BEHIND THE MUSIC IS BACK
PARAMOUNT+ REBOOTS FRANCHISE WITH ALL THE DRAMA YOU’D EXPECT
It’s a long way from 1997, when the scandalous tale of Milli Vanilli launched a VH1 franchise that would become beloved by music geeks and those simply interested in gossip and tears.
Nearly 25 years later, execs are hoping that “Behind the Music” still resonates as it returns in refreshed form on Paramount+ with episodes detailing the careers of Ricky Martin and LL Cool J, now streaming.
“We’ve watched how popular storytelling vehicles have been the last couple of years and we know that music fans are always trying to find ways to get closer to their favorite artists or find something that the fans don’t already know,” Jennifer Demme, executive producer for MTV music production and development, tells USA TODAY. “We felt there was no better time to tell some new stories and reboot some of the impactful ones from the past.”
The show evolved into a signature series for VH1 as it dug into behind-the-scenes drama of marquee artists (Blondie, Metallica) and pop culture punchlines (Tiffany, Bay City Rollers).
With no social media at the time of the original to document any ongoing crises or the ability for artists to communicate directly with fans, the show served as a rare peek behind the veneer of stardom.
Drugs, divorces (among band members and spouses), illnesses, triumphs – all were hallmarks of the show.
A spinoff, “Behind the Music: Remastered,” landed on VH1 Classic (now MTV Classic) in 2010, with recharged stories of artists including Anthrax, Styx, Pat Benatar and Genesis.
This new batch of shows – which began filming late last fall – includes one newcomer to the franchise, Latino rapper Fat Joe, whose Sept. 9 episode closes out the first round. Following the double arrival of Martin and LL Cool J, episodes will drop weekly with Huey Lewis (Aug. 5), Busta Rhymes (Aug. 12), Duran Duran (Aug. 19), Bret Michaels (Aug. 26) and New Kids on the Block (Sept. 2).
The second half of the season, which doesn’t have a start date or full lineup yet, will kick off with Jennifer Lopez.
Even with the internet and social media offering fans a deeper connection with artists who choose to engage, there is no denying the voyeuristic appeal of “Behind the Music.”
Martin, now married with children, tears up in the Paramount+ series while watching footage of himself from his “Remastered” episode talking about his struggles with coming out as a gay man.
In the Fat Joe installment, the rapper – who has lost about 150 pounds over the years – sits on a stool, confronted with video footage that, he tells USA TODAY, “I’d never seen in my life.”
Historical moments with his best friend, the late rapper Big Pun, were particularly wrenching for him to revisit.
“I got choked up and emotional,” he says. “It’s weird because it’s almost like that’s what they want you to do and you don’t want to give it to them. Like Fat Joe, he’s the tough guy. But I didn’t even realize I’d cried until I watched it. Every time I talk about (Big Pun), it hurts me.”
Even though going “Behind the Music” might dislodge tender memories, Fat Joe, as well as Poison frontman Michaels - who endured a brain hemorrhage in 2010 and lives with Type 1 diabetes – relished the honesty that anchors the show.
This is Michaels’ third intersection with the franchise, both with the band and as a solo musician. He tells USA TODAY that his primary goal in revisiting was to keep the story relevant.
“As an artist, you want respect for what you’ve done, but you want to live in the here and now,” he says. “They took pieces of the past – good, bad and ugly – and I said, great, if we’re going to do a new (episode), besides talking about the stuff we did back then, I hope we can mix it up. Because as much as I like to party and have fun, you don’t get this far in your career by accident. That’s important to show people.”
Extracting genuine responses from the artists was important for the authenticity of the show, as well as to remind viewers that stars have feelings, says Jennifer Demme, executive producer for MTV music production and development.
“When you see celebrities and artists more like everyday people – which they are – it makes the story more relatable,” she says. “It also helped them refresh their minds.”
For both Fat Joe and Michaels, the opportunity to share their backstory with a potential new demographic was appealing. It also reinforced the history ingrained in the “Behind the Music” franchise.
“I always thought it was prestigious. I always said to myself when I was younger, ‘I want to get a (Behind the Music).’ It’s a very sentimental thing,” Fat Joe says. “My life is pretty transparent and I like people to learn from my wins and my mistakes. I don’t think we can educate the new generation without teaching them about the mistakes.”
Michaels is equally circumspect.
“I am honored and I am grateful,” says Michaels. “I’ve taken a couple of hard knocks on the chin and I’ve made a few less-than-reputable decisions in my career. But I’m still here to talk about it.”