VH1 Classic Amps up for "National Metal Day" on 11-11-11

Banger Films' Groundbreaking 11-Part Documentary Series "Metal Evolution" Premieres Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10 PM ET/PT

11 Days Of Metal Programming Begins Tuesday, November 1, 2011 On VH1 Classic

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2011 -- As previously announced, VH1 Classic has proclaimed 11-11-11 as "National Metal Day" and will celebrate with a slew of exclusive metal programming, including three major metal premieres: "Behind The Music Remastered" at 9PM ET/PT, the exclusive debut of Banger Films' groundbreaking documentary series, "Metal Evolution" at 10PM ET/PT and the ninth season premiere of a VH1 Classic original "That Metal Show" at 11PM ET/PT.

"Behind The Music Remastered: Megadeth" premieres Friday, November 11 at 9PM ET/PT

They've been the champions of thrash metal for nearly thirty years, despite discord, addiction and infighting. Updated to the original episode are Dave Mustaine's crippling hand injury which threatens the bands survival, a painful law suit and more walk outs and throw outs of band members. Now they're in the Big Four and still aiming for the top spot, but even if Dave Mustaine is happy with the new line up he remains unhappy about their ranking in the top ten of heavy metal - still just behind Metallica.

"Metal Evolution Chapter 1: Pre-Metal" premieres Friday, November 11 at 10 PM ET/PT

The premiere episode of "Metal Evolution Chapter 1: Pre-Metal" will focus on Pre-Metal, the earliest sounds of metal that can be heard in the music of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix. Subsequent episodes of the series will explore genres ranging from British Heavy Metal to Glam Metal to Thrash Metal, and artists from Iron Maiden to KISS to Metallica and more. "Metal Evolution" is an 11-episode docu-series produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn of Banger Films and is based on the groundbreaking "Heavy Metal Family Tree." The "Heavy Metal Family Tree" is a 26 sub-genre genealogical chart which reveals the vast complex progeny of heavy metal - from Early Metal and Shock Rock to Thrash, from Progressive Metal to Grunge and Nu Metal. Using the chart as his road map, host/producer and metal head turned anthropologist Dunn, crisscrosses the globe exploring the vast history of heavy metal across its 40+ year history and beyond. After the premiere episode on National Metal Day, "Metal Evolution" will move to its regular time slot on Saturdays at 10 PM ET/PT, beginning Saturday, November 19 between new episodes of "BTM:Remastered" at 9PM ET/PT and "That Metal Show" at 11PM ET/PT.

"That Metal Show" Season Nine premieres Friday, November 11 at 11PM ET/PT

The boys are back and there's gonna be some trouble! Eddie Trunk, Don Jamison and Jim Florentine are back in LA and brining the heat with season nine of "That Metal Show." An all-star lineup of iconic metal guests grace the stage this season including: Marilyn Manson, Slash, Sully Erna, Jesse James Dupree, Tracii Guns, Brian Johnson, Dave Mustaine and more! Season nine of "THAT METAL SHOW" will deliver the ever popular "Stump The Trunk" and "TMS TOP 5" segments.

To warm up for the National Metal Day celebration, VH1 Classic has scheduled 11 days worth of legendary metal programming beginning Tuesday, November 1. Every night during the 11 days of metal, VH1 Classic will make an offering to the metal gods with a nightly concert at 11 PM ET/PT. Legends Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Motley Crue, KISS, Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden will be featured.

Vh1 Classic will line up the highlights of its library of classic metal concerts on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 with a relentless line-up including:

6 pm ET/PT: Download Festival 2011 (featuring Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, System of a Down, Alice Cooper, Linkin Park, Rob Zombie, Twisted Sister)

8 PM ET/PT: Sonisphere 2011 (featuring Slipknot, Motorhead, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica, In Flames, Mastodon)

10 PM ET/PT: High Voltage 2011 (featuring Slash, Thin Lizzy, Queensryche, Dream Theater, Judas Priest, Black Country Communion)

11 PM ET/PT: MTV World Stage: KISS

Of course the metal story is not just concerts. On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, VH1 Classic will air a metal music video marathon with "Metal Mania: The Greatest Metal Videos Ever A to Z" from 11AM to 11PM ET/PT.

By the time National Metal Day finally arrives on Friday, November 11, the line-up will be bolstered with features like "The Decline of Western Civilization," "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey," and, of course, "This is Spinal Tap" - the movie that taught metal heads everywhere to take it to 11.

Additional concerts, movies and specials focusing on metal will air during the month of November. Please visit www.vh1classic.com for a full list of programming.

Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that presents videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of rock, soul and pop artists from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90s, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, Madonna, and U2. Learn more at VH1Classic.com.

* All Times ET/PT