Music videos were once seen as an artist’s golden ticket to fame, but they didn’t always hit the mark. When MTV first hit the airwaves, it changed how we experienced music overnight.
Some artists thrived in this new visual medium. Others? Not so much. From awkward dance moves to cringe-worthy special effects, many rock stars struggled to make the transition.
We’ve rounded up 10 of the most poorly made classic rock music videos, where things went horribly wrong. Consider yourself warned.
1. “Hot Rockin’” by Judas Priest
Someone thought it would be a great idea to showcase the band lifting weights as a display of strength and power. What was meant to ooze masculinity turned into an awkward mess.
Rob Halford’s infamous sauna scene only made things worse. Instead of looking cool, he looks like he’s trying to sweat out an illness.
2. “Psycho Circus” by KISS
When Kiss reunited in the mid-’90s, fans expected something big. Instead, they got a 3D music video that looked like it was pulled from a low-budget video game.
With giant skeletons and cheesy rocket ships, the video for “Psycho Circus” was instantly outdated. It had all the flair of a cheap Nintendo 64 cutscene, leaving much to be desired.
3. “Looks That Kill” by Mötley Crüe
Motley Crue’s video for “Looks That Kill” feels like a masterclass in how to be both cheesy and offensive at the same time. The band plays the role of tormentors, terrorizing a group of caged women in a poorly conceived storyline.
The over-the-top imagery is only matched by the cringe-worthy execution. While “Too Young to Fall in Love” isn’t much better, we went with “Looks That Kill” — but honestly, you could just toss a coin.
4. “Four in the Morning (I Can’t Take It Anymore)” by Night Ranger
The concept for this video is absurd from the start. A group of sultry aliens crash-land in a desert with a spaceship that looks like a cheap toy and decide to abduct Night Ranger for a party.
If aliens were throwing a space rave, they probably wouldn’t have picked Night Ranger. Let’s be real — they’d have gone for someone like Ratt.
5. “Body Language” by Queen
“Body Language” tries hard to come off as seductive, but it misses the mark completely. The dim lighting and blurry visuals make it feel more awkward than alluring.
Instead of being sexy, the video ends up looking like a warning against sketchy gym showers. It’s a strange, uncomfortable attempt at sensuality.
6. “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” by Journey
In this video, Journey awkwardly plays invisible instruments on a wharf while a high-heeled woman strolls by. The whole scene feels oddly uncomfortable, with the band members swaying as if they’re unsure of what to do.
The woman is supposedly dreaming all of this after dozing off to the song, but for the rest of us, it’s more of a nightmare. The invisible air-guitar concept should have stayed in the imagination.
7. “We Built This City” by Starship
If this video had been about aliens visiting a living Lincoln Memorial, it might have made a little more sense — but it would still be bad. The storyline, if you can call it that, is as confusing as it is pointless.
The green screen effects are painfully outdated, making the whole thing look like a cheap, faux-futuristic mess. It’s hard to tell what’s worse, the visuals or the lack of a coherent concept.
8. “Music Time” by Styx
This video throws everything at the screen—conehead aliens, circus chimps, and even men in dog costumes. It’s a chaotic mix of random elements that never quite come together.
Despite all the bizarre visuals, the one thing “Music Time” lacks is a clear point. It’s a confusing spectacle with no real direction.
9. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
While the song “Eye of the Tiger” still pumps up audiences as the theme for Rocky III, its video fails to impress. The video is overloaded with skinny ties, thick-rimmed glasses, and excessive gold foil.
Instead of motivation, it delivers a heavy dose of secondhand embarrassment. The sweaty close-ups and dated fashion choices make it hard to take seriously.
10. “Numb” by U2
After watching “Numb,” you might wish for a little numbness yourself. The video features The Edge enduring a bizarre four-minute sequence of feet licking and caressing his face.
It’s a surreal and uncomfortable experience that does nothing to enhance the song. Instead, it leaves viewers feeling more bewildered than entertained.