VH1's Metal Month To Feature All-New Series, Documentaries, Specials And Movies

From the rocking sounds of metal music and the stories behind the men and women who created them to the continued legacy that is rock and roll, VH1 debuts all-new series, documentaries, specials and movies this May that will leave you praying at the altar of rock.

Premieres:

"40 Greatest Metal Songs": Premieres Monday-Thursday, starting May 1 at 11 p.m.:

Hosted by Sebastian Bach, "40 Greatest Metal Songs" brings you the 40 most notable metal songs of all time in four rockin' half hour episodes. Whether epic, political, scary or downright silly, these tunes have one thing in common: they will rock your friggin' socks off. Who could resist jumping into the pit during PANTERA's "Walk", banging your head 'til it hurts to METALLICA's "Master of Puppets", or throwing up the devil horns to IRON MAIDEN's "Number of the Beast". VH1 will count down the greatest metal songs that made a whole generation turn the volume up, way up. If you can't get enough of VH1's "40 Greatest Metal Moments" then tune in to VH1 Classic Monday, May 1 beginning at 11:30 PM.* to see a sneak peak of episodes two, three and four.

"Behind The Music: Ratt" and "Behind The Music: Pantera": Premiere Thursday, May 11 starting at 9:00 p.m.:

This special edition of "Behind the Music: Ratt" contains exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the band, as well as a never-before-seen interview with Robbin Crosby, conducted three years before his death. In the beginning, the band crawled up from the Sunset Strip's hair metal scene in the early '80s to record a fistful of multi-platinum albums and fill arenas around the globe.

Then at 10:00 p.m., "Behind The Music" returns with the story of hard-hitting band PANTERA. In the early 1990s, when hair metal was being sheered from the charts by grunge and earnest hard-rockers like GUNS N' ROSES, PANTERA righteously flew the hard-edged heavy metal flag, almost single-handedly saving the genre from extinction.

"Supergroup": Premieres Sunday, May 21 at 10:00 p.m.:

VH1's "SuperGroup": Ted Nugent, Scott Ian, Sebastian Bach, Evan Seinfeld and Jason Bonham, are poised to re-conquer the rock world (and hopefully spread a little debauchery in the process) in the ultimate musical experiment. "SuperGroup" will bring together these five hard rocking icons and present them with the opportunity to create the heaviest "supergroup." Ultimately viewers will see whether or not the band will come together as hard rock's saviors or simply implode.

"Heavy: The Story of Metal": Premieres Monday-Thursday, starting May 22 at 9 p.m.:

What Ken Burns did for jazz, VH1 does for heavy metal — only a lot louder. VH1's new "rock doc," "Heavy: The Story of Metal" traces the evolution of heavy metal music and culture, from its dark, grim beginnings in Birmingham, England to the worldwide force that it remains to this day. In a series of four chronological hours, "Heavy: The Story of Metal" explores four decades of music, each hour examining this powerful and often misunderstood genre, from metal's pioneers to its love of glam and excess; from the fight for metal's rebellious soul to its storied flirtation with the devil. VH1 Classic will sneak peek the second, third and fourth installments of the series on Monday, May 22 beginning at 10 p.m.*

"VH1 Rock Honors": Premieres Wednesday, May 31 AT 9:00 p.m.:

VH1 debuts the first-ever show to pay homage to the legends who influenced the sound of hard rock with the first annual "VH1 Rock Honors". This year's celebration will honor the music and influence of KISS, QUEEN, DEF LEPPARD and JUDAS PRIEST. Additional performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced as they are confirmed.

Premiering on Wednesday, May 31 at 9:00 p.m., "VH1 Rock Honors" will be taped at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, May 25. The two-hour tribute will salute the groundbreaking bands of rock, the once-in-a-lifetime events and the influential people who made a lasting mark on the history of hard rock.

For more information on all these shows, please log on to www.vh1.com.