Filling a void of hard rock music videos on MTV, a new television program hit the airwaves of UPN with Crank It Up!  The 30 minute series featured the top hard rock videos, as well as guest stars, and out of control antics from the "Radio Rat-Pack"; Madd Maxx Hammer, Rancid Randy, and Krazy Ken. Hosted by former rock radio personality The G-Ster, the program showcased such groups as: Marilyn Manson, Korn, Pantera, Rage Against The Machine, Type O'Negative, and other rockers too extreme for MTV's playlist. G-Ster & The Radio Rat-Pack were longtime fixtures of various rock radio stations across the country, including the Z-Rock, and LoudRadio networks. Making news in cities like Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and many points between.  Known for their controversial broadcasts, and hard rock programming not heard on traditional radio, the crew set their sites on TV in January 2000.  What came next was a Friday night fixture in late-night television for rockers with insomnia!

Crank It Up! also took G-Ster and crew on the road, originating the show from various locations such as Las Vegas, Sedona, AZ, and finally in Hollywood. The show became very popular, often beating the Late Late Show with Craig Kilbourn on CBS in many markets like Phoenix, AZ.
 *(Source: KUTP/Phoenix, Nielsen Media Research/TV DMA Sample July/Aug. 2000)

Guest stars included the likes of Sully from Godsmack, and Jerry Cantrell.

The series also broke ground by breaking new artists on television such as: The Deftones, Staind, Incubus, Limp Bizkit, Static-X, and a whose who of today's hottest rockers! The show was also one of the first streamed video progams over the Internet at the time, with its own web portal. In early 2001, the series went into syndication, and was carried over the Dallas, Texas-based American Independent Network (AIN).

(Above) Various antics of the rat-packers during the series.

In studio rehearsal with Crank It Up! cast & crew.

G-Ster & Rat-Pack hang in Hollywood with special guest
Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains during show taping.

Crank It Up! produced by:
Digital Syndicate TV/Southwest Multimedia, Los Angeles, CA.
Executive Producers: Guy Giuliano and Thomas King.
Co-Producers: Jason Wissinger and Erica Smith
Marketing/Staff: David Tuckmantel, Gay Hokenstrom, Ken Miller, and Randy Ramirez.