It is weird to think now just how novel it was to witness rock bands deliver stripped-down renditions of their songs when MTV Unplugged launched at the end of the 80s. Up until that point, acoustic takes of rock classics were usually limited to your uncle whipping out his acoustic to demonstrate how he’d mastered the riff to Livin’ On A Prayer. But that first show, featuring British new wave dons Squeeze alongside Syd Straw and Eliot Easton, launched a whole new format. By the early 90s, an MTV Unplugged appearance had become an important cog in the promotion of a new record and probably one welcomed by bands who were getting an opportunity to play their music as they’d never done before (well, most bands - it didn’t exactly appeal to any artists of an electronic nature, like can you imagine Depeche Mode unplugged? It would mostly have been Dave Gahan a cappella).
It most definitely suited the wave of groups who emerged in the US over the first half of the decade, though, grunge bands who usually featured a virtuoso guitarist in their ranks and/or a singer whose stark emotion suited the mood. Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots all tapped into that vibe, whilst Nirvana went in with a punky attitude to do something different and emerged with a rootsier version of themselves. Casting an eye over the rock acts who’ve performed, it feels like an oversight that Soundgarden and Smashing Pumpkins never got a crack but highlights from the performances aren’t restricted to one genre. Some saw it as a chance to expand their sonic vision, some to pare it down. Here are ten of the best MTV Unplugged moments from across the decades.
