MTVUnplugged is an American television series on MTV. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic or "unplugged" variations of songs. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. From 2000 to 2009, it aired less frequently and was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes through online or subscription only. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers.
The term "unplugged" has come to refer to music that would usually be played on electrified instruments (such as an electric guitar or synthesizer) but is rendered instead on instruments that can be played without electricity, for example acoustic guitar or traditional piano, although a microphone is still used. In most cases, the bass (or bass guitar) is amplified, and a Hammond organ is sometimes used.
MTV launched MTV Unplugged in 1989.[3] The show featured musicians performing unplugged versions of their electric repertoire. Many of these performances were subsequently released as albums, often featuring the title Unplugged. It was believed that the show was inspired by a 1989 MTV Video Music Awards acoustic performance by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora; however, the show was already in production.[3]
The MTV show titled Unplugged, drawing on this phenomenon, was created by producers Robert Small and Jim Burns.[1] Songwriter Jules Shear hosted the first 13 episodes.[4] The pilot and first seven episodes were produced by Bruce Leddy, after which Associate Producer Alex Coletti took over for the remainder of the series, producing the show through 2001.[5] After the first 13 episodes, the role of host was eliminated.[5] The show was produced by Viacom and RSE Inc[6] and was most frequently directed by Milton Lage and Beth McCarthy.
The rock band Tesla performed an all-acoustic live set on July 2, 1990 that was released under the title Five Man Acoustical Jam in November of that year, following the format established the previous year by MTV Unplugged.[37]
The fourth season of Canadian Idol featured an Unplugged night which was held at Toronto's Masonic Temple. This episode of Canadian Idol was a tribute to MTV in two ways: a direct tribute to the Unplugged format, and to celebrate the recent licensing of the new MTV Canada which was located in the Masonic Hall until 2012.[39]
On July 30, 2020, Code Orange performed a livestreamed acoustic set on Twitch spoofing MTV Unplugged under the title of "MUDTV Mudbanger's Ball" during the COVID-19 pandemic.[40] The band described it as "conceptually akin to classic MTV Unplugged performances, but with nightmarish digital twists and turns."[41] The performance was later remastered and released on September 4, 2020, as their album Under The Skin.[42]
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, MTV rebranded the show to MTV Unplugged at Home, as part of the network's #AloneTogether campaign, a social media initiative created to encourage the practice of social distancing among young people "in the hope of 'flattening the curve'" of the outbreak. It became an online series instead, with episodes released on MTV's YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, and featured a mix of local and international artists performing from their respective homes around the world.[25]
The season premiere of ""MTV Unplugged"" features performances by British rockers Squeeze, solo artist Syd Straw, and Elliot Easton from The Cars. Musical highlights include Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of Squeeze performing a rendition of their classic hit ""Pulling Mussels From The Shell,"" as well as a song from their new album Frank, ""She Doesn't Have To Shave."" The show is hosted by singer/songwriter Jules Shear. (The first episode of the season is an encore presentation of the pilot which aired November 26, 1989.)An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""October 1989....Our coming-out party almost didn't come off at all. For rehearsals, Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze showed up with electric guitars. We thought the title of the show said it all, but it turned out we needed to be a little more explicit in our instructions: Unplugged wasn't exactly part of the American vernacular at this point. But after we scrambled around town for a pair of acoustic guitars, the two w
New Jersey guitar band the Smithereens, and veteran British artist Graham Parker, are featured in this edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Smithereens band members Jim Babjak (guitar/vocals), Dennis Diken (drums/vocals), Pat DiNizio (vocals/guitars/harmonica) and Mike Mesaros (bass/vocals) perform a medley of hits spanning their ten year career, including ""Only A Memory,"" ""A Girl Like You,"" ""Behind The Wall Of Sleep,"" and ""Blood And Roses,"" all penned by DiNizio. Parker's selections include ""Slash And Burn"" from his new album Human Touch. The Smithreens and Graham Parker team up with host Jules Shear to perform a medley which includes the old Sam Cooke song ""Cupid.""An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Highlights included Graham Parker singing lead on The Smithereens' 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' and The Band, Jules, and Graham all playing a Sam Cooke medley of 'Cupid' and 'Chain Gang' after rehearsing in the make-up room. It is impossible to repeat the early vibe of these shows. So simple,
Natalie Merchant, lyricist/singer of the acclaimed New York folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, performs ""What's The Matter Here?"" and ""Dustbowl."" Solo artist Michael Penn performs ""No Myth"" and the upbeat ""Brave New World"" off his new release March. Merchant and Penn join together for a rendition of ""City Of Angels,"" from the Maniacs' 1987 platinum release In My Tribe.An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""This program ushered in what was to be an ongoing Unplugged battle. Butting heads in this drama were the keyboard and the precise definition of what Unplugged means. In this discussion, Michael Penn's partner, Patrick Warren, wanted to play a mellotron, an antiquated instrument that, despite needing to be plugged in, runs on analogue tapes. Instead, he acquiesced and played the piano and xylophone.""Set List: What's the Matter Here? [Maniacs] Dust Bowl [Merchant/Gustafson/Buck] No Myth [Michael Penn] Brave New World [Michael Penn] Gun Shy [Maniacs] City of Angels [Ma
Miami-based quartet Nuclear Valdez, and Welsh rockers the Alarm are featured in this edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Alarm band members Mike Peters (vocals/guitar), Dave Sharp (guitar), and Eddie MacDonald (bass/vocals) perform ""Change,"" and ""One Step Closer To Home,"" which the band dedicates to ""all the people of Eastern Europe."" Nuclear Valdez showcase their rich Latin Heritage with renditions of ""Summer"" and the Phil Lynott song ""Don't Believe A Word.""An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""One of our greatest regrets is that this show did not turn out as it should have. The day before the taping, Alarm singer Mike Peters was called back to London for a family emergency. Because the show must go on, guitarist Dave Sharp-accompanied only by the group's drummer, Nigel Twist-filled in admirably. If the Alarm hadn't been such a terrific, underappreciated band, this would have merely been a show that got away.""Set List: Change [Sharp/Twist] My Land, Your Land [Sharp/Twist] One St
""MTV Unplugged"" presents former James Gang member Joe Walsh accompanied by R&B great Dr. John. Recorded at the National Video Center in New York City, Walsh performs such hits as ""Desperado"" and ""Rosewood Bitters."" All involved come together for renditions of ""Cinnamon Girl"" and ""Let The Good Times Roll.""An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""This show was originally billed as 'Joe Walsh and Friends,' but Walsh arrived at the studio with only a bass player named Rick Rosas. We explained that 'Friends' is actually a plural word and that, notwithstanding Rick's musical proficiency, we had been expecting the 'Friends' to be somewhat recognizable to our television audience. Then we discovered that Dr. John was taping a television show in the same building, So we cornered the good doctor in the men's bathroom, and 'Joe Walsh and Friends' became 'Joe Walsh and Dr. John.'""Set List: Desperado [Walsh] Rosewood Bitters [Walsh and Rosas] Repetition, Repetition, Repetition [Shear] (wr
""MTV Unplugged"" devotes an episode to the work of two guitar virtuosos: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joe Satriani. Satriani showcases his expressive guitar work with renditions of ""The Feeling"" and ""I Believe."" Vaughan performs memorable versions of ""Rude Mood"" and ""Pride And Joy.""An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""During 'Pride and Joy' Stevie Ray Vaughan provided two classic still lifes that deserve to be displayed in the Unplugged gallery. In the first - after he sang the line 'You mess with her you see a man get mean' - he made a fist to display an enormous ring on his finger. The audience exploded. The second was at the song's end. After he sang the last line he smiled the kind of smile that only someone who has just experienced perfection can project. Plans to end the show with Joe and Stevie playing together were scrapped because Stevie had to leave early. The chilling aspect of this was that Jules excused his absence by saying, 'Stevie's gotta go catch an airplane; he's outta
""MTV Unplugged"" presents Atlanta-based singers/songwriters/guitarists Amy Ray And Emily Saliers -- collectively known as the Indigo Girls -- and solo artist Michelle Shocked. Shocked performs ""Jamboree Queen,"" ""On The Greener Side,"" and ""The Water Is Wide."" The Indigo Girls perform ""World Falls,"" and ""Closer To Fine,"" from their self-titled LP. Shocked joins host Jules Shear to revive the Jimmy Rodgers song ""T For Texas.""An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""These two artists embody what we were attempting to accomplish with the early shows: guitar, voice, song. Nothing more, nothing less. During this adolescent stage of Unplugged, Jules used to warm up the crowd with an old Jimmie Rodgers song, 'T for Texas.' For this program, he actually broke it out for the camera. At one point during the song - a duet with Michelle Shocked - Jules sang a note for 18 seconds (You try it). Everyone - Michelle included - stared dumbfounded. Finally, Michelle was so flabbergasted that she broke in
3a8082e126