VH1 ROCK HONORS RACKS UP THE RATINGS

The network’s first-ever VH1 Rock Honors event, featuring performances by KISS, Queen, Def Leppard and Judas Priest in concert from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, was a ratings bonanza.

The show, which premiered at 9 p.m. May 31 and included tributes from Foo Fighters, Godsmack, The All-American Rejects, Tommy Lee, Slash, Scott Ian, Gilby Clarke and Rob Zombie, averaged a .8 18-49, attracting 1.1 million total viewers, a +166% increase over the same time period last year. The show also drew significant numbers in its 11 p.m. encore, drawing in an average 600,000 total viewers for that airing.

VH1 GM Tom Calderone took time out from removing his official Gene Simmons codpiece to enthuse: “Rumors of rock’s demise once again prove to be false. We thank all of the immense talent who performed with such passion that night. Our first Rock Honors was indeed an honorable evening, and we’re glad that we could share it with our viewers. Now, if I could only make back the $10k I lost there in blackjack.”

Hosted by My Name Is Earl’s sassy Jaime Pressly, the show featured the Foo Fighters joining Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor for “Tie Your Mother Down.” Godsmack delivered a medley of Judas Priest’s work. The All-American Rejects covered Def Leppard’s “Photograph.” An all-star band tribute to KISS included surprise guest Ace Frehley with Tommy Lee, Slash, Scott Ian, Gilby Clarke and Rob Zombie performing “God of Thunder.”

The show also included appearances by Kiefer Sutherland, Gina Gershon, Jaime Kennedy, Jim Breuer, Natasha Henstridge, Brittany Snow and Penn Jillette.

The show aired on both VH1 and VH1 Classic during the week.