43 Vintage MTV Pics to Celebrate Its 43rd Anniversary

Carly Tennes Published 08/01/2024 in wow

On August 1, 1981, the world let out its first "I Want My MTV!" a cry that has echoed over the past nearly four-and-a-half decades. In its 43-year existence, MTV — even in its current state, one that begs the question of what heinous crime Rob Dyrdek witnessed a Viacom executive commit — has served as a cultural touchstone, driving trends, popularizing the music video, and of course, bringing us iconic "Unplugged" performances from bands like Alice in Chains and Nirvana.

From Prince shredding to spring break shenanigans, here are 43 pics of '80s and '90s MTV for your inner VJ.

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1.
2. “Bruno Mars being interviewed by Pauly Shore on his MTV show. 1992.”
3. “Christina Applegate and Brad Pitt, Pitt was her date to the 1989 MTV Movie Awards... until she ditched him for another guy.”
4. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
5. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
6. “Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan at the 1998 MTV VMAs.”
7. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
8. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
9. “The first MTV VJ's from the early 1980s.”
10. “Happy New Year!!! MTV (1984)”
11. “Martha Quinn. MTV VJ. 1981-1993.”
12. Bon Jovi after winning the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, 1991.
13. “David Grohl and Kurt Cobain pose while RuPaul tries to console a screaming Frances Bean before the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.”
14. “Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, David Lee Roth, and Sonia Braga at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards After Party at the Hard Rock Cafe NYC.”
15. “Sandra Bullock and Adam Sandler at the MTV Video Music Awards, 1994.”
16. "1984 MTV VMAs award for Best Female Video."
17. “Chris Rock and Ice-T backstage at the MTV Music Awards (1992).”
18. “Carmen Electra at the 1998 MTV VMAS.”
19. “Henry Rollins - Expand your musical tastes (MTV 120 Minutes 1993).”
20. “Stone Temple Pilots - Creep (MTV Unplugged 1993).”
21. “The Club MTV dancers. MTV Spring Break. 1990.”
22. “Anthony Kiedis and Madonna at the 12th Annual MTV VMAs (1995).”
23. “The comedy troupe The State whose show on MTV ran from 1993 to 1995.”
24. “Eminem, Dre, Xzibit - MTV Spring Break 1999.”
25. Prince performing at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards
26. “30 years ago… Nirvana recorded its ‘MTV Unplugged’ episode. Shot in one take and aired the next month, it remains a performance for the ages.”
27. “[1997] Mike Myers, as Austin Powers, performing live with Ming Tea at the MTV Music Awards.”
28. “August 1981. My dad was a camera man at MTV.”
29. “Madonna at the MTV Video Music Awards, 1984.”
30. “Dan Cortese, Jon Stewart. and George Clooney at MTV’s Rock & Jock Baseball (1994).”
31. “Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan, 1999 MTV Movie Awards.”
32. “Whitesnake at the 1987 MTV Music Awards. Photo by George Rose.”
33. “Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. MTV's Unplugged, 1992.”
34. “Alice Cooper and Christina Applegate at The 1989 MTV VMAS.”
35. “Me in 1992 on Beach MTV in Hawaii in a tan contest. Daisy Fuentes and Dan Cortese hosted. (I won).”
36. “Cast of MTV’s The State. Most would go on to do a bunch other great things. Here’s where it all began… (1993).”
37. “Michael Keaton at The MTV Movie awards 1997.”
38. “September 4, 1996 - David Lee Roth appears with Van Halen at MTV’s VMA.”
39. “Dave Grohl (Nirvana) and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) in 1992 at the MTV Video Music Awards.”
40. “Eddie Murphy and Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1992 MTV Movie Awards.”
41. “MTV logo, circa 1980s.”
42. “Behind-the-scenes footage of Alice In Chains rehearsing for their 1996 MTV Unplugged concert, playing Rotten Apple (they would not play it during the concert).”
43. “MTV best kiss winners, Marisa Tomei and boyfriend Christian Slater, Market Street Oyster Bar, Venice, California, 1993.”
44. "Conan O’Brien as a guest on Jon Stewart’s old MTV show in 1994."
45. "Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston at the MTV VMAS Awards in 1998 during a skit."

1.
2. “Bruno Mars being interviewed by Pauly Shore on his MTV show. 1992.”
3. “Christina Applegate and Brad Pitt, Pitt was her date to the 1989 MTV Movie Awards... until she ditched him for another guy.”
4. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
5. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
6. “Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan at the 1998 MTV VMAs.”
7. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
8. The MTV Video Music Awards, 1987
9. “The first MTV VJ's from the early 1980s.”
10. “Happy New Year!!! MTV (1984)”
11. “Martha Quinn. MTV VJ. 1981-1993.”
12. Bon Jovi after winning the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, 1991.
13. “David Grohl and Kurt Cobain pose while RuPaul tries to console a screaming Frances Bean before the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.”
14. “Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, David Lee Roth, and Sonia Braga at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards After Party at the Hard Rock Cafe NYC.”
15. “Sandra Bullock and Adam Sandler at the MTV Video Music Awards, 1994.”
16. "1984 MTV VMAs award for Best Female Video."
17. “Chris Rock and Ice-T backstage at the MTV Music Awards (1992).”
18. “Carmen Electra at the 1998 MTV VMAS.”
19. “Henry Rollins - Expand your musical tastes (MTV 120 Minutes 1993).”
20. “Stone Temple Pilots - Creep (MTV Unplugged 1993).”
21. “The Club MTV dancers. MTV Spring Break. 1990.”
22. “Anthony Kiedis and Madonna at the 12th Annual MTV VMAs (1995).”
23. “The comedy troupe The State whose show on MTV ran from 1993 to 1995.”
24. “Eminem, Dre, Xzibit - MTV Spring Break 1999.”
25. Prince performing at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards
26. “30 years ago… Nirvana recorded its ‘MTV Unplugged’ episode. Shot in one take and aired the next month, it remains a performance for the ages.”
27. “[1997] Mike Myers, as Austin Powers, performing live with Ming Tea at the MTV Music Awards.”
28. “August 1981. My dad was a camera man at MTV.”
29. “Madonna at the MTV Video Music Awards, 1984.”
30. “Dan Cortese, Jon Stewart. and George Clooney at MTV’s Rock & Jock Baseball (1994).”
31. “Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan, 1999 MTV Movie Awards.”
32. “Whitesnake at the 1987 MTV Music Awards. Photo by George Rose.”
33. “Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. MTV's Unplugged, 1992.”
34. “Alice Cooper and Christina Applegate at The 1989 MTV VMAS.”
35. “Me in 1992 on Beach MTV in Hawaii in a tan contest. Daisy Fuentes and Dan Cortese hosted. (I won).”
36. “Cast of MTV’s The State. Most would go on to do a bunch other great things. Here’s where it all began… (1993).”
37. “Michael Keaton at The MTV Movie awards 1997.”
38. “September 4, 1996 - David Lee Roth appears with Van Halen at MTV’s VMA.”
39. “Dave Grohl (Nirvana) and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) in 1992 at the MTV Video Music Awards.”
40. “Eddie Murphy and Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1992 MTV Movie Awards.”
41. “MTV logo, circa 1980s.”
42. “Behind-the-scenes footage of Alice In Chains rehearsing for their 1996 MTV Unplugged concert, playing Rotten Apple (they would not play it during the concert).”
43. “MTV best kiss winners, Marisa Tomei and boyfriend Christian Slater, Market Street Oyster Bar, Venice, California, 1993.”
44. "Conan O’Brien as a guest on Jon Stewart’s old MTV show in 1994."
45. "Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston at the MTV VMAS Awards in 1998 during a skit."