Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 3, 1993 TAG: 9309030419
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
"I guess you gotta say thanks," grumbled lead singer Eddie Vedder. "If it weren't for music I think I would have shot myself in the front of the classroom. It really is what kept me alive."
Madonna set the tone for the night with a lascivious opening number, but the program swung back to a musical focus later when Neil Young joined Pearl Jam in a powerful rendition of "Rockin' in the Free World."
"Jeremy" also won awards for best group video, best metal/hard rock video and for the video's director, Mark Pellington, who called it a portrayal of "a kid really fighting with evil."
En Vogue's "Free Your Mind," a plea for tolerance, won the rhythm and blues trophy, best dance video and for choreography. The quartet, which had a leading seven nominations, accepted via videotape from Minneapolis.
The veteran rockers of Aerosmith claimed the coveted viewers' choice award.
"I think I'm tripping," singer Steve Tyler said. "I must be addicted to adrenalin."
The best male video award went to Lenny Kravitz for "Are You Gonna Go My Way" and the female video trophy was awarded to k.d. lang's "Constant Craving."
"I'm sure even the folks down at the psychic friends network would have never suspected this one," lang said.
A tuxedo-clad Madonna opened the show with a gender-bending song-and-dance number with three scantily clad women in a brothel-style atmosphere.
Wearing a Marlene Dietrich-style tux and top hat, Madonna caressed the thigh and slapped the buttocks of a lingerie-clad female dancer.
"Get the picture?" Madonna teased the audience.
"If you're looking for trouble you've definitely come to the right place," said actor Christian Slater, host of the three-hour awards show telecast on the cable network from Universal Amphitheatre.
As Nirvana accepted its award, singer Kurt Cobain unbuttoned his pants, causing the camera to abruptly pan away from him.
The statuesque cross-dresser RuPaul and veteran TV comic Milton Berle proved to be the most bizarre pairing of presenters, causing Berle to quip: "I'm beginning to feel like a straight man."
Turning stereotypes upside down, tuxedo-clad members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers were joined by a T-shirted Tony Bennett in presenting an award. The band members rebuked Bennett for being so poorly dressed.
"Hey, come on! You know, guys, this is MTV, get a clue," said Bennett.
One award was discarded this year: the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The decision was made last year and was unrelated to the investigation of child molestation allegations against the pop star, MTV said.
Winners were decided by more than 700 music industry members.
\ MTV AWARDS WINNERS\ \ Video: Pearl Jam, "Jeremy."
\ Male Video: Lenny Kravitz, "Are You Gonna Go My Way."
\ Female Video: k.d. lang, "Constant Craving."
\ Group: Pearl Jam, "Jeremy."
\ New Artist: Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush."
\ Viewers Choice: Aerosmith, "Livin' on the Edge."
\ Dance: En Vogue, "Free Your Mind."
\ Metal-Hard Rock: Pearl Jam, "Jeremy."
\ Alternative Video: Nirvana, "In Bloom."
\ Video from a Film: Alice in Chains, "Would?" from "Singles."
\ R&B Video: En Vogue, "Free Your Mind."
\ Rap Video: Arrested Development, "People Everyday."
\ Director: Mark Pellington for Pearl Jam's "Jeremy."
by CNB