Lesson from the 1980s

Rare lesson footage of famous musicians from the 1980s. Browse 15 clips below.

About Lesson Footage

Lesson footage captures musicians teaching their craft — explaining technique, demonstrating exercises, breaking down songs, and sharing the knowledge accumulated over careers spent mastering their instrument. These clips are both educational and revealing, showing how great musicians think about music.

The 1980s in Music

The 1980s brought MTV, the synthesiser revolution, and the globalisation of pop music. Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, U2, and Run-DMC dominated the mainstream, while underground scenes — post-punk, hardcore, hip-hop, and indie — were building the foundation for the next decade. The explosion of home video meant more behind-the-scenes footage was captured than ever before. Tour documentaries, making-of specials, and backstage footage from the 80s reveal an industry in rapid transformation.

Artists