Image via Complex Original
Written Brian Josephs (@Bklyn_Rock)
The average person may not pay a whole lot of attention to the sneakers an artist is wearing when he or she hits the stage, but some of music's most memorable moments occurred by their just putting on the right pair of kicks. Think back to the 2010 VMAs. Sure, Kanye West's performance of "Runaway" was good stuff. But that all-red suit finished off with the red Louis Vuitton Dons? Legendary.
The following sneaker moments didn't just simply improve a moment though. They also represented entire subcultures. You look back on sneakers like Vans and Converse and you think about the epicness of the punk and grunge movements. And don't even get us started on Jordans. The 50 Most Iconic On Stage Sneaker Shots aren't just really, really good shots. They serve as individual mementos of the cultures we've come to love.
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50. Jeremy Scott x adidas Originals JS Wings
Artist: Kanye West
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 11/2008
49. Air Jordan V "Fire Red"
Artist: Jay-Z
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 9/6/2001
48. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Karen O / Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 9/12/2009
47. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Sid Vicious / Sex Pistols
Photographer: Dennis Morris
Date: 1977
46. Air Force 1 Low
Artist: Method Man
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1998-2001
45. adidas Top Ten
Artist: Fieldy / Korn
Photographer: Unknown
Date: Unknown
44. Vans Sk8-Hi
Artist: Dave Grohl / Foo Fighters
Photographer: Unknown
Date: Unknown
43. Vans Old Skool
Artist: Tyler, The Creator
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 2011
42. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Ice Cube
Photographer: Kristian Dowling
Date: 9/6/2006
41. Converse ERX 400
Artist: Steven Tyler / Aerosmith
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1987-1988
40. adidas original superstar
Artist: Chris Martin
Photographer: Kevin Mazur
Date: 9/13/2010
39. Nike SB Air Trainer II
Artist: P. Diddy
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 6/3/2010
38. Nike Air Foamposite
Artist: Q-Tip
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 8/2010
37. Air Jordan III 'Black Cement'
Artist: Kid Cudi
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1/2010
36. adidas
Artist: Brian May / Queen
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1986
35. Nike Air Mag
Artist: Tinie Tempah
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 11/2011
34. Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Artist: Snoop Dogg
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 9/8/1994
33. Nike Windrunners
Artist: Kid N Play
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1990-92
32. Converse Pro Leather
Artist: Dave Mustaine / Metallica
Photographer: Bill Hale
Date: 1982-84
31. Vans Era
Artist: Henry Rollins / Black Flag
Photographer: Glen E. Friedman
Date: 10/1982
30. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Bikini Kill
Photographer: Ebet Roberts
Date: 7/14/1994
29. Air Jordan VI "Infared"
Artist: Kanye West
Photographer: Ray Tamarra
Date: 7/1/2007
28. Air Jordan XI "Space Jams"
Artist: Lil Wayne
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1/31/2012
27. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 9/19/2009
26. Nike Air Force II
Artist: Craig Setari / Agnostic Front
Photographer: Ken Salerno
Date: 1988
25. adidas Gazelle
Artist: Mike D / Beastie Boys
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 3/16/2006
24. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Billie Joe Armstrong / Green Day
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1994
23. DQM x Nike Blazer High
Artist: John Mayer
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 11/19/2009
22. adidas Conductor Hi
Artist: Scott Ian / Anthrax
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1987
21. Supra Skytop Customs
Artist: Lil Wayne
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 6/28/2009
20. Air Force 1 High
Artist: Raekwon
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1995-98
19. Nike Ballistic Force
Artist: Jeff Ament / Pearl Jam
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1990s
18. Air Max 95
Artist: Eminem
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 9/23/2009
17. Nike Dunk High x Nike Vandal
Artist: Billy Corgan / Smashing Pumpkins
Photographer: Michael Loccisano
Date: 8/26/2010
16. Nike Air Force III
Artist: EPMD
Photographer: Raymond Boyd
Date: 12/1988
15. Air Yeezy 2
Artist: Kanye West & Jay-Z
Photographer: Charles Sykes
Date: 9/6/2012
14. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Artist: Kurt Cobain / Nirvana
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1992
13. Kidrobot x Nike Air Max 1
Artist: Mick Jagger / Rolling Stones
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 8/2007
12. Nike Air Pressure
Artist: Dave Mustaine / Megadeth
Photographer: Rik Goldman
Date: 1990
11. Ewing Athletics 33 Hi
Artist: Flava Flav / Public Enemy
Photographer: Retna
Date: 1990-91
10. Air Jordan Retro IX Low
Artist: Eminem
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 8/29/2002
9. Converse Custom Hi-Tops
Artist: Axl Rose / Guns 'N' Roses
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1989-91
8. Supra Skytop II
Artist: Slash
Photographer: Supra Footwear
Date: 2/13/2011
7. adidas Conductor High
Artist: Adam Yauch / Beastie Boys
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1980s
6. Pro-Keds
Artist: The Ramones
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 7/4/1976
5. Louis Vuitton "Dons"
Artist: Kanye West
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 9/12/2012
4. Reebok 5600
Artist: Eric B. & Rakim
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 11/2/1987
3. Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Artist: Kurt Cobain / Nirvana
Photographer: Charles Peterson
Date: 1992
2. Nike Air Yeezy Prototype
Artist: Kanye West
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 2/10/2008
1. adidas originals Superstar
Artist: Run-D.M.C.
Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1986-87