MTV 120 Minutes host and KROQ FM DJ Lewis Largent has died aged 58 after a long illness
MTV 120 Minutes host Lewis Largent has died aged 58.
The star, who was also a DJ for California radio station KROQ-FM, passed away on February 20 after a long illness, his family have now confirmed.
He is survived by his wife, Atlantic Music Group President/CEO Julie Greenwald, and their two children.
MTV’s 120 Minutes was dedicated to playing the latest in alternative rock and electronic music in the early to mid ’90s.
He also worked for MTV as Vice President of Music Programming, interviewing acts such as David Bowie, Trent Reznor, Radiohead, Björk and Smashing Pumpkins.
Sad news: Lewis Largent, host of MTV 120 Minutes, has died at the age of 58, his family has revealed
He has also worked as a radio DJ for KROQ and as an A&R senior at Island Def Jam Records.
His beginnings in the music industry began with an internship at KROQ, the alternative rock radio station in LA.
He began working full-time for the station in 1985 and was promoted to music director in 1989.
Lewis retired from hosting 120 Minutes for MTV in 1995, but continued to work as a programmer for MTV until 1999, before joining Island Def Jam Records as senior vice president of A&R.
He went on to sign acts such as Sum 41 and Andrew WK.
His role as host was next appointed to Matt Pinfield.
After hearing the news of Largent’s death, he tweeted on Friday: “I am absolutely devastated. I loved Lewis very much. I’m speechless.’
Fellow MTV personality John Norris, who was also a correspondent for MTV News at the same time, tweeted, “I won’t lie I always wish I was as cool as Lewis and he couldn’t have been more composed and humble and kind.”
Tragic: The star – who was also a DJ at California radio station KROQ-FM – passed away on February 20 after a long illness
Family: He is survived by his wife, Atlantic Music Group Chairman/CEO Julie Greenwald, and their two children (in interview with Davis Bowie)
Elsewhere, SiriusXM host and Largent’s KROQ colleague Doug ‘Sluggo’ Roberts said: “It’s heartbreaking to think we’ve lost Lewis Largent.
“The LewMonkey, as I called him, couldn’t have been more welcoming when I first joined KROQ during one of his coolest periods (thanks in large part to him) and he quickly became a good friend. RIP my brother!’