Lewis Largent, who rose to prominence in the 1980s and '90s as an MTV VJ and KROQ DJ, died on 2/20 following a long illness, Variety reports. He was 58.

The Southern California native began his career as an intern at KROQ after a chance meeting with the Los Angeles station's general manager at the country club where Largent worked. In 1989 he was promoted to music director, a position he held for three years.

In 1992, Largent left KROQ for MTV, where he became host of the popular Sunday-night alternative-rock show 120 Minutes. Through 1995 he welcomed a stream of special guests, including David Bowie, Radiohead, the Goo Goo Dolls, Pavement and Björk.

He arrived at Island Def Jam in 1999 to assume the mantle of SVP of A&R, signing Sum 41 and Andrew W.K. Largent departed the music industry for academia in 2004; he earned a B.A. in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College, followed by an M.F.A. in 2015.

Upon hearing the news of Largent's death, Matt Pinfield, who succeeded Largent as host of 120 Minutes, expressed his grief on Twitter, writing, "I am completely gutted. I loved Lewis very much. I am at a loss for words."

Largent is survived by his wife, Atlantic Music Group Chairman/CEO Julie Greenwald, and their two children.