The ‘Unplugged’ Shows: An Unforgettable Part of ‘Grunge’ Legacy

The music scene that we are all endeared to would not have been the same without the famous MTV Unplugged shows. The four shows that come to mind are Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains. These shows are all proving to be timeless, and they also serve as barometers of the period during which the bands recorded them. Like the bands themselves, they all bring something unique to the table.

Pearl Jam’s show feels like a lot of their shows from that era - a loud announcement of the arrival of one of the biggest bands in the world. I’ve always felt that Pearl Jam in 1991-92 was the climactic unleashing of a force that had been growing and growing in its members, and all of that internal pressure burst through with the passion that we see in shows from that era. The unique combination of individual histories of the band members all came together with a sense of urgency, and they were writing and playing and performing as though their lives depended on it - and in some ways, they did.

The Stone Temple Pilots’ rise to rock stardom was not without criticism, consistently being subject to chastisement for ‘copying’ the ‘grunge’ movement, and, in natural accordance with music criticism 101, stood down many accusations of being ‘sell outs’. To me, their Unplugged set feels like a triumphant rebuttal against those criticisms. Their display of musicianship was a sure-handed response that they were every bit of the band that the chart numbers indicated, and that they were genuine creators. Looking back at this show, I see Scott Weiland in a much healthier state than the one he operated in for the rest of his life. 

Nirvana’s show is hallmark Nirvana - eccentric, unpredictable, but always noteworthy. Staying true to form of going it their own way, their set was laden with deep tracks, obscure covers, and unknown musical guests (the Meat Puppets) - notably absent were any Nirvana’s hits besides ‘Come As You Are’. Kurt Cobain’s condition and struggles with addiction at the time made for a tense atmosphere, and as a result, the set nearly didn’t happen. One common theme that has always been fascinating to me is an artist’s ability to create even under those most dire circumstances. I’ve often wondered whether such creation is cathartic, or burdensome. Either way, this performance feels like Kurt’s Magnum Opus to me.

Alice in Chains’ Unplugged set was their first show in almost three years, in addition to being one of their last with Layne Staley. I feel a similar theme here as I do in Nirvana’s set, as this show was a case study of an artist’s (in this case, Layne Staley) ability to create under such anguish. This set has always felt like the last light that was being emitted from one of the great musical supernovas. The band plays extremely well, but despite that, I am drawn to Layne’s desolation, and listening now just makes me sad.

I am thankful that we have these shows to look back upon and watch. What are your thoughts on them? Which show is your favorite?

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