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MTV Unplugged is a series showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustic instruments. It is produced by Viacom and was directed by Beth McCarthy. An acoustic instrument is an musical instrument which does not produce sound using electronics, as does an electronic musical instrument. ... Viacom (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIAb) is an American media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks movie studios). ... Beth McCarthy or Beth McCarthy-Miller was the director of NBCs Saturday Night Live starting in 1995. ...

Unplugged

Unplugged refers to rock musicians primarily known for playing electric amplified instruments (usually the electric guitar & electric bass) performing live using primarily acoustic instruments. Unplugged refers to musicians performing live using only acoustic instruments; that is, without plugging in amplified instruments (e. ... Left: Rosa Hurricane, a heavy metal-style solid body guitar. ... Fender Precision Bass Bass Guitar is a commonly spoken phrase used to refer to the electric bass and horizontal acoustic basses, a stringed instrument similar in design to the electric guitar, but larger in size, commonly fretted and sometimes fretless and with a lower range. ...

The word became incorporated into the title of a popular MTV series that began in the 1989/1990 US TV season, MTV Unplugged, on which musicians performed acoustic or "unplugged" versions of their familiar repertoire. Many of these performances were subsequently released as albums, often featuring the title Unplugged. MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network based in New York City. ...

Inspiration for MTV Unplugged

The inspiration for the Unplugged series has been attributed to the popularity among music fans of a variety of informal musical performances on stage, film, television and record in earlier decades. Elvis Presley's "In-the-Round" performance in his 1968 Comeback Special, and the Beatles informal studio jams in the 1970 film "Let It Be" were both precursors of the "Unplugged" concept. Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Elvis Presley in his 68 Comeback Special Elvis Presleys 68 Comeback Special is a 1968 United States television special starring Elvis Presley. ... The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as part of their first tour of the United States, promoting their first hit single there, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Let It Be was an album by The Beatles, released on May 8, 1970. ...

Other more specifically "unplugged" performances occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s including the June 1979 appearances by Pete Townshend at The Secret Policeman's Ball - a series of benefit shows in London for human rights organization Amnesty International at which the usually electric guitar-wielding Townshend was persuaded by benefit producer Martin Lewis to perform his hits Pinball Wizard and Won't Get Fooled Again on acoustic guitar. The performances were widely seen and heard on the 1980 live album and the UK-only movie of the benefit and inspired other rock performers to emulate Townshend. Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (born May 19, 1945 in Chiswick, London), is an award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. ... The Secret Policemans Ball is the collective name for a series of fund raising performances featuring big-name comedians and musicians and other celebrities, held at various London venues, and once at a Nottingham television studio, to raise money for (and awareness of) Amnesty International. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ... Martin Lewis. ... Pinball Wizard is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera Tommy. ... Wont Get Fooled Again is a rock song by the British rock band The Who, composed by band member Pete Townshend. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Two years later in September 1981 Lewis produced a sequel benefit show The Secret Policeman's Other Ball that featured similar performances by other rock performers including Sting, Phil Collins and Bob Geldof. The 1982 live album of these performances and the US version of The Secret Policeman's Other Ball movie (which incorporated a 'flashback' of Townshend's 1979 performances) both became very successful and were widely seen and heard in the USA. Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... The Secret Policemans Other Ball was the fourth of the benefit shows staged by the British Section of Amnesty International to raise funds for its research and campaign work in the human rights field. ... Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born 2 October 1951), universally known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician from Newcastle upon Tyne. ... Philip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951 in Chiswick, London) is an English singer, songwriter, drummer and actor. ... Robert Frederick Xenon Geldof, (or Zenon, sources differ)KBE[1], known as Bob Geldof (born 5 October 1951) [2], is an Irish singer, songwriter, actor and political activist. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... The Secret Policemans Other Ball was the fourth of the benefit shows staged by the British Section of Amnesty International to raise funds for its research and campaign work in the human rights field. ...

The phenomenon of rock stars re-creating their hits in an acoustic manner was thus well established by the early 1980s though the word 'unplugged' had not yet been applied to the concept.

The first rock artists to perform in an "unplugged" mode on MTV were XTC in May 1989, and Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora performing "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" during the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi Jr on March 2, 1962) is an American singer, musician, businessman, actor and avid downhill skier. ... Richard Stephen Sambora (born on July 11th, 1959), is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who is the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

Following the popularity of the Bon Jovi performance, MTV began the Unplugged series of concerts.

Memorable Moments on MTV Unplugged

When the series first aired on November 26 1989^[1], it featured Squeeze, Syd Straw and Elliot Easton. The first 13 episodes were hosted by American singer and songwriter Jules Shear. This is a list of musical bands, groups and artists featured on MTV Unplugged shows. ... Squeeze are an English rock music band that came to prominence in the New Wave period of the late 1970s. ... Syd Straw is an American rock singer and songwriter. ... Elliot Easton Elliot Easton (born Elliot Steinberg, 18 December 1953, in Brooklyn, New York) played lead guitar and sang background vocals for The Cars. ... Jules Shear is an American singer and songwriter born in Pittsburgh in 1952. ...

On December 13, 1990 at the MTV Studios New York Poison recorded some of their top ten singles of which four of them appear on the Crack A Smile...And More! album. Poison is an American hard rock band which originally achieved popular success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Crack a Smile is the fifth music album by American glam metal band Poison. ...

When Paul McCartney himself appeared on the show in January 25 1991, he chose to release the set as Unplugged (The Official Bootleg). Show producer Alex Colletti has gone on record in an interview stating his view that had McCartney not released the album and its subsequent popularity, the concept would have never gained the cult status that it went on to enjoy. Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an Academy Award and Grammy Award winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) is a live unplugged performance by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 1991. ...

In 1992 TNT were featured doing an acoustic version of their songs Lionheart and What I Need. Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... TNT is a Norwegian hard rock band. ...

10,000 Maniacs were the first act to perform on the show twice. They were featured on the February 4, 1991 show as well as their more well-known performance in 1993, which was released on album. R.E.M. was the second band to have performed twice, in 1991 (see MTV Unplugged: R.E.M. (1991)) and 2001 (see MTV Unplugged: R.E.M. (2001)). Other artists like Robert Smith, MC Lyte and Maggie Estep also appeared more than once in the show. 10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, formed in 1981 and active with various line-ups since that time. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album by 10,000 Maniacs. ... This article is about the band. ... MC Lyte (born Lana Michele Moorer on October 11, 1971 in Queens, New York) is a female rap artist. ... Maggie Estep is an American poet and writer. ...

Mariah Carey performed some of her hits from the first two years of her career on Unplugged in 1992. That year, Eric Clapton recorded an Unplugged performance at Bray Studios in London (see Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)). His was widely praised and criticized for heavily reworking many of his famous songs so they would work in an acoustic context, in some to the point of almost unrecognizability. Clapton's Unplugged album went on to become the bestselling Unplugged album in the U.S., with sales of 10 million. Pearl Jam's full 1992 setlist was shortened to fit in the 30 minute airtime of the show. They also performed the songs "Oceans" and a cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" which were not aired. Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director and actress. ... Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning British guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ... Unplugged is an album by Eric Clapton released in 1992. ... Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. ... Neil Percival Young[1] OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film director from Winnipeg, Manitoba. ...

In Neil Young's 1993 performance (see Unplugged (Neil Young album)), two of the songs were played twice after Young was dissatisfied with them. He gave the drummer grief both times for playing too fast. Four songs from the performance were cut from the final broadcast. Neil Percival Young[1] OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film director from Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... Unplugged is a 1993 live album by Neil Young. ...

Widely accepted as the best known performance was by grunge band Nirvana, whose performance on Unplugged was one of the last televised performances by Kurt Cobain, recorded just a few months before his death. Nirvana's songs consisted mostly of little-known material from themselves, the Meat Puppets, and David Bowie (see MTV Unplugged in New York). It is a contrast to other Unplugged concerts, where artists largely perform their own songs. Nirvana was an American rock band that formed in Aberdeen, Washington. ... Kurt Donald Cobain (Aberdeen, Washington, USA; February 20, 1967 – c. ... The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... MTV Unplugged in New York is a live album by the American grunge band, Nirvana. ...

Bruce Springsteen also performed in 1993, and in a twist on the program's theme, most of set was performed with amplified instruments (see In Concert/MTV Plugged). Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an influential American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ... In Concert/MTV Plugged is a live album by Bruce Springsteen. ...

Some songs from Midnight Oil's 1993 performance on Unplugged appear on their album The Real Thing. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Real Thing is a compilation of studio and live accoustic recordings by Midnight Oil, and includes a cover version of Russell Morriss classic The Real Thing. Track Listing The Real Thing (J. Young) Say Your Prayers (Moginie) Spirit of the Age (Moginie/Garrett) Feeding Frenzy (Moginie/Garrett) - The...

On August 9, 1995, hard rock legends Kiss performed on MTV Unplugged in what fans consider a historical concert (see Kiss Unplugged). Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons contacted former members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley and invited them to participate in the event. Fan reaction to Criss and Frehley at the Unplugged show was so positive that, in 1996, the original lineup of Kiss reunited, with all four original members together for the first time since 1979. Bob Dylan had an Unplugged concert in 1995 as well. Also in 1995 on Valentine's Day the grunge band Hole performed on "Unplugged" with memorable performances of "Miss World," and "Doll Parts," and covers of the Nirvana songs "You Know You're Right" (as "You've Got No Right") and "Old Age" also the Duran Duran song "Hungry Like the Wolf." is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ... Kiss Unplugged is a Kiss album featuring the group performance in MTV Unplugged. ... Stanley Harvey Eisen (born January 20, 1952, Queens, New York) known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American Hard rock guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Kiss. ... Chaim Witz (חיים וויץ), (born August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel), better known by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American hard rock bass guitarist and vocalist. ... Peter Criss (born George Peter John Criscuola on December 20, 1945), is an American musician best known as co-founder, drummer, vocalist for the rock band KISS. Peter Criss established the cat character for his KISS persona. ... Paul Daniel Frehley, (born April 27, 1951[1]), better known as Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band Kiss. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... Unplugged refers to musicians performing live using only acoustic instruments; that is, without plugging in amplified instruments (e. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Nirvana was an American rock band that formed in Aberdeen, Washington. ... You Know Youre Right is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. ... Duran Duran are an English rock band notable for a long series of popular singles and vivid music videos. ...

On April 10, 1996, Alice in Chains would give their first performance in three years and one of their last concerts as a group for 9 years on the show (see Unplugged (Alice in Chains album)). Lead singer Layne Staley was visibly in poor health from his heroin addiction (which would eventually claim his life six years later). Scott Olson, a recording engineer from London Bridge Studios in Seattle, was included as a rhythm guitarist for this concert to enhance the acoustic quality of the originally heavy metal songs. A band considered as alternative metal, the acoustic arrangements were clearly distinguishable from the previous versions of their songs, including "Down In A Hole". On July 30 of the same year, Alice in Chains released an Unplugged album from the performance, with the new song, "Killer Is Me," being released as a new track introduced at the performance. The songs "Angry Chair," "Frogs," and "Killer Is Me" were not broadcast on the original show, but were included on Alice in Chains' Unplugged album. Alice in Chains is a popular and influential rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987. ... Unplugged is a live album by Alice in Chains. ... Layne Staley (August 22, 1967 - ca. ... Heroin (INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is an opioid synthesized directly from the extracts of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. ... Scott Olson is a Guitarist, Bassist and recording engineer. ... Angry Chair, by grunge band Alice in Chains, was the fourth single from their 1992 album Dirt. ...

Britpop giants Oasis were due to play for the show at the Royal Festival Hall on August 23, 1996, but at the 11th hour lead singer Liam Gallagher pulled out, citing a sore throat (The real reason being that prior to the show, Noel and Liam got into an argument in which Liam proclaimed Oasis were nothing without him, the lead singer, and wished to prove this by letting Noel and the remaining three members perform without him)^{[citation needed]}. Main songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher then took over for vocals and sang for every song during the concert. Liam watched the performance from a balcony and openly mocked the group. Britpop was a British alternative rock genre and movement that was at its most popular in Great Britain in the mid 1990s. ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991. ... Liam Gallagher (born William John Paul Gallagher on September 21, 1972, Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English singer and tambourine player of the band Oasis. ... Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ...

In 2001, Japanese Pop Singer Utada Hikaru became the youngest singer and the third Japanese Pop Singer, the first and second being Chage and Aska, to be featured on MTV Unplugged. Utada redirects here. ... Chage and Aska ) or Chage and Asuka, are a Japanese popular music duo composed of two singer-songwriters from Fukuoka Prefecture, Chage (b. ...

Jay-Z: Unplugged is rapper Jay-Z's 2001 music album that contains some of his past songs with live acoustic instruments performed by Jay-Z himself with the hip-hop group The Roots. The album was recorded during the taping of a MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode on November 18, 2001. It sold more than 600,000 copies.

Unplugged (2005), by Alicia Keys

Lauryn Hill unveiled her much-anticipated new material on a 2002 MTV Unplugged special, and later released it on the album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. It had been three years since the release of Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Hill appeared with her hair cut off and performed in a stripped-down, minimalist style. Her set included her playing an acoustic guitar, spoken word segments, and occasionally breaking down in tears. Image File history File links Summary Cover of the Alicia Keys Unplugged album. ... Image File history File links Summary Cover of the Alicia Keys Unplugged album. ... Unplugged is a live album by American R&B/soul singer and pianist Alicia Keys. ... Alicia Keys (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook on January 25, 1980) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, philanthropist, and author who has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. ... Lauryn Noel Hill-Marley (born May 25, 1975) is an eight-time Grammy award winning musician, record producer, and film actress. ... MTV Unplugged No. ... The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by Lauryn Hill of the recently reunited Fugees. ... This article is about minimalism in art and design. ...

MTV revived the series when Alicia Keys' Unplugged special aired on MTV on September 23, 2005. It was the first Unplugged for MTV in nearly three years, and special guests for Keys' performance included Mos Def, Common, Damian Marley and Maroon 5's Adam Levine. The show was released on CD and DVD in October 2005 (see Unplugged (Alicia Keys album)). Alicia Keys (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook on January 25, 1980) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, philanthropist, and author who has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA), is an American rapper and actor. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Damian Marley (born July 21, 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a Grammy-winning reggae artist and is the youngest male child of reggae legend Bob Marley, and the only child born to Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976. ... Maroon 5 is a soul-influenced rock band from Los Angeles, California on A&M/Octone Records. ... Adam Noah Levine (born March 18, 1979) is the lead singer and the guitarist for the rock group, Maroon 5. ... Unplugged is a live album by American R&B/soul singer and pianist Alicia Keys. ...

On March 2, 2007, MTV aired Korn Unplugged. Featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence and all members of The Cure, the show featured a selection of the band's hits including "Got the Life", "Falling Away from Me", "Freak on a Leash", and "Blind". MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network based in New York City. ... This article is about the band. ... Amy Hartzler (born Amy Lynn Lee and best known as Amy Lee, December 13, 1981 in Riverside, California) is an American singer-songwriter and classically-trained pianist. ... Evanescence is a Grammy Award-winning American alternative rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1998 by singer Amy Lee and former guitarist Ben Moody. ... The Cure are an English rock band that formed in Crawley, Sussex in 1976. ... Got The Life is a song and the lead single by Alternative Metal/Nu Metal band KoRn from their third album, Follow the Leader. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Freak on a Leash is a commercially successful song by the band Korn. ... Blind is the first single by American nu-metal band Korn. ...

Upcoming performances in 2007 include Bon Jovi, The Police, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney and John Mayer ^[2] Bon Jovi is a hard rock band originating from Sayreville, New Jersey. ... The Police are a three-piece rock band consisting of singer/bassist Sting (Gordon Sumner), guitarist Andy Summers, and drummer Stewart Copeland. ... This article or section may contain excessive or improper use of copyrighted images and/or audio files. ... Kenny Chesney (born Kenneth Arnold Chesney, March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer. ... John Clayton Mayer (born October 16, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. ...

External links

• official site
• TV.com MTV Unplugged episode listing

References