Music. Videos of the 80’s

[roadman65]

When I see videos like theses back in the day before some of the participants became famous, viewing them now is like " Oh wow, look x is in it!"  However at the time x was unknown so was just another face.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=616-QGQyx-I
This is Wild Nights by Talking Heads. Many of us at the time referred to it as " Will the real David Byrne Please Stand Up"  as the video features many people lip sinking to David Byrne throughout the video including  John Goodman before he became known as Dan Connor. However Byrne did appear three times in the video with his trademark zombie look the third time.

What other famous videos do you like and remember stars in them now that were nobody at the time.

[Max Rockatansky]

Wesley Snipes in Bad and Joe Pesci in Smooth Criminal come to mind. 

[ErmineNotyours]

(A post-80s example:) Jack Black in the Foo Fighter's "Learn to Fly"

An 80s example: David Bowie's "Fashion".  This video was in regular rotation the first year I had the service, then it dropped out.  Then it was put back into circulation, with the vjays pointing out that fellow vjay Alan Hunter had been in the video the whole time, but no one had noticed.  He's the one wearing the striped shirt in the dance studio and the big nose on the street.

[OCGuy81]

Courtney Cox was in the video for Bruce Springsteen's "Dancin in the Dark".

I also remember Chevy Chase in the video for "You Can Call me Al" by Paul Simon.

[OCGuy81]

If you want to go 90's, you had Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler in the Aerosmith videos.

Sigh! I was in middle school at the time those were popular, and the videos were the next best thing next to Friday night Cinemax. 

[hbelkins]

I never got into the video craze, with the exception of Headbangers Ball on MTV. They would occasionally play a video from some new band and I'd be introduced to them that way. First time I ever heard Slayer was when they played the "War Ensemble" video.

[OCGuy81]

I never got into the video craze, with the exception of Headbangers Ball on MTV. They would occasionally play a video from some new band and I'd be introduced to them that way. First time I ever heard Slayer was when they played the "War Ensemble" video.

Yes! Headbanger's Ball was awesome.  I liked Yo! MTV Raps as well.

I'm old...I remember videos on MTV.

[nexus73]

"Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits and "You Got Another Thing Coming" by Judas Priest were two of my favorite MTV videos.  It was quite the format for introducing new music back then but did it ever fade away.  That was surprising given how good a setup music videos are for getting people to like a song.

Rick

[roadman65]

David Gilmore from Pink Floyd was in Steve Perry's Oh Sherrie which introduced Perry's solo talent to the world.

[JayhawkCO]

I never got into the video craze, with the exception of Headbangers Ball on MTV. They would occasionally play a video from some new band and I'd be introduced to them that way. First time I ever heard Slayer was when they played the "War Ensemble" video.

Yes! Headbanger's Ball was awesome.  I liked Yo! MTV Raps as well.

I'm old...I remember videos on MTV.

120 Minutes was great too. 

Chris

[dlsterner]

When I see videos like theses back in the day before some of the participants became famous, viewing them now is like " Oh wow, look x is in it!"  However at the time x was unknown so was just another face.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=616-QGQyx-I
This is Wild Nights Wild Wild Life by Talking Heads. Many of us at the time referred to it as " Will the real David Byrne Please Stand Up"  as the video features many people lip sinking to David Byrne throughout the video including  John Goodman before he became known as Dan Connor. However Byrne did appear three times in the video with his trademark zombie look the third time.

What other famous videos do you like and remember stars in them now that were nobody at the time.

FTFY

[dlsterner]

When I see videos like theses back in the day before some of the participants became famous, viewing them now is like " Oh wow, look x is in it!"  However at the time x was unknown so was just another face.

What other famous videos do you like and remember stars in them now that were nobody at the time.

OK, so I'm cheating a bit as this is the early 70s and not the 80s, but here is T. Rex doing "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" in 1971.  Wonder whatever happened to that anonymous piano player in the video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkt-TPMU_lg

[bwana39]

When I see videos like theses back in the day before some of the participants became famous, viewing them now is like " Oh wow, look x is in it!"  However at the time x was unknown so was just another face.

What other famous videos do you like and remember stars in them now that were nobody at the time.

OK, so I'm cheating a bit as this is the early 70s and not the 80s, but here is T. Rex doing "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" in 1971.  Wonder whatever happened to that anonymous piano player in the video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkt-TPMU_lg

Probably playing in an old abandoned baseball park in Texas in the fall?

[ErmineNotyours]

I think the OP is looking for famous people in videos before they were stars.  Courtney Cox in "Dancing In the Dark" is one I wish I thought of first!

[zachary_amaryllis]

more 90's or perhaps even 00's..

check out christopher walken in fatboy slim's 'weapon of choice'

sorry, slow link so i can't get to youtube to post a link.

[jakeroot]

check out christopher walken in fatboy slim's 'weapon of choice'

Spike Jonze also plays a huge role in Fatboy Slim's music video for 'Praise You'.

Norman Cook makes a nice cameo too:

https://youtu.be/ruAi4VBoBSM