Nirvana and 5 Other Classic ‘MTV Unplugged’ Performances
MTV Unplugged yielded many incredible performances, including Nirvana’s now-iconic set.
Recorded in November 1993 and released November 1, 1994, Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York came out seven months after the shocking death of Kurt Cobain. It would debut at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and go on to win a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
In honor of the album’s release, here’s a look at that set as well as five other classic MTV Unplugged performances.
Nirvana
While the bandās own material (specifically āAll Apologiesā) received new life from the Unplugged treatment, itās Nirvanaās cover of David Bowieās āThe Man Who Sold The Worldā that was the setās surprise highlight.
Alice In Chains
Equal parts extraordinary and bitter-sweet, AICās 1996 performance on MTV Unplugged was the bandās first performance together in over two years due to Staleyās issues with drug abuse.Ā It would also be one of the bandās last high-profile gigs with theĀ singer.Ā In spite of that and Jerry Cantrell famously battling food poisoning, AICās set served as a reminder of why they were the first band to really break out of the fruitful Seattle music scene.
Stone Temple Pilots
MTV Unplugged is just a goldmine of remarkable performances for anyone that loves rock from the ’90s.Ā Stone Temple Pilots recorded their set in 1993, which marked the first time they performed āBig Empty.ā
R.E.M.
R.E.M is responsible for two marvelous MTV Unplugged performances from 1991 and 2001, which were both released in 2014 as Unplugged:Ā The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions. Below is their set from 1991.
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam simply crushes it in this set from March 1992, about seven months after the release of Pearl Jamās debut album Ten.
Thirty Seconds To Mars
Later episodes in MTV Unpluggedās history are tragically overlooked, but this incredible set from Thirty Seconds To Mars more than holds its own thanks to Jared Letoās dynamic vocal performance.