Dave Kendall, host of MTV’s music program “120 Minutes”, dies

Tiffany KellyWed, July 15, 2026 at 2:56 PM UTC

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Dave Kendall on MTVCredit: MTVKey Points -

Dave Kendall, who created and hosted MTV’s 120 Minutes, has died.

Fellow host Matt Pinfield announced the news on social media on July 14.

“He loved the music, respected the artists, and connected with fans in a way that always felt authentic,” Pinfield wrote. “That’s a rare gift.”

Dave Kendall, who created and hosted the MTV program 120 Minutes, has died, fellow host Matt Pinfield announced.

“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,” Pinfield wrote in a post on X on July 14. “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,” Pinfield continued. “That’s a rare gift.”“Sending love to everyone whose life he touched,” he concluded in his post. “Rest easy, Dave.”

Pinfield did not list a cause of death.

British-born Kendall created 120 Minutes in 1986 and hosted it from 1988 to 1992, showcasing music videos from artists that were then considered alternative, like Kate Bush, the Ramones, and They Might Be Giants.

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Pinfield took over hosting duties on the show from 1995 to 1999, and again from 2011 to 2013, when the program relaunched after its cancellation in 2000. Other hosts included Kevin Seal, Lewis Largent, and Jim Shearer.

True to its name, the late-night weekend program aired for 120 minutes (including commercials). Nirvana’s video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” notably premiered on the show on Sept. 29, 1991.

“Back then the word ‘alternative’ wasn’t being used,” Kendall told music site Consequence in a 2016 interview reflecting on the MTV program. “There was just a hodgepodge of styles: punk, post-punk, gothic, synth pop, new romantic, ska, psychedelic, garage rock, etc. What all the music had in common was passion and a desire to be original and creative. There wasn’t a word for it.”

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After 120 Minutes, Kendall worked as a DJ and TV reporter/producer. He also hosted programs on Sirius Satellite Radio, including Party 360 With Dave Kendall. In recent years, he wrote stories and created video content for the Bangkok Post.

on Entertainment Weekly

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