Dave Sirulnick grew up and graduated from high school in Teaneck, New Jersey, and became involved with booking then-little-known musicians such as LL Cool J, Run DMC, and Salt-N-Pepa at the nearby Bergenfield, New Jersey, roller rink. before attending Rutgers University. After the university, he was hired as a news producer at CNN through his father's connections. Sirulnick was eventually involved with nirvana and joined MTV that, he claims, "wanted someone to grow their news department.