Bradley Friedman Collection

1979-1983

Color Videotape, B/W Videotape, B/W Film

Bradley Friedman is one of the great unsung visionaries of early music video from the pre-MTV and early-MTV eras. Friedman started his career while studying in Shirley Clarke's Experimental Video Workshop at UCLA and went on to create many pioneering video art works featuring local bands from the Los Angeles punk and new wave scene and using chroma-key effects, video feedback and distorted playback video as his primary tools. The resulting short form works were visually arresting post-psychedelic reflections of the synthesizer-heavy sounds emanating from the bands and remain some of the truest examples of "video music" and its creative possibilities. Friedman and the scene of artists and musicians he collaborated with envisaged a world in which music would be consumed strictly via videodisc formats. Their collective mission at the time was to push that agenda and see that music and video became one. They anticipated that in the not-too-distant video future music-only formats such as vinyl LPs and cassettes would become obsolete, and that music fans would refer to video charts and buy the new laserdisc from their favorite band instead; a future which of course hasn't exactly come to pass... YET!

Friedman did strike a deal with a major record label for what would hopefully become the first music video compilation laserdisc. By the time the project finally got underway MTV had launched its rocket and altered the music industry's views on video forever, simultaneously nuking Friedman's plans. Changing direction, Friedman went on to create a local television program showcasing his own music video work along with that of his colleagues and submissions from the big labels entitled "Modern Music". This show featured not only the music videos, but also news and interviews featuring many musicians and behind-the-scenes type industry luminaries. The show was a short-lived success, however, it became difficult to compete with MTV as time went on, with production budgets escalating and record companies moving toward exclusive deals with the growing network. Friedman saw the writing on his wall and moved into other areas, such as a groundbreaking laserdisc encyclopedia project anticipating the look, feel and functionality of the world wide web. To this day and no matter what field Friedman chooses to lend his vision to he leaves an indelible mark. Retro Video, Inc proudly represents The Bradley Friedman Collection of music videos, video art and TV programming on an exclusive basis for World wide licensing.

Bradley Friedman Collection Television Library includes footage of: