MTV launched on August 1, 1981. The Music Television Network gave a new dimension to songs as artists had the opportunity to pair videos with their music. Some of the videos wound up being the fabric ...

MTV turns 30 today, and it got me thinking: What were the first videos played on that day -- Aug. 1, 1981? I was only 16 years old, living in the middle of nowhere, and not with a lot of TV options.

As a teenager, it’s hard to imagine a world without MTV-a world barren of pop icons, visually imaginative videos, game shows, after school programs, steamy nighttime soaps and bawdy awards shows.

"Ladies and gentlemen, rock 'n' roll." Those were the words spoken by Warner Cable executive John Lack on Aug. 1, 1981, at 12:01 am when MTV — Music Television — went on air for the very first time.

In 1981, Loverboy, on the strength of its hit Working for the Weekend, was opening for Journey, a group that was on fire with its own hit, Don’t Stop Believin’. Pat Benatar’s song You Better Run was ...