120 Minutes was a show on MTV Two that was initially broadcast weekly. From the early 00's it was shown nightly. In the tradition of the US show of the same name, it showcased music videos from "the newest, most innovative acts in rock, left field and electronic music". In the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, 120 Minutes was originally featured on MTV Europe from 1990, hosted during its first years by VJ Paul King and, from 1994 on, by ex-Wonder Stuff frontman Miles Hunt. It disappeared in late June 1995, but was replaced by a similar show, Alternative Nation, which was shown on MTV Europe on Tuesday nights at midnight CET (the same timeslot it has had since July 1995). 120 Minutes returned in 2003 to MTV2 Europe (now MTV Two) until 2009, replacing a similar show, 2eclectic, which had sporadically occupied various late-night slots. In 2010 MTV Two became MTV Rocks.
Links To Peel
In 1995 MTV Europe wound down its alternative music show '120 Minutes' by letting the last 10 weeks or so be guest hosted by the likes of Keith Flint of Prodigy, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, Hole and Pavement. One of these shows was hosted by Peel on 30th April 1995. This was the playlist as broadcast: [1]
- The Fall: Hit The North
- Pavement: Gold Soundz
- 18th Dye: Play With You
- Joyrider: It Moved
- Biosphere: Novelty Waves
- Aphex Twin: Ventolin
- Orbital: Lush 3
- Stereolab: Super-Electric
- China Drum: Barrier
- Jeff Buckley: Grace
- Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band: Ice Cream For Crow
- Supergrass: Mansize Rooster
- Flaming Lips: She Don't Use Jelly
- The Fall: Edinburgh Man
- Guided By Voices: I Am A Scientist
- Hole: Garbadge Man
- Nirvana: Sliver
- Sebadoh: Rebound
- Ash: Kung Fu
- Salt Tank: Olympic
- Inspiral Carpets feat. Mark E. Smith: I Want You
- Bhundu Boys: Jit Jive
- Dreadzone: Fight The Power
- PJ Harvey: Man-Size
Peel's Show
On Peel's radio show from 07 February 2002, he mentioned a listener named Miles recalling watching him as guest host for 120 Minutes on MTV some years ago and asked if he had any plans to do another turn as a VJ. Peel responded:
- “The answer to that is no frankly, Miles. You have to be asked to do these things and I’ve not been. Anyway, it means staying in London for a longer time than I’d wish and I’d sooner be here at home sitting in front of the fire to be honest.”
Currently there is no recording of the 120 Minutes MTV show presented by Peel on the internet.