The early '90s were turbulent times for music. Hair metal was on its way out while grunge was well on its way to mainstream domination. Among those bands poised to take over the world was a group of fellows from Washington state who called themselves Pearl Jam. In a step toward worldwide domination, they took to the stage to play their song about a troubled young boy named Jeremy at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Check out the performance of 'Jeremy' above.

Frontman Eddie Vedder was the very picture of pensiveness on stage, singing through what appears to be a painfully clenched jaw. He looks uncomfortable, especially surrounded by the rest of the band members -- who were dressed like they were heading to a pickup basketball game right after the show. Since then, Vedder has loosened up a bit and seems much more comfortable in the spotlight.

And we'd be remiss if we mentioned the 1992 VMAs without bringing up the infamous fight between Guns N' Roses and Nirvana. The altercation apparently started when Courtney Love asked GNR frontman Axl Rose to be the godfather of her and Kurt Cobain's baby. Rose's response was not enthusiastic, and a battle of mythic proportions began. OK, that's an exaggeration, but it was still pretty epic. Love exchanged unpleasantries with Rose's then girlfriend Stephanie Seymour, and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic almost traded blows with GNR bassist Duff McKagan.

They just don't make VMAs like they used to.

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