Riki Rachtman

Metal master Number of posts : 815 Age : 38

I would be interested what you guys thought of Riki Rachtman especially those of you who watched Headbangersball back in the early 90s don't know know much about him but accroding to the hype he seems to be responsible for screwing up Headbangers ball on MTV.
I heard he also had a feud with Dave Mustaine for some reason. So is he a top bloke or a f$#kwit?

Metal is Forever Number of posts : 7632 Age : 56

Riki did not screw up Headbangers Ball as he had ZERO say in programming. He was merely the host. At least he loved Hard Rock/Metal and was from the scene unlike Adam Curry who knew NOTHING about metal at all.

Metal master Number of posts : 815 Age : 38

Witchfinder wrote:: Riki did not screw up Headbangers Ball as he had ZERO say in programming. He was merely the host. At least he loved Hard Rock/Metal and was from the scene unlike Adam Curry who knew NOTHING about metal at all.

fair enough I'm not making fun of the guy

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 12811 Age : 55

He was the west coast version of Eddie Trunk........

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37871 Age : 54

Quote :: He was the west coast version of Eddie Trunk........

That dude was a dingus.

I never thought I'd miss Adam Curry (the know-nothing hair farmer who'd previously hosted Headbanger's Ball) till Riki Rachtman got the gig.

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Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 3325 Age : 53

Fat Freddy wrote:

Quote :: He was the west coast version of Eddie Trunk........

That dude was a dingus.

I never thought I'd miss Adam Curry (the know-nothing hair farmer who'd previously hosted Headbanger's Ball) till Riki Rachtman got the gig.

To this day, I still don't know how I felt about Mr. Rachtman. I will say this, Mustaine used to go after the guy hard. Riki would sing Mustaine/Megadeth's praises, but Mustaine seemed to have utter contempt for the guy. I know Mustaine was apologizing to Riki on more than one occasion. I guess we'll blame the drug use on that one. This is one whole rip fest on Riki...It's hilarious.

Metal master Number of posts : 689 Age : 104

Adam Curry = Poseur

My only problem with Rikki was he was so into the Faster Pu$$ycat type bands he was clueless about other types of Metal. At times he really pissed me off with his narrow minded view of rock at the time.

But he was true to his genre of bands and way more believable then Curry.

He for a short time was a dj in san jose & left because we did not have enough strip clubs, lol.

Just my 2 cents

Metal master Number of posts : 516 Age : 52

I prefer Adam Curry hosting even if he knew nothing about the music.Rikki hosted during the time music started sucking except 1990-91.Didnt like him anyway really.

Road Warrior Number of posts : 17151 Age : 48

He was the face of Headbangers Ball for so long, I just got used to him.

He would "brown nose" certain bands, and the ones he didn't care about would get the boredom treatment.

Guest

He was a complete moron.

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 19229 Age : 53

I thought he was good. Perfect? No, but I thought was just more down-to-earth kind of guy. I liked Adam Curry as well, just totally different styles.

Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 3361 Age : 51

I was just reading I Want My MTV and they had a chapter on Headbanger's Ball. Apparently Rachtman got the job because Axl Rose pushed for him.

Quote :: Rachtman: So Axl said "Do you want to be a VJ on MTV? I'll make a call". I walked Into my audition with Axl.

Adam Curry is still apparently really really bitter about all that. And at least in the book Curry comes off as a bigger tool than anyone.

As for the Mustaine stuff, Dave claims Riki would encourage him to do it. Rachtman claims it was all an act and that they did become friends.

I thought Rachtman was a tool but the right kind of tool who knows thats what he is. So he never really bothered me that much. I felt there were far more annoying people on MTV at the time.

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37871 Age : 54

Quote :: My only problem with Rikki was he was so into the Faster Pu$$ycat type bands he was clueless about other types of Metal. At times he really pissed me off with his narrow minded view of rock at the time.

I have a magazine somewhere w/an interview with Bobby Blitz (Overkill) in it, where he sez that when he did the promo rounds back in the day, the Headbanger's Ball was one of his least favorite things to do. Riki Rachtman didn't know anything about him or his band, never heard an Overkill album, etc., and yet when the camera went on Riki'd put on the phony smile and act like they were old buddies, meanwhile Blitz would be saying to himself "Oh god, I have to sit next to this dick for a whole hour?" Laughing very hard

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"I am reluctant to get too deep into politics, and I don’t expect politicians to get too deep into music."
- Paul Stanley

HEY KIDS! Check out my way-cool CD and movie reviews and other geeky nonsense on the HubPages Network: http://hubpages.com/@fatfreddyscat

Zooey Addict Number of posts : 17074 Age : 45

I didn't mind him one bit. My time watching HB was during his reign and I never saw a bad HB episode at the time.

Scarred But Smarter Number of posts : 3487 Age : 53

Rachtman was into the glam/sleaze scene because he was (initially) in a Sunset Strip band called VIRGIN. And I think he co-owned THE CATHOUSE with Taime Dowen of FASTER Pu$$ycat...so that is where that allegiance came from.

As far as the progamming and whatnot on the ball...I fear that blame goes to the network. MTV played whomever the labels greased their palsm to plug and play.

And really, what's wrong with not knowing everything about every style of metal out there....smurf poo, they can't all be Heart Of Metal boardies, can they?

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"Oh man, I need TV? When I got T Rex"

Master Sailboat Number of posts : 9301 Age : 45

i've never cared for music videos, so i've only seen the original version a couple of times. he was the host on both. never formed an opinion on him though.

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Riki Rachtman MNxjcKm

Heart of Metal Number of posts : 1593 Age : 55

Compared to his European counterpart - the amazingly stupid and plastic-looking VANESSA WARWICK, Riki was more than okay!

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 40562 Age : 56

TOOL ! Couldn't stand the guy. I especially loved the episode Mustaine was on promoting Countdown To Extinction and he was constantly dogging Rachtman. Good stuff.

Metal master Number of posts : 815 Age : 38

stormspell wrote:: Compared to his European counterpart - the amazingly stupid and plastic-looking VANESSA WARWICK, Riki was more than okay!

Ye

she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed

Metal master Number of posts : 815 Age : 38

assault_attack wrote:: He for a short time was a dj in san jose & left because we did not have enough strip clubs, lol.

Just my 2 cents

Metal master Number of posts : 815 Age : 38

assault_attack wrote:: My only problem with Rikki was he was so into the Faster Pu$$ycat type bands he was clueless about other types of Metal. At times he really pissed me off with his narrow minded view of rock at the time.

Ye didn't he say one time that Nirvana was better than The Beatles? surprised

Metal master Number of posts : 516 Age : 52

Just saw some more pics of Vanessa Warwick and she hasnt aged to well.Shame as she was hot in the early 90s.

Bukkake Tsunami Number of posts : 25557 Age : 53

I didn't care much for him at the time, but now in retrospect, he doesn't seem all that bad. Knowing what we know now about his lack of input and whatnot, he seemed to make the best of the situation. I'd take him over that Jamey Jasta douchnozzle.

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Metal is Forever Number of posts : 5014 Age : 55

Something about him always bugged be, but I don't remember hating him.

mini boss Number of posts : 21101 Age : 54