Relive the Past Three Decades Through These MTV VMA Photos
The MTV Video Music Awards are back on the West Coast this Sunday following 2013’s quick visit to Brooklyn. No matter: The lineup promises performances from Maroon 5, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, and Iggy Azalea. It’s a 2013–14 time capsule, which is what the VMAs do best. Just look at past award shows: Each contained at least one moment that could serve as a microcosm for what was “cool” in that particular year. Don’t believe us? We’ll prove it. Proceed.


Diana Ross, sans beard, is sandwiched between Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, also sans Beard — beardless drummer Frank Beard, that is.
Phot...Diana Ross, sans beard, is sandwiched between Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, also sans Beard — beardless drummer Frank Beard, that is.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd.
At the outset and height of his solo career, Diamond David Lee Roth, pictured here with actress Sonia Braga and about 250 leis, uses his powers of men...
At the outset and height of his solo career, Diamond David Lee Roth, pictured here with actress Sonia Braga and about 250 leis, uses his powers of mental telepathy to mimic the photobomber behind them.
Photo: Ron Galella
Jay Leno (with his wife, Mavis) is clearly mesmerized by something. The rich mine of jokes regarding Godley & Creme's Video of the Year nomination...
Jay Leno (with his wife, Mavis) is clearly mesmerized by something. The rich mine of jokes regarding Godley & Creme's Video of the Year nomination for 1986 VMAs "Cry," perhaps?
Photo: Neal Preston/? Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Even Cyndi Lauper can't look at Cher when she's wearing this insane dress, in which the Mask star later presented U2 with an award.
Photo: Barr...Even Cyndi Lauper can't look at Cher when she's wearing this insane dress, in which the Mask star later presented U2 with an award.
Photo: Barry King
We're going to go with our gut here and say that both Robert Downey Jr. and Slash are completely sober in this so-1988 photo.
Photo: Barry King
"Weird" Al Yankovic, sure, we get that. But Jasmine Guy? At the VMAs? Without Kadeem Hardison? Come on.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./1989..."Weird" Al Yankovic, sure, we get that. But Jasmine Guy? At the VMAs? Without Kadeem Hardison? Come on.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./1989 Ron Galella, Ltd.
Very sadly not pictured with a glad-handing Flavor Flav and Phil Collins: MC Hammer, who later performed "U Can't Touch This" accompanied by...
Very sadly not pictured with a glad-handing Flavor Flav and Phil Collins: MC Hammer, who later performed "U Can't Touch This" accompanied by an estimated one million people.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz
Christian Slater was the shit in 1991, wasn't he? As was Whoopi Goldberg before she started wearing Penny Marshall glasses.
Photo: Jeff KravitzRingo Starr, Hellraiser's Pinhead, and David Spade inadvertently provide the pictorial representation of F, Marry, Kill.
Photo: Jeff KravitzThe amount of awesomeness and sadness in this photo cannot be charted. (It's the Cobain family with Sinéad O'Connor.)
Photo: Kevin MazurJon Stewart, back when he was MTV's Jon Stewart and still floppy-haired, is overshadowed by a pre–Fair Game Cindy Crawford.
Photo: Ron Gal...Jon Stewart, back when he was MTV's Jon Stewart and still floppy-haired, is overshadowed by a pre–Fair Game Cindy Crawford.
Photo: Ron GalellaHole's Eric Erlandson and that old so-and-so (see: 1993) strut with Drew Barrymore circa daisies-in-the-hair Boys on the Side.
Photo: Ron Galel...Hole's Eric Erlandson and that old so-and-so (see: 1993) strut with Drew Barrymore circa daisies-in-the-hair Boys on the Side.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./1995 Ron Galella, Ltd.Snoop Dogg and Tupac? They presented at the 1996 VMAs, and only a few years later, in 1999, Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur (alongside Biggie's mother Vol...
Snoop Dogg and Tupac? They presented at the 1996 VMAs, and only a few years later, in 1999, Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur (alongside Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace) will present Best Rap Video in honor of their sons.
Photo: Kevin.Mazur
The only thing you need to know about 1997 is that at the VMAs, Martha Stewart and Busta Rhymes stood back-to-back.
Photo: Ron GalellaGwen Stefani, Melissa Auf der Maur, and Courtney Love: literally the three coolest women of 1998.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/@2005 Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.co...Gwen Stefani, Melissa Auf der Maur, and Courtney Love: literally the three coolest women of 1998.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/@2005 Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.comOh God, I hope Fred Durst and Heather Locklear never dated.
Photo: New York Daily News Archive/1999/Daily News, L.P. (New York)2000: When Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey and 'N Sync'r Joey Fatone joked about how young and happy they all were.
Photo: KMazurThe most important seating arrangement of all time? That's Britney, Justin, Jennifer Lopez, her dancer boyfriend Cris Judd, and Triumph, the Insult Co...
The most important seating arrangement of all time? That's Britney, Justin, Jennifer Lopez, her dancer boyfriend Cris Judd, and Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog photobombing (next to Jimmy Kimmel) in the back.
Photo: Jeff KravitzJackass's Ryan Dunn and Johnny Knoxville alongside Blink-182's Travis Barker: Be careful, 2002.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./2002 Ron Galella, Ltd.One time, in 2003, Chris Martin, Justin Timberlake, and the Black Eyed Peas hung out and traded quinoa recipes. Just kidding! It was 2003. They talked...
One time, in 2003, Chris Martin, Justin Timberlake, and the Black Eyed Peas hung out and traded quinoa recipes. Just kidding! It was 2003. They talked about Poland joining the European Union.
Photo: Jeff KravitzThe 2004 VMAs were in Miami, so naturally, Bruce Willis and Diddy arrived on a yacht. Vote or Die! (Remember that?)
Photo: KMazurWhen exactly was the last time Kanye smiled? When he was stuck between a 2005 Lindsay Lohan and Kelly Clarkson.
Photo: Kevin MazurLudacris, Shaun White, Lil Jon, and Pharrell Williams did not put out an album in 2007, but they did put out a big hug.
Photo: KMazurCriss Angel, Nelly, and Kid Rock. This picture is a total Mindfreak.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/2007 Jeff KravitzAh, 2008 — the year of the Beijing Olympic Games, the year Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz were pregnant, and the year no one had ever heard of Michael ...
Ah, 2008 — the year of the Beijing Olympic Games, the year Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz were pregnant, and the year no one had ever heard of Michael Phelps.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/2008 Jeff KravitzThe Bride of the 2009 VMAs was Lady Gaga and her groom was Perez Hilton. They have since divorced.
Photo: Amy Sussman/2009 Getty ImagesRemember Justin Bieber? Not the one that currently wears leather diaper pants and acts out, but the prepubescent YouTube star we all remember from jus...
Remember Justin Bieber? Not the one that currently wears leather diaper pants and acts out, but the prepubescent YouTube star we all remember from just a few years ago. Well, he attended the 2010 VMAs and also wants you to know why (*points*).
Photo: Steve Granitz/2010 Steve Granitz2011 was the year we got skinny Jonah Hill. We also got old Tony Bennett (but we've had that for quite a few years now).
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/2011 Gr...2011 was the year we got skinny Jonah Hill. We also got old Tony Bennett (but we've had that for quite a few years now).
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/2011 Gregg DeGuireThe epitome of 2012's VMAs? "Gangnam Style." Ride 'em, John Mayer!
Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/2012 Imeh AkpanudosenHey, remember when people didn't despise Robin Thicke?
Photo: Larry Busacca/2013 Getty Images