Book: MTV's Original VJs Reminisce

"This is it. Welcome to MTV -- music television, the world's first 24-hour stereo video music channel...Behold, a new concept is born: the best of TV combined with the best of radio. Your favorite tunes are never too far away any time you tune in...Right now, you'll never look at music the same way."

Those were the words uttered by Mark Goodman on MTV's first-ever broadcast on Aug. 1, 1981. When the network launched, it ushered in the video era that would transform the music industry and catapult artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran and Prince to stardom.

But, according to David Chiu at cbsnews.com, aside from the videos, a huge part of the channel's early history was its on-air talent -- or VJs -- who for the first several years consisted of five personalities -- Goodman, Nina Blackwood, Alan Hunter, the late J.J. Jackson and Martha Quinn. They presented the videos, conducted interviews, and delivered concert and music news -- and in the process became part of pop culture history.

Now four of the original VJs are telling their stories in a new book, "VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV's First Wave," co-written with Gavin Edwards.

Dishy, hilarious, wild, and poignant at times, "VJ" offers a frank, behind-the-scenes look at what happened at the network on and off the set. It has stories of the VJs' recollections of the many rock stars they met; the typical excesses of the decade from fashions to drugs; travels on the road and fan contests; and the impact of working at MTV had on the VJs' personal lives.

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