Dave Kendall, the creator and host of MTV’s iconic nineties show 120 Minutes, has died. He was 63.
His friend and former fellow MTV host Matt Pinfield confirmed Kendall’s death with a tribute post shared Tuesday.
“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dave Kendall,” Pinfield wrote on X. “Dave was one of the true believers. Long before alternative music found its way into the mainstream, he was there every week on 120 Minutes, introducing people to bands that would go on to define an era.”
He continued: “He didn’t just host a show. He gave a home to music that deserved to be heard. He loved the music, respected the artists, and connected with fans in a way that always felt authentic. That’s a rare gift. Sending love to everyone whose life he touched. Rest easy, Dave.”
Kendall’s cause or date of death was not disclosed in the statement.
Representatives for MTV did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment.
As Pinfield said, Kendall was known for championing alternative music.
The British-born DJ started 120 Minutes as a producer when the show first debuted on March 10, 1986. The alternative music program originally aired Sunday nights at midnight from 1986 until 2000.
Kendall — a former music journalist who previously wrote for outlets like Spin and the New York Post — hosted the show from 1988 to 1992. He quickly became known for his knowledge of music and passion for indie genres.
Throughout its run, the show featured alternative artists like The Ramones, Kate Bush, Morrissey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sinéad O’Connor and Depeche Mode. Nirvana’s music video for their breakout single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” famously received a world premiere on 120 Minutes and became so popular that it began to play during the channel’s regular daytime rotation.
Kendall had already left MTV by the time 120 Minutes was canceled in 2003. He worked as a freelance music writer, hosted talk shows and radio programs that focused on alternative music and created music websites.
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He also performed as a club DJ in New York and London, and produced for TV channels including Sky, Channel 4 and Animal Planet. In 2008, Kendall also returned to his music roots to host Party 360 with Dave Kendall on Sirius Satellite Radio.
Since 2005, Kendall had lived in Thailand, China and Indonesia. He began working as a sub-editor at the Bangkok Post in 2017 and hosted the newspaper’s interview podcast, Deeper Dive. The Post said in an article published Wednesday about Kendall: “His thoughtful and well-prepared conversations with newsmakers, business leaders and public figures earned the respect of colleagues and viewers alike.”
News of Kendall’s death sparked music lovers to share nostalgic tributes to the host on social media, with one person writing on a Reddit thread about Kendall: “He was the face of my music education. It’s sad to know he’s gone.”
“This one hurts!” another user wrote on X. “120 Minutes was the bomb. Opened my music tastes at a young age! I am indebted to this man. What a loss for music fans.”