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Vintage photos from the very first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984

Jasper
Vintage photos from the very first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984

Forty years ago, MTV launched what would become a pop culture giant.

The first-ever MTV Video Music Awards took place on September 14, 1984, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler hosted the event, and the guest list featured a who’s who of the decade’s biggest pop stars. Cyndi Lauper and ZZ Top were among the celebs who took home a Moon Man statuette, while Madonna and Tina Turner performed and Eddie Murphy, Joe Piscopo and Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran were the honorees.

When the 40th annual MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by Megan Thee Stallion and featuring performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Camila Cabello, Eminem and more, take a look back at the show’s beginnings in 1984 on September 11 at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

Double dose

Dan Aykroyd and Bette Middler in 1984.

MTV / Courtesy of Everett


The first-ever MTV VMAs were so over-the-top that they needed not one, but two hilarious hosts: Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler.

Ball Queen

Madonna in 1984.

Sonia Moskowitz/Getty


With her signature lingerie-inspired look and lots of pearls, Madonna was the embodiment of 80s excess.

Blonde ambition

Billy Idol in 1984.

Ebet Roberts/Redferns


Billy Idol was nominated for five awards and competed with Madonna for the most jewelry worn at an awards ceremony.

Queen of Pop

Tina Turner in 1984.

Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty


Music icon Tina Turner sang her 1984 hit “What’s Love Got to Do with It.”

Over the moon

Cyndi Lauper in 1984.

AP Photo/G Paul Burnett


With nine nominations, Cyndi Lauper was the most nominated artist at the 1984 VMAs, taking home an award for the video for her hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Circle of winners

Quincy Jones in 1984.

MPIRock/MediaPunch via Getty


MTV honored music industry legend Quincy Jones with its first-ever Special Recognition Award.

Untouched territory

Madonna performing at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards.

Courtesy of Everett


Madonna’s controversial performance of her hit “Like a Virgin” was the first of many instantly iconic performances by the pop star at the VMAs.

Party girl

Dale Bozzio in 1984.

Debra Trebitz/Corbis/VCG via Getty


Dale Bozzio, lead singer of Missing Persons, shone at the 1984 VMAs.

Do everything

Huey Lewis in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


Singer Huey Lewis and his band Huey Lewis and the News were nominated for two awards and also presented their song “I Want a New Drug”.

Funny boys

Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo in 1984.

AP Photo


Comedians Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo presented The Cars with the most important award of the evening, “Video of the Year,” for their clip “You Might Think.”

If looks could inspire

Richard Belzer in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


The party continued with the VMA after-party at Tavern on the Green in New York’s Central Park, where actor Richard Belzer was on the guest list.

Top Three

Diana Ross (centre) and Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


Diana Ross found herself sharing a beard sandwich with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill from ZZ Top at the Tavern on the Green after-party.

Hard Rock

Alice Cooper and Sheryl Cooper in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


The 1984 VMAs were so big they needed two after-parties! Here, shock rocker Alice Cooper and his wife Sheryl arrived at the Hard Rock Café in New York City.

Multi-Platinum

Cher in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


Cher wore a short blonde hairstyle at the VMA after-party at the Hard Rock Café.

All eyes on you

Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


Valerie Bertinelli and her then husband Eddie Van Halen celebrated his band’s victory in the category “Best Stage Performance in a Video”.

Wild Bunch

Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, David Lee Roth and Sonia Braga in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth and Sonia Braga arrived in style at the Hard Rock Café after-party.

Famous faces

Nick Rhodes and Julie Anne Friedman in 1984.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty


Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran and his then-wife Julie Anne Friedman posed for a photo at the after-party. Rhodes’ band was nominated for two awards at the VMAs, and he and bandmate Simon Le Bon presented Cyndi Lauper with the Moon Person for Best Female Video.

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