It’s time to crack open the vault.
Longtime readers know the name ZTV — the scrappy cable-access series I hosted from 1992-1994. Last month marked 33 years since I interviewed Megadeth mastermind Dave Mustaine, and that anniversary — alongside the release of what is said to be the band’s final studio album (reviewed here by Damian Cousins) — sent me digging through boxes, tapes, and memories.
What surfaced? Pure thrash history.
This clip of Megadeth ripping through “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” was shot on VHS at Palmer Auditorium in Davenport, Iowa, on January 30, 1993. I had clearance to film part of the song from the soundboard before making the leap into the photo pit — my first time shooting concert photography — armed with 35mm film and zero safety net.
No 4K. No smartphones. Just tape, grit, and volume. Check out the clip…
More from the ZTV Archives is on deck. I’m rolling out additional photos and video in the months ahead — most of it has never been shared online and was unseen outside its original airings in the Quad Cities in the early ’90s.
The tapes are still spinning.
About ZTV:
Before YouTube, before streaming, there was ZTV. The legendary Quad Cities cable access series ran for more than 40 episodes between 1992-1994. The series was created in 1992 by a 15-year-old high school sophomore who grew up to be James Zahn, aka The Rock Father.
