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Lewis Largent, influential rock radio DJ and former host of MTV’s 120 Minutes, has died at 58. Endearingly, quite a few associates and followers – together with some rock artists and fellow MTV alumni – have since honored the beloved trade persona on-line.
Selection reviews – through a household supply – that Largent died on Feb. 20, 2023 “after a long illness.” To this point, no additional particulars have been given relating to the precise trigger or location of his dying.
Raised in Southern California, Largent obtained his first large break within the music trade within the mid-80s, when he befriended the final supervisor of Los Angeles different rock radio station KROQ. (Throughout that point, Selection provides, Largent was “an enthusiastic golfer” who met the person whereas working at a rustic membership.) Earlier than lengthy, Largent obtained an internship on the station that led to a everlasting job in 1985. By 1989, he was named KROQ’s Music Director.
In 1992, he left KROQ to take a place as a Vice President of Music Programming at MTV, in addition to the host of the community’s signature Sunday evening present, 120 Minutes. Over the subsequent three years, he grew to become one of many community’s most well-known personalities, bringing revered artists akin to David Bowie, Trent Reznor, PJ Harvey, Radiohead, Björk and Pavement to audiences throughout the nation.
Though he left 120 Minutes in 1995 – and was changed by Matt Pinfield, The Los Angeles Instances notes – he stayed at MTV till 1999 (the place he was ultimately promoted to Vice President of Music and Artist Improvement).
Afterward, he was named a Senior Vice President of A&R at Island Def Jam Information. Throughout his time there, he signed a number of large acts (Sum 41 and Andrew W.Okay., as an example). In 2004, he resigned from IDJR; a number of years later, Selection confirms, he earned his BA in artistic writing from Sarah Lawrence Faculty. In 2015, he went a step additional by incomes his MFA.
Largent is survived by his spouse – Atlantic Music Group Chairwoman and CEO Julie Greenwald – and their two youngsters.
Just lately, many individuals inside the trade have taken to social media to pay tribute to Largent.
Final Friday (March 10), for instance, Matt Pinfield tweeted: “I am completely gutted. I loved Lewis very much. I am at a loss for words.” Equally, music journalist and former MTV Information correspondent John Norris wrote: “How tragic. Not gonna lie, I always wished that I was as cool as Lewis and he could not have been more chill and humble and kind. RIP friend. My thoughts are with Julie and his family and loved ones.”
Elsewhere, post-hardcore troupe Thursday mirrored: “Lewis Largent helped bring us to Island records way back when and we thought the world of the guy. This is a sad one.”
You possibly can see extra tributes to Largent beneath, in addition to view some movies from his time on MTV’s 120 Minutes.
In fact, Loudwire extends our condolences to Largent’s associates, household and followers.
Rockers + Fellow Journalists Pay Tribute to Former MTV VJ Lewis Largent
Lewis Largent Interviews Goo Goo Dolls on 120 Minutes in 1993
Lewis Largent – 120 Minutes Episode Preview from 1993
Lewis Largent Weekend Revolution MTV Business
Lewis Largent Will get His Nostril Pierced at Lollapalooza 1993
11 Finest MTV Exhibits That Had been Really About Music
That’s what it was created for, in spite of everything. Given MTV’s elevated proliferation of such comedy and actuality packages (amongst different genres) over the past 30 years, it may be simple to neglect that, you understand, MTV stands for Music Tv.
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