INXS Rocks Off With 5 Video Awards

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 9, 1988 12 AM PT

Australian band INXS was the big winner in the fifth annual MTV Music Video Awards at the Universal Amphitheatre on Wednesday, as its “Need You Tonight / Mediate” clip took five awards, including best video and Viewers’ Choice.

Michael Jackson, who performed on the telecast live via satellite from London, received the 1988 Video Vanguard Award.

Prince won best male vocalist for his video “U Got the Look,” beating out Terence Trent D’Arby’s “Wishing Well,” George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set on You,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Tunnel of Love” and Steve Winwood’s “Back in the Highlife.”

The Prince clip also won in the best stage performance category.

Taking honors as best female vocalist was Suzanne Vega for “Luka,” topping Cher for “I Found Someone,” Lita Ford for Kiss Me Deadly,” Janet Jackson for “The Pleasure Principle” and Jody Watley for “Some Kind of Lover.” The winners were selected by members of the music and video industries from 767 videos aired on MTV between May 2, 1987, and April 1, 1988.

A complete list of winners follows:

Video: INXS, “Need You Tonight / Mediate.”

Male video: Prince, “U Got the Look.”

Female video: Suzanne Vega, “Luka.”

Group video: INXS, “Need You Tonight / Mediate.”

Video from a film: Los Lobos, “La Bamba.”

Breakthrough: INXS, “Need You Tonight / Mediate.”

New artist: Guns N’ Roses, “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Concept video: Pink Floyd, “Learning to Fly.”

Stage performance: Prince, “U Got the Look.”

Special effects: Squeeze, “Hourglass.”

Art direction: Squeeze, “Hourglass.”