VH1, NFL teaming for Super Bowl kick-off concerts

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For people who aren’t football fans but who watch the game anyway, the halftime spectacle is more than half the fun. The 2016 performance featured Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyonce. Here’s a look at how some previous Super Bowl performances came off.

(Clockwise from top left: Julio Cortez / Associated Press, Chris O’Meara / Associated Press; Mike Powell / Allsport; Christopher Polk / Getty Images; Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Beyonce, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, center, and Bruno Mars perform during halftime of Super Bowl 50.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

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Katy Perry rode in on a golden tiger and performed fiercely throughout her Super Bowl turn with hits like “Roar,” “Teenage Dream” and “Firework.” Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz added even more star power. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

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Mars began by hammering away solo behind a drum kit, as if to tell viewers that they were in the hands of a real musician. And so they were. Before long, Mars’ touring band, a great funk-soul combo, had joined him. The Chili Peppers didn’t add much to the proceedings, but they didn’t need to. (Paul Buck / EPA)

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All eyes were on Beyonce as she powered through hits, using enormous video screens and fiery stage presence to take up the stage solo. Later, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams rose up from under the stage to join Queen B in a highly anticipated Destiny’s Child reunion watched by 108 million. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

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In less than 10 minutes, America watched marching warriors pulling a massive chariot; faux trumpeters announcing the arrival of Madonna; LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee Lo Green make cameos; several drum lines. Touchdown! Madonna kept 114 million viewers glued to their seats. (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)

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The Black Eyed Peas largely stayed still during the performance, letting the backup dancers in “Tron”-like get-ups provide the eye candy, yet they still infused their hits with energy. The result was a success -- their tuneful chants seemed built for the stadium. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

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“Step back from the guacamole dip,” Bruce Springsteen yelled through gritted teeth. “Put! The! Chicken! Fingers! Doooowwwwwwwn!” His show got the crowd riled up, but didn’t quite score, as Springsteen hammed it up a bit too much for Super Bowl cameras. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Nearly 100 million witnessed a slick 12-minute halftime performance by one of America’s most unheralded superstars. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers showed up in suits, and powered through easy stadium singalongs that got the job done, even if it wasn’t first on the highlight reels. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

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The Stones delivered a rousing rendition of three classics “Start Me Up,” “Rough Justice,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Yet, no matter how hard Mick Jagger twisted his hips to rally the crowd, the most inspired aspect of the show was the Stones’ iconic “tongue and lip” stage design. (Rob Tringali / Getty Images)

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Two of the world’s biggest pop stars brought some edge to the football party. But does anyone remember much else other than Timberlake ripping off part of Jackson’s clothing? The phrases “wardrobe malfunction” and “nipplegate” were born, accompanied by a major FCC campaign and large fines. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

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Twain’s performance proved hollow when she unconvincingly lip-synched her way through “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” Gwen Stefani saved the show by doing what she does best, super-charging a SoCal crowd in a stadium setting through sheer force of ska-sonality, finishing with a duet with Sting. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)

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The show started with Christina Aguilera dueting with Enrique Iglesias. Edward James Olmos provided the narration between internationally flavored sets. Phil Collins and Gloria Estefan also took the stage. Though Aguilera did well, the show inspired more of a “what” than a “wow.” (AFP/Getty Images)

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Michael Jackson redefined the halftime show, being the first big star to perform (previous artists included Up With People and Disney characters). The NFL took note after Jackson’s ratings surged higher than the football action before it, lining their roster with other A-listers. (Rusty Kennedy / Associated Press)

By Gerrick D. Kennedy

Oct. 14, 2013 12:44 PM PT

With Bruno Mars expected to deliver a dazzling halftime show during Super Bowl XLVIII in February, a slew of acts will play warm-up to him and help kick off the biggest sporting event of the year with concerts in the days leading up to the big game.

VH1 has teamed up with the NFL to host six concerts in the week leading up to Super Bowl, the network has announced.

Taking advantage of MetLife Stadium’s close proximity to New York -- the stadium that will host the game is just a stone’s throw away in New Jersey -- the bulk of the concert series will be anchored in each of New York’s five boroughs and end with a show in New Jersey on the eve of Super Bowl.

PHOTOS: Concerts by The Times

Dubbed the VH1 Super Bowl Blitz, the string of shows will launch Jan. 27 in Queens, and move on through the Bronx (Jan. 28), Brooklyn (Jan. 29), Manhattan (Jan. 30), Staten Island (Jan. 31) and New Jersey (Feb. 1).

VH1 has yet to announce the talent, but it promises that the series will feature “this year’s chart-topping musicians,” so a betting man would wonder what radio mainstays such as Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Drake and Robin Thicke have planned for the end of January.

Previous pre-Super Bowl concerts organized by VH1 have featured Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Justin Bieber, B.o.B., Gym Class Heroes and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine.

For those of us not lucky enough to score any of the free tickets given away via Twitter, each show will air live on VH1 at 11 p.m. Eastern time.

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