Comedian Eddie Murphy had just finished recording an outrageously funny HBO special ‘Delirious’ when MTV producers decided he was ‘The One’ to host the 2nd annual MTV VMAs. True to their beliefs, he did crack up the audience and set new standards on hosting the Awards with his over the top antics and comedy routines, and provided some of the most memorable MTV Video Music Awards host moments of all time.
When it came to walking away with the awards, Don Henley was the only artist to take home more than one Award with his hit The Boys of summer bagging four ‘Moonmen’. The classic We Are the World recorded for USA for Africa inspired by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie walked away with “Best Group Video” and the “Viewer's Choice” awards for 1985. In the end it turned out to be a good year at the MTV VMAs.
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 1985
Video of the Year
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More
- David Lee Roth - California Girls
- David Lee Roth - Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
- USA For Africa - We Are The World
Best Male Video
- Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire
- Glen Frey - Smuggler's Blues
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- David Lee Roth - California Girls
- David Lee Roth - Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
Best Female Video
- Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
- Cyndi Lauper - She Bop
- Madonna - Material Girl
- Sade - Smooth Operator
- Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Best Group Video
- USA For Africa - We Are The World
- The Cars - Drive
- Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You
- Huey Lewis & the News - If This Is It
- U2 - Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Viewer's Choice
- USA For Africa - We Are The World
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More
- David Lee Roth - California Girls
- David Lee Roth - Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
Best New Artist
- 'til Tuesday - Voices Carry
- Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
- Julian Lennon - Too Late for Goodbyes
- Sade - Smooth Operator
- Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Best Concept Video
- Glen Frey - Smuggler's Blues
- Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More
- David Lee Roth - Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
Best Stage Performance
- Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
- David Bowie - Blue Jean
- Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You
- Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
- Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me
Best Overall Performance
- Phillip Bailey & Phil Collins - Easy Lover
- Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You
- David Lee Roth - Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
- Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
- USA For Africa - We Are The World
Most Experimental Video
- The Art of Noise - Close (To the Edit)
- Lindsey Buckingham - Go Insane
- Lindsey Buckingham - Slow Dancing
- Chris Isaak - Dancin'
- Lone Justice - Ways To Be Wicked
Best Direction
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- Bryan Adams - Run To You
- Duran Duran - The Wild Boys
- Chris Isaak - Dancin'
- Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More
- Toto - Stranger in Town
Best Choreography
- Elton John - Sad Songs (Say So Much)
- Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You
- Madonna - Like A Virgin
- Madonna - Material Girl
- Prince & The Revolution - When Doves Cry
- Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
- Tina Turner - Private Dancer
Best Special Effects
- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More
- Bryan Adams - Run To You
- Lindsey Buckingham - Go Insane
- Lindsey Buckingham - Slow Dancing
- Culture Club - It's A Miracle
Best Art Direction
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- Bryan Adams - Run To You
- Peter Brown - Zie Zie Won't Dance
- Culture Club - It's A Miracle
- Madonna - Like a Virgin
- Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
Best Editing
- The Art of Noise - Close (To The Edit)
- Bryan Adams - Run To You
- Lindsey Buckingham - Go Insane
- Lindsey Buckingham - Slow Dancing
- Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You
Best Cinematography
- Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
- Bryan Adams - Heaven (Version 2)
- Bryan Adams - Run To You
- Lindsey Buckingham - Go Insane
- Madonna - Like a Virgin