion into the mainstream pop market in 1999. With more than 58 million records sold worldwide, he's already outlasted many of the artists that followed in his wake and continues to sell out concerts across five continents and top the charts all over the world. In this "Behind The Music," the notoriously private singer will discuss how he got to be the man he is today, what the people in his life mean to him and reveal his inner-most thoughts on rumors and issues that have plagued his career, as well as his ten-year-relationship with tennis superstar Anna Kournikova. Starting out with a $48 million recording contract, Enrique has experienced both highs and lows in his career but now finds himself at the top of his game. Viewers will watch as Enrique Iglesias, a man who has successfully crossed over to both Latin and English music for over a decade and whose 2001 song "Hero" helped a nation through one of the most horrific times in its history, finally feels the success and joy that his life has to offer. In this episode viewers will hear from childhood friend Andres Restrepo, musical artist Pitbull, President and CEO Universal Republic Records Monte Lipman and Enrique himself.

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Episode 211 - Adam Lambert
August. 07,2011

Glam-rock powerhouse, Adam Lambert has taken pop music by storm with his handsome looks, electrifying stage theatrics and jaw-dropping vocal acrobatics. In this episode of "Behind the Music" Adam Lambert opens up to VH1 about the challenges he faced during his childhood including realizing he was gay in 6th grade. After finally coping with his identity, Adam freed himself at the age of 18, coming out to his family and moving to Hollywood, CA to pursue his dream of being an entertainer. Struggling to make ends meet, Lambert received his first big break when he landed a part in the European tour of "Hair" at age 19. The excitement of his first role brought out Adam's wild side as he began to experiment with sex, drugs and rock n'roll. For the next eight years Adam was continually cast in various stage productions including "Wicked." At age 27 and without a record deal, Adam had a realization during a psychedelic experience at the Burning Man festival that if he wanted fame he would have to take control and make it happen. In turn, Adam decided to audition for the iconic TV show, "American Idol." Making the top 13, Adam was poised to go far in the competition until scandalous photos of him dressed in drag and kissing another man leaked on the Internet. Adam remained tight-lipped about the photos to the press, determined to keep the focus on his talent. As he advanced to the final round of the competition, the media began to debate whether America would elect a gay Idol. Placing second, Adam quickly landed a record deal with RCA and 19 Recordings, taking the opportunity to come out about his sexuality in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. However, Adam wasn't done shocking the world, and during his debut television performance at the "American Music Awards" he stunned audiences by kissing his male bassist onstage. Following a huge backlash from viewers, Adam released his debut album "For Your Entertainment," which skyrocketed to #3 on the Billboard chart in its first week. Viewers of this episode of "Behind the Music" will see never-before-seen home video footage, interviews with family, friends, industry experts and musical luminaries including Barry Weiss and "American Idol" Season 8 winner Kris Allen. With constant criticism about being too bold, too offensive and too gay, Adam Lambert comes clean to VH1 about who he really is and the obstacles he has overcome to get where he is today.

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Episode 213 - Pitbull
March. 15,2012

It's only through struggle that resilience arises and for Armando Christian Perez, better known to the world as Pitbull, the past ten years have seen the charismatic Cuban-American rapper evolve from an embattled upstart to become one of the most entertaining acts in all of pop music. Growing up in the gang-infested neighborhoods of Miami, Florida, Pitbull saw hip hop as a way out of the streets and into a better life. With his lighter complexion and "Spanglish" rhymes, he made an unlikely battle rapper, but his quick tongue and talent for wordplay earned him his first record contract at 20 years old. He spent the next several years honing his craft and transforming himself into an international superstar whose rapid-fire rhymes, billion-dollar beats and infectious hooks continue to take the world by storm.By the time his sixth studio album Planet Pit was released this past year, Pitbull had transformed into a platinum-selling global sensation, whose knockout smash of the summer "Give Me Everything" climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and Pop charts and was also a top ten hit in 15 countries. In this installment of "Behind the Music," Pitbull opens up about his family struggles and how reconnecting with his dad as an adult filled a void in his life. With interviews with Lil' Jon, rap legend Luther Campbell of 2 Live Crew, and hip hop mogul Irv Gotti, along with Pitbull's family and inner circle, "Behind the Music" follows Pitbull's extraordinary journey from the negative to the positive, topping charts and touching lives all around the world.

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Episode 215 - T-Pain
March. 29,2012

"Behind the Music: T-Pain" explores the rise of a shy kid from Tallahassee, Florida to the heights of the music industry. T-Pain was born Faheem Najm into a stable, middle class family that supported his natural curiosity and talent in music at a very young age. An outsider in school, T-Pain spent his childhood locked in his makeshift bedroom "studio," producing his own music, eventually dropping out of the 8th grade to pursue his dreams full-time. As a teenager, he found local success with a group called the Nappy Headz. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities in Tallahassee, the falling apart of his family and a tense relationship with his father, T-Pain ran away from home and signed with Akon's fledgling label, Konvict Records. Finally on the national scene, his use of auto-tune created a signature sound and he quickly became one of the most sought-after producers, working with everyone from Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Britney Spears. A multi-platinum selling artist in his own right with 2005's Rappa Ternt Sanga, 2007's Epiphany, 2008's Thr33 Ringz and his most recent release rEVOLVEr , T-Pain has produced and been featured on over 45 top ten songs and 16 No. 1′s.Those participating in the special include: T-Pain, his family including wife Amber Najm, his parents and brother, Eric "DoeBoy" Youman, Akon and BU, Akon's brother and the person who gave T-Pain his first big break with a label and Michael Blumstein, Dave Abrams and Rocco Valdez from Chase Entertainment.

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