Wayback Wednesday: 40 Pics to Celebrate the 40th VMAs

Carly Tennes Published 09/11/2024 in wow

Since first hitting the airwaves in September 1984, the MTV VMAs have always been a sight to behold. Britney Spears belted "I'm a Slave 4 U" with a Burmese python draped across her shoulders. Madonna debuted "Like a Virgin" in her infamous bridal outfit. Kanye West sparking his ongoing feud with Taylor Swift. A whole lot has happened over the past four decades ... and whole lot of legendary snaps have been taken along the way.

From the Spice Girls hitting the red carpet to Nirvana rocking out onstage, here are 40 photos from the MTV VMAs, in honor of the award show's 40th anniversary.

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1.
“Alice Cooper and Christina Applegate at The 1989 MTV VMAS.”
2.
“Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston at the MTV VMAS Awards in 1998 during a skit.”
3.
”Madonna in her iconic white "Boy Toy" look for her ‘Like a Virgin’ performance at the 1984 MTV VMAs.”
4.
“Robert Downey Jr., future Weird Science co-star Anthony Michael Hall, David Lee Roth, and Sonia Braga hanging out after the VMAs at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on Sept. 14, 1984.”
5.
“David Faustino, Christina Applegate And Magic Johnson At The 1990 Video Music Awards.”
6.
“Nirvana performing ‘Lithium’ at the 1992 VMAs.”
7.
Lisa Lopes, Angie Martinez, Lil' Kim, Da Bart, and Missy Elliott arriving at the VMAs in their MTV best, 1997.
8.
No Doubt attends the 1996 VMAs.
9.
RuPaul comforting Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's daughter, Francis Bean Cobain, while posing with Nirvana, 1993.
10.
Britney Spears performs “I’m a Slave 4 U” at the 2001 VMAs.
11.
The Spice Girls strike a pose on the VMAs red carpet, 1997.
12.
Usher attending the 2001 VMAs.
13.
“Carmen Electra at the 1998 MTV VMAS.”
14.
TLC sporting all-white outfits — and one of their awards — at the 1995 VMAs.
15.
Courtney Love gets dragged offstage after interrupting Madonna’s after-show interview, 1995.
16.
“Anthony Kiedis and Madonna at the 12th Annual MTV VMAs (1995).”
17.
“Nirvana at the 1993 MTV VMAs.”
18.
“2[4] years ago … Eminem invaded the MTV Video Music Awards.”
19.
“Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan at the 1998 MTV VMAs.”
20.
“Nirvana at the VMAs (1992).”
21.
“Christina Applegate and Brad Pitt at the 1989 VMAs.”
22.
“Slash and Robert Downey Jr. at the 1988 VMAs.”
23.
Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford after climbing the VMA’s stage in protest of Limp Bizkit’s win for Best Rock Video, 2000.
24.
"September 4, 1996 - David Lee Roth appears with Van Halen at MTV’s VMA.” 
25.
“Snoop Dogg and Tupac at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.”
26.
“Cindy Crawford at VMAs in 1992.”
27.
“Dave Grohl (Nirvana) and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) in 1992 at the MTV Video Music Awards.”
28.
“Diana Ross and ZZ Top at the 1984 VMAs.”
29.
Eminem beefs with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog during the 2002 VMAs.
30.
“Pee Wee Herman, Rodney Dangerfield, David Lee Roth hanging out backstage at the VMAs in 1985.”
31.
“Diana Ross, Dr. Dre & Eminem at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.”
32.
“Neil Young and Eddie Vedder sharing a beer - VMA's 1993.”
33.
“Elton John and Axl Rose at the MTV VMAs, 1992.”
34.
“Gwen, Melissa, and Courtney at the 1998 VMA’s.”
35.
”The Bangles At the 1988 Video Music Awards.”
36.
Britney Spears and Madonna share a kiss while performing at the 2003 VMAs.
37.
“Whitesnake at the 1987 MTV Music Awards. Photo by George Rose.”
38.
Madonna during her now-iconic 1984 VMAs performance.
39.
“Chris Rock and Ice-T backstage at the MTV Music Awards (1992).”
40.
“Robert Downey Jr. and Slash at the VMA’s, 1988.”

1.
“Alice Cooper and Christina Applegate at The 1989 MTV VMAS.”
2.
“Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston at the MTV VMAS Awards in 1998 during a skit.”
3.
”Madonna in her iconic white "Boy Toy" look for her ‘Like a Virgin’ performance at the 1984 MTV VMAs.”
4.
“Robert Downey Jr., future Weird Science co-star Anthony Michael Hall, David Lee Roth, and Sonia Braga hanging out after the VMAs at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on Sept. 14, 1984.”
5.
“David Faustino, Christina Applegate And Magic Johnson At The 1990 Video Music Awards.”
6.
“Nirvana performing ‘Lithium’ at the 1992 VMAs.”
7.
Lisa Lopes, Angie Martinez, Lil' Kim, Da Bart, and Missy Elliott arriving at the VMAs in their MTV best, 1997.
8.
No Doubt attends the 1996 VMAs.
9.
RuPaul comforting Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's daughter, Francis Bean Cobain, while posing with Nirvana, 1993.
10.
Britney Spears performs “I’m a Slave 4 U” at the 2001 VMAs.
11.
The Spice Girls strike a pose on the VMAs red carpet, 1997.
12.
Usher attending the 2001 VMAs.
13.
“Carmen Electra at the 1998 MTV VMAS.”
14.
TLC sporting all-white outfits — and one of their awards — at the 1995 VMAs.
15.
Courtney Love gets dragged offstage after interrupting Madonna’s after-show interview, 1995.
16.
“Anthony Kiedis and Madonna at the 12th Annual MTV VMAs (1995).”
17.
“Nirvana at the 1993 MTV VMAs.”
18.
“2[4] years ago … Eminem invaded the MTV Video Music Awards.”
19.
“Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan at the 1998 MTV VMAs.”
20.
“Nirvana at the VMAs (1992).”
21.
“Christina Applegate and Brad Pitt at the 1989 VMAs.”
22.
“Slash and Robert Downey Jr. at the 1988 VMAs.”
23.
Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford after climbing the VMA’s stage in protest of Limp Bizkit’s win for Best Rock Video, 2000.
24.
"September 4, 1996 - David Lee Roth appears with Van Halen at MTV’s VMA.” 
25.
“Snoop Dogg and Tupac at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.”
26.
“Cindy Crawford at VMAs in 1992.”
27.
“Dave Grohl (Nirvana) and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) in 1992 at the MTV Video Music Awards.”
28.
“Diana Ross and ZZ Top at the 1984 VMAs.”
29.
Eminem beefs with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog during the 2002 VMAs.
30.
“Pee Wee Herman, Rodney Dangerfield, David Lee Roth hanging out backstage at the VMAs in 1985.”
31.
“Diana Ross, Dr. Dre & Eminem at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.”
32.
“Neil Young and Eddie Vedder sharing a beer - VMA's 1993.”
33.
“Elton John and Axl Rose at the MTV VMAs, 1992.”
34.
“Gwen, Melissa, and Courtney at the 1998 VMA’s.”
35.
”The Bangles At the 1988 Video Music Awards.”
36.
Britney Spears and Madonna share a kiss while performing at the 2003 VMAs.
37.
“Whitesnake at the 1987 MTV Music Awards. Photo by George Rose.”
38.
Madonna during her now-iconic 1984 VMAs performance.
39.
“Chris Rock and Ice-T backstage at the MTV Music Awards (1992).”
40.
“Robert Downey Jr. and Slash at the VMA’s, 1988.”