Fall Out Boy delivered an energetic performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. The rock band graced the stage during the annual award show, offering a power-packed rendition of their track We Didn’t Start the Fire, which puts a modern twist to the classic Billy Joel song of that name.
In true pop-punk fashion, the band set the MTV stage ablaze with pyrotechnics to accompany their performance of the song from their 2023 album, So Much (for) Stardust. Each member of the group, including Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz, Andy Hurley, and Joe Trohman, delivered an explosive performance, with all musicians passionately playing the fast-paced rock track. Stump, 39, passionately delivered the reference-heavy lyrics. The pop culture references extended beyond just the song’s lyrics. Fall Out Boy, known for their hit Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down, donned blazers reminiscent of David Byrne’s iconic oversized suit, famously featured in The Talking Heads’ concert documentary Stop Making Sense. This performance at the VMAs marked their return to the awards show for the first time since 2007.
The introduction of the alternative favorite, Fall Out Boy, was done by Bebe Rexha, offering a heartfelt acknowledgment of the enduring connection between the two musical acts. Bebe Rexha, aged 34, and Pete Wentz, aged 44, shared a musical collaboration in the past as part of an electro-pop group called Black Cards, which existed from 2010 to 2012.
Fall Out Boy entered the night as nominees for two VMAs – Best Alternative for their song Hold Me Like A Grudge and Best Visual Effects for Love from the Other Side. The band released their eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust, in March and recently revealed plans to expand their So Much for (Tour) Dust Tour with 20 additional dates across the United States for next year. These concerts will also feature Jimmy Eat World and the extended tour will be named So Much for (2our) Dust.
The upcoming tour dates are scheduled to begin on February 28 in Portland, Oregon, and will conclude on April 6 in Minneapolis. During the 2023 VMAs, notable artists like Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneksin, Kelsea Ballerini, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, and more delivered thrilling performances.
The 2023 MTV VMAs were broadcast live from The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday, September 12, and could be watched on CBS, BET, BET Her, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Network. The show was also available via an MTV.com livestream or on Paramount+.