Music Funny Read On The Early MTV Days And Contests

**Bwana** · 04-21-2019, 11:21 PM

Sex, cocaine and Van Halen — inside MTV’s wild ‘80s contests

In 1984, MTV gave contest winner Kurt Jefferis a chance to party all weekend with his heroes: the notoriously depraved band Van Halen.

The then-fledgling music-video channel flew Jefferis and a pal from Phoenixville, Pa., to Detroit, where they met up with the band at Cobo Hall. First things first, Jefferis told The Post, “a guy handed me a bottle of Jack Daniels.

I took a sip and asked for more.” After being passed a joint, “I took a couple hits and a couple more swigs of Jack Daniels.”

During the show, Jefferis got smashed in the face with cake and showered in champagne by the band members, then he went backstage where there was a feast of lobster, filet mignon and cocaine.

“I did a couple lines. Then David [Lee Roth, the singer] said, ‘I think Kurt needs Tammy,’ ” Jefferis recalled.

The groupie “took off her clothes and started dancing naked. The two of us wound up together in the shower.”

After that, things got fuzzy. Unbeknownst to MTV, Jefferis had suffered brain trauma a couple of years earlier, as a result of falling 13 feet over a stairwell, and was not equipped to handle Van Halen-level partying.

“I blacked out, and the next thing I remember is waking up in a hotel room bed,” said Jefferis, now 54. Tammy was long gone and “my head was killing me.”

But he still had another day of partying with the band. So Alex Van Halen told him to shotgun a 16-ounce beer. A hungover Jefferis declined, but the drummer wasn’t taking no for an answer: “Alex said, ‘Kurt you are not leaving this spot until you drink it.’ ”

By the time Jefferis got home, he was sleep-deprived, in pain and happy to be back at his job as a stock boy at Gimbels.

His wild time is captured in a new documentary short, “Lost Weekend,” premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday. (The movie “I Want My MTV,” about the channel’s early days, is also part of the fest.) It’s a look at a time you can never imagine happening now, when the break-the-rules channel let viewers in on the fun by gifting them cars, VIP treatment at concerts and even their idols’ homes. The contests sometimes ended up in sex, chaos or with winners owing thousands of dollars.

More MTV early days stories here: https://pagesix.com/2019/04/20/sex-c...-80s-contests/

**Easy 6** · 04-22-2019, 04:43 AM

I will definitely be seeing this documentary, sounds awesome... who wouldn’t wanna party with Van Halen?

Kman34 · 04-22-2019, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

I will definitely be seeing this documentary, sounds awesome... who wouldn’t wanna party with Van Halen?

Yes.. but I want details / pics of Tammy.....

Sweet Daddy Hate · 04-22-2019, 07:39 AM

Man, those were the DAYS!

**Bwana** · 04-22-2019, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

Man, those were the DAYS!

Young Jefferis had no idea what he was getting into.

MTV was great when it first came out, but it mutated into something unwatchable several years ago. Some of the MTV contest stories in the link are golden, talk about flying by the seat of their pants.

**ptlyon** · 04-22-2019, 07:58 AM

I DON'T FEEL TARDY

PunkinDrublic · 04-22-2019, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

I will definitely be seeing this documentary, sounds awesome... who wouldn’t wanna party with Van Halen?

I love documentaries but I wish Netflix would make a movie about it. They’re on a roll after the Motley Crue movie.

RedRaider56 · 04-22-2019, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

Young Jefferis had no idea what he was getting into.

MTV was great when it first came out, but it mutated into something unwatchable several years ago. Some of the MTV contest stories in the link are golden, talk about flying by the seat of their pants.

Yes, MTV was greatness in its early years. Man, who wasn't jealous of the lives being led by MTV VJs.
Sounds like a great documentary to tune into

**ChiTown** · 04-22-2019, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

I love documentaries but I wish Netflix would make a movie about it. They’re on a roll after the Motley Crue movie.

The Dirt was awesome because you know the stories were all true. The acting was awful, but I got over that pretty quick.

stevieray · 04-22-2019, 09:10 AM

If I got to party with Van Halen back in the day, I probably would've died.

**SAUTO** · 04-22-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

If I got to party with Van Halen back in the day, I probably would've died.

Oh i'm sure you could've hung back then. **** I think I could still but I'd probably feel it for a month

**ChiTown** · 04-22-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

If I got to party with Van Halen back in the day, I probably would've died.

Same - In 1984, I would have been in the best shape of my life and willing to wreck myself in Booze, Drugs and Women

Skyy God · 04-22-2019, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kman34

Yes.. but I want details / pics of Tammy.....

Hot-ish, skanky, and had crabs.

**alpha_omega** · 04-22-2019, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

...MTV was great when it first came out, but it mutated into something unwatchable several ~~years~~ decades ago.....

FYP

PunkinDrublic · 04-22-2019, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

Young Jefferis had no idea what he was getting into.

MTV was great when it first came out, but it mutated into something unwatchable several years ago. Some of the MTV contest stories in the link are golden, talk about flying by the seat of their pants.

I miss music videos. One of the most underrated joys of childhood was watching music videos for hours at a time.

04-21-2019, 11:21 PM
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139403647	Funny Read On The Early MTV Days And Contests Sex, cocaine and Van Halen — inside MTV’s wild ‘80s contests In 1984, MTV gave contest winner Kurt Jefferis a chance to party all weekend with his heroes: the notoriously depraved band Van Halen. The then-fledgling music-video channel flew Jefferis and a pal from Phoenixville, Pa., to Detroit, where they met up with the band at Cobo Hall. First things first, Jefferis told The Post, “a guy handed me a bottle of Jack Daniels. I took a sip and asked for more.” After being passed a joint, “I took a couple hits and a couple more swigs of Jack Daniels.” During the show, Jefferis got smashed in the face with cake and showered in champagne by the band members, then he went backstage where there was a feast of lobster, filet mignon and cocaine. “I did a couple lines. Then David [Lee Roth, the singer] said, ‘I think Kurt needs Tammy,’ ” Jefferis recalled. The groupie “took off her clothes and started dancing naked. The two of us wound up together in the shower.” After that, things got fuzzy. Unbeknownst to MTV, Jefferis had suffered brain trauma a couple of years earlier, as a result of falling 13 feet over a stairwell, and was not equipped to handle Van Halen-level partying. “I blacked out, and the next thing I remember is waking up in a hotel room bed,” said Jefferis, now 54. Tammy was long gone and “my head was killing me.” But he still had another day of partying with the band. So Alex Van Halen told him to shotgun a 16-ounce beer. A hungover Jefferis declined, but the drummer wasn’t taking no for an answer: “Alex said, ‘Kurt you are not leaving this spot until you drink it.’ ” By the time Jefferis got home, he was sleep-deprived, in pain and happy to be back at his job as a stock boy at Gimbels. His wild time is captured in a new documentary short, “Lost Weekend,” premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday. (The movie “I Want My MTV,” about the channel’s early days, is also part of the fest.) It’s a look at a time you can never imagine happening now, when the break-the-rules channel let viewers in on the fun by gifting them cars, VIP treatment at concerts and even their idols’ homes. The contests sometimes ended up in sex, chaos or with winners owing thousands of dollars. More MTV early days stories here: https://pagesix.com/2019/04/20/sex-c...-80s-contests/
Posts: 69,765

04-22-2019, 04:43 AM	#2
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04-22-2019, 07:39 AM	#4
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04-22-2019, 07:58 AM	#6
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04-22-2019, 09:10 AM	#10
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