The Cure performed their MTV Unplugged session in their London studios on January 24, 1991.Henley performed his solo episode in 1990. John, and asked if he would be willing to join Walsh on Unplugged. With only Walsh booked, producers went next door where a VH1 morning show was being taped with Dr.

John was not originally scheduled to be part of the episode. At that point, MTV was sharing the time between different artists. MTV invited Henley to perform on the show, but Henley wanted to have a show featuring only himself. According to the book I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks, Walsh wanted to perform the Eagles classic ' Desperado', but Joel Gallen received a three-page fax from Don Henley denying the use of the song. Joe Walsh appeared on the show in 1989 with Dr.The first 13 episodes were hosted by American singer-songwriter Jules Shear and featured Aerosmith, Elton John, Sinéad O'Connor, Poison, Joe Satriani and Stevie Ray Vaughan among others. The series first aired November 26, 1989, featuring Squeeze, Syd Straw and Elliot Easton.Selected list of artists įor a full list of performers sorted by date, see List of artists featured on MTV Unplugged. The first episode of MTV Unplugged was taped on October 31, 1989, and aired about a month later on November 26. The show was produced by Viacom and RSE Inc and was most frequently directed by Milton Lage and Beth McCarthy. After the first 13 episodes, the role of host was eliminated. 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. Songwriter Jules Shear hosted the first 13 episodes. The MTV show titled Unplugged, drawing on this phenomenon, was created by producers Robert Small and Jim Burns. 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. Many of these performances were subsequently released as albums, often featuring the title Unplugged. The show featured musicians performing unplugged versions of their electric repertoire. In most cases, the bass (or bass guitar) is amplified, and a Hammond organ is sometimes used. 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. The show received the George Foster Peabody Award and three Primetime Emmy nominations, in its original form.Ī limited-run reboot of MTV Unplugged came in 2009, featuring six acts, which won the Emmy Award for Best New Approach.Īs of 2021, several episodes are available to watch on Paramount+. Some of these albums produced successful singles as well, including Mariah Carey's No. 2.0 (2001), Alicia Keys' Unplugged (2005) and Ricky Martin's MTV Unplugged (2006). Other Unplugged albums that went platinum include Rod Stewart's Unplugged.and Seated (1993), 10,000 Maniacs' MTV Unplugged (1993), Tony Bennett's MTV Unplugged (1994), Page and Plant's No Quarter (1994), Shakira's MTV Unplugged (1999), Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged No. Albums such as Mariah Carey's MTV Unplugged (1992), Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) and Alice in Chains' Unplugged (1996) became notable hits of the program. Eric Clapton's Unplugged (1992) sold 26 million copies worldwide and became the best-selling live album of all time. Many of the artists who appeared on the show in the 1990s released their Unplugged session as an album, and some of these albums were commercial and critical hits. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes through online or subscription only. From 2000 to 2009, it aired less frequently and was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic or 'unplugged' variations of songs. MTV Unplugged is an American television series on MTV.

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