Lewis Largent, the one-time host of MTV’s various music program 120 Minutes and outstanding radio DJ for KROQ, has died at 58. His household confirmed the information by way of Selection, revealing that the MTV VJ handed away on February twentieth following an extended sickness.
Largent, who was born and raised in Southern California, launched his profession within the music trade with an internship at Los Angeles’ famed various rock radio station, KROQ. He landed a full-time job with them in 1985, and was promoted to a music director place in 1989.
After departing KROQ in 1992, Largent jumped to MTV because the Vice President of Music Programming and assumed internet hosting duties of the channel’s established various rock present, 120 Minutes. Throughout his tenure from 1992 to 1995, the music tv tastemaker interviewed numerous up-and-coming various artists on the time together with Radiohead, Björk, Smashing Pumpkins, and Pavement in addition to legends like David Bowie (sitting beside a younger Trent Reznor) and Tony Bennett.
After stepping down from 120 Minutes, Largent continued to function a programmer for MTV till 1999, then turned a Senior Vice President of A&R for Island Def Jam Data. Underneath his supervision, the label signed various acts like Sum 41 and Andrew WK, and he remained on the submit till 2004.
In later years, Largent earned a BA in Artistic Writing at Sarah Lawrence Faculty, and adopted with an MFA in 2015. He’s survived by his spouse, Atlantic Music Group CEO and Chairwoman Julie Greenwald, and their two kids.
Reactions to the information started on Friday beginning with Largent’s successor to 120 Minutes, Matt Pinfield, who shared (by way of Twitter) that he was “utterly gutted.” He added, “I cherished Lewis very a lot. I’m confused.”
Fellow MTV character John Norris, who was a correspondent at MTV Information throughout the identical period, tweeted, “Not gonna lie, I all the time wished that I used to be as cool as Lewis and he couldn’t have been extra chill and humble and sort.”
Elsewhere, SiriusXM host and Largent’s KROQ colleague Doug “Sluggo” Roberts recalled being welcomed by “TheLewMonkey” when he first joined the workforce and credited one of many radio station’s “coolest phases…in huge half to him.” See clips from Largent’s tenure on 120 Minutes together with reactions under.
Lewis Largent, Influential MTV ‘120 Minutes’ VJ and KROQ DJ, Dies at 58 https://t.co/7mWzJ7MtWe by way of @variety I’m utterly gutted. I cherished Lewis very a lot. I’m confused.
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) March 10, 2023
How tragic. Not gonna lie, I all the time wished that I used to be as cool as Lewis and he couldn’t have been extra chill and humble and sort.
RIP good friend. My ideas are with Julie and his household and family members.💔Lewis Largent, MTV ‘120 Minutes’ VJ and KROQ DJ https://t.co/9zhc1cfbl4
— John Norris (@Jonnynono) March 10, 2023
It’s heartbreaking to suppose we’ve misplaced Lewis Largent. The LewMonkey, as I known as him, couldn’t have been extra welcoming once I first joined KROQ at considered one of its coolest phases (thanks in huge half to him) and he rapidly turned a superb good friend. RIP my brother! https://t.co/I1tJz58TD5
— Doug Sluggo Roberts (@SluggoDoug) March 10, 2023
#Lewis #Largent #MTV #Minutes #Useless
