Nirvana Unplugged Behind The Scenes | MTV Vault

[@BlackAlbino2000]

The Greatest unplugged show , the fact Kurt thought the audience didn’t like it says it all . They were completely blown away

[@daviddennen7479]

I think it's the same response that actors have when someone asks them whether they saw their own movie. Their usual response is that they can't stand to watch themselves because they tend to nitpick every aspect of their performance. To be expected from a show like this for a band that wasn't known for their softer side in a live setting.

[@matthewfreeman33]

nah AIC was better. Didn't need to pay covers

[@AapLay92]

@@matthewfreeman33 this

[@baz9595]

@@matthewfreeman33 +1

[@matiasaguilar2500]

Remember all an artist can see of their work is the mistakes

[@krisfrederick5001]

"I asked David Geffen to buy me Leadbelly's guitar personally for 500,000 dollars, but he wouldn't do it." Well, Kurt yours from this show sold for 6 million. I think you outdid your favorite performer...

[@Ervinabrahamian]

Great observation! I knew both those facts and never put them side by side and thought about it.

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

Kurt would be the first person to disagree with you. What our racist culture judges to be more valuable is based on stupidity. Also, half a million in the 90s was closer to 3 and 4 million today.

[@jaydenkrista2291]

its called economy inflation

[@julesvan]

@@jaydenkrista2291 the equivalence is 1 million, so Cobain still outdid his favorite by far

[@380stroker]

​@@jaydenkrista2291 That's a weird way of spelling Bidenflation.

[@df7687]

How bizzare is it the Kurt didnt think the show went down well and yet that gig is one of the greatest ever gigs in musical history!

[@grose2272]

He always under scored himself..

[@BurdenErnie1]

Maybe he didn't know it was going to be edited

[@sam0kc]

As a musician myself, when you're playing on stage, you never know how it looks. But like, for real. first of all, to "play" well, or to "sing" well, the audio engineers are asked by the musicians or singers to put the volume of their own instrument (or mic) louder. We do not hear at all the same "coherent" song that the audience do. And we are tricked by how we feel : sometimes it can feel not to powerfull but it is actually okay, sometimes you seem to rock but the audience just hear some gibberish sound, sometimes you feel the song is sooo slow but it is actually at a correct tempo, etc. etc. That's why we so have to rely on the sound engineers who work with us: they are our ears in front of the scene...

[@joeydabbs1466]

AiC and this one best live performance

[@terrimcghee6922]

They say he was going through withdrawals and throwing up in a bucket. And he pulls off the greatest MTV Unplugged EVER. In my opinion anyway.

[@cgh7337]

Fun fact: The big dude w/ the sunglasses @ 1:14 is John Duncan who was a guitarist for the Scottish punk band The Exploited. Kurt was a huge fan & had hired him around 1992 to be Nirvana's guitar tech.

[@topfloorstudio2684]

I bet he didn't know that Martin D38 would be worth half a million dollars that he was noodling on!

[@deadroses19]

Thats so cool. I assume he’s no longer in the Exploited

[@TaxiKlenzi]

@@topfloorstudio2684 its actually a martin d18e but still really cool guitar

[@jasonrigler7020]

Lilies are the flowers of immortality. Which means Kurt will live on forever.

[@le_th_]

No, his music is though.

[@KillerOfTheShadow]

He died less than 6 months later, forever.

[@v.xien.]

No such thing as forever

[@boomerdunkin]

​@@le_th_dick

[@boomerdunkin]

​@@KillerOfTheShadowdick

[@wincup]

Oh I miss 90s....that atmosphere...

[@bikepacker9850]

It was a better time....

[@BethesdaModder]

Right before the Internet ruined society 😅

[@davidoverstreet6900]

This is very cool coming from someone who actually watched the MTV performance live. And owned the Unplugged album ever since it's release. I think part of the reason for the lack of applause was the fact that they played so many Sub Pop songs from other bands. I think that was totally unexpected by the spectators. And I think it threw them off a little bit. Having said that, it still doesn't detract from the fact that it really was an overall great performance. A nice mix of both Nirvana music and some of their favorite sub pop songs.

[@Mrfurreno]

Wish I could of gone but I don’t think I was born yet (yup I was born in 03)

[@_nc513_]

Sub Pop, as in the record label Sub Pop? I don't think any of those cover songs were Sub Pop songs.

[@davidoverstreet6900]

Not the record label, the music genre. Pop music that is generally not played on mainstream radio.

[@chrisdunn3241]

MTV almost didn’t release this because they wanted Nirvana to have Pearl Jam on as a guest band but instead the had the Meat Puppets and covered a bunch of songs instead of only playing Nirvana hits

[@MH-et5sn]

@@davidoverstreet6900 I wouldn't call the Meat Puppets, David Bowie or Leadbelly 'pop'. What other covers did they even do?

[@duartereis521]

No one there probably didn't know how legandary this would become

[@gabethemonster]

The structure in this sentence is buggin me

[@tranqiepa]

Right!

[@67kurtcobainfan27]

Legendary indeed.

[@LautaRigVeda]

Only Kurt

[@67kurtcobainfan27]

@@LautaRigVeda Kurt 🎸 Cobain

[@Simcitywok]

“Where did you sleep last night” is the greatest closing track

[@messycloud]

Gaves me chills everytime from that look at the end... The song is amazing it self too, got me into them.

[@Simcitywok]

@@messycloud everyone reads a lot into that MTV show like “oh its clearly a funeral, look at the flowers and the last song was about death etc”. No one really said that at the time because no one really watched it. Honestly, it was not a big deal til after Kurt died and had he not died would have been a blip on the career radar of greats

[@messycloud]

@@Simcitywok well, i didn't say it was like a funeral. My dad mentioned that when he showed me the concert as a kid. I don't really care about the decorations, the music is more important to me

[@buffluffstuff]

I read that Kurt decided against an encore because he knew there was no way they could top that

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

6:31 I can hear every single word of that quote in Kurt's voice, 100% something he would say

[@sianspherica]

So glad they had friends like Lee and Steve from Sonic Youth there. Also I love Pat's face when Kurt throws the smoke at him.

[@tb7125]

I would watch every second of uncut b reel from this performance. Best live taping of a concert in history, IMO

[@pamelalapier9633]

I miss Kurt so much. It was a brilliant show.

[@whileriding]

One of the great albums of all time

[@juannicolasrodriguez2601]

I really miss this MTV, when actually was MusicTeleVision😢😢

[@v.xien.]

Yup

[@topfloorstudio2684]

Headbangers Ball with Ricky Rachman & Kennedy!! Yo MTv *RAPS*

[@Headwyres]

Happy 30th Anniversary of this legendary show!

[@Censored4UViaGoogle]

Memories. I remember 1993 like it was yesterday

[@stmn346]

Kids that weren’t born before 77’, have no idea how cool it was growing up into this music generation. By 1990, we were teenagers living, thriving, wanting the best, and we got the best. From 75’ to 95’ had some of the historically best music ever. And has yet to be duplicated.

[@knp3335]

I was born in 1983 and watched this when it aired so I could record it. They were my favorite band. By the time I was an 8 year old girl I was addicted to the music on MTV and loved Headbanger’s Ball. I had an older sister so her headbanger boyfriends were quite an influence. Nirvana was my first obsession though and I stayed home from school at 10 to record the day Kurt was found. If I had been born any later I would have missed it all. I do wish I had been older so I could have made it to shows. It was the best music generation.

[@cjaquilino]

Nostalgia goggles.

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

Born in 1980 and grew up fixing and building toys taken from the trash o my neighborhood , making my own fireworks and listening to nirvana. My brother who was born in 78’s even saw them in concert in Europe

[@AG-mz7vm]

This!

[@AG-mz7vm]

@@cjaquilino No, the truth!

[@nomadben]

This is so cool!! I had no idea all of this footage even existed. Thank you so much for uploading this.

[@makstherandomuploader658]

I bet they got more from other shows as well

[@DouglasBull-rk6tv]

What bums me out is Nirvana was evolving here.He mixed this blues folk rock into their sound and was incredible.He wanted to do an acoustic album and man I wish we could've got one more record.

[@iaminsfiredbytrustfration8502]

i know right, a bluesy acoustic album would’ve been great, luckily we have unplugged

[@A_Dude_And_His_Watch78]

Right up there with some of the best acoustic albums of all time.

[@marielleo4715]

The most beautiful moments in music history!You can feel rhe beauty of every ton on your skin!

[@Oddboo3]

This show is great, man. Probably the best there was.

[@DeadDad1]

Man, I miss Kurt and Nirvana. 😢

[@breakbad9753]

5:29 the guy in the background is the best 😂😂

[@Gooniesneversaydie-80]

The unplugged album was by far the best along with there nevermind.

[@le_th_]

My first love is Bleach, then Nevermind, then Unplugged.

[@AndrewLoukidis-jr2bp]

Those sizzle sticks are great for playing quietly Plus you get a nice bounce from them

[@abdallahhamido2809]

We want the behind the scenes for AIC unplugged

[@InnerPeaceBeauty]

Yes!!!

[@rotaholikzhds906]

Its crazy tp think after all these years after kurts passing that his legacy seems to be slowly rising again,and how his guitar from this concert alone just became the most ezpensive sold musical instrument in all time now thats f N massive

[@SteveBueche1027]

It showed just how skilled they were. The persona on stage is what they were selling.

[@X9523-z3v]

Genuity. RIP

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

I’d never seen the soft sticks that Dave Grohl uses in this performance until their unplugged show aired… I immediately got some. They’ve been a critical part of my drum set up ever since

[@redpractition]

would you consider yourself loyal member of the brush brotherhood?

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

@@redpractition When appropriate!😁👍🥁☮️

[@sarahperks8226]

He was just so adorable 🥰

[@Dirtydirtyshoes-n4j]

...

[@rabarebra]

yet full of drugs... adorable?

[@sarahperks8226]

@rabarebra yes

[@AbdurRahim-cy6fq]

it's nice to see Big John of The Exploited assist Kurt Cobain with guitar

[@AP-ui7oi]

❤ the 90s

[@LuizFelipe-ki7qg]

For me: The best acoustic performance ever!

[@bikepacker9850]

It's the only album i have never tired of......

[@TobcioccLeyton]

I watched this at the time with my University friends, Nirvana were amazing.

[@johnhuldt]

The record that got me into playing guitar :)

[@alessandrobarros4352]

Esse acústico foi o melhor show do nirvana sem dúvidas...kurt estava sóbrio

[@Savorist]

I thought I knew all Kurts: Kurt the poet, Kurt the misfit, but this new one, Kurt the Micromanager, is my favorite

[@samkennett6239]

3:03 Kirst is such a lovable fkn goofball, dude was baking the whole time

[@jackgreentree9616]

Kinda sad that Kurt thought he did poorly. Can only imagine how nervous and stressed he was during the performance bc thinking that would certainly weigh on you in the midst of the set

[@whosfrogj]

Anyone know what the name of the song is that starts playing at around 5:00? I can't find it anywhere

[@DonutsMaronasse]

did you find the song now ?

[@sitindogmas]

they were just riffing with the meat puppets

[@ConsciousRobot]

One of my favorite things about the whole thing was Dave Grohl's drum sound. They were so sharp and tight.

[@dmvconartists1855]

It's the sizzle sticks/brushes

[@rosevanguard]

The best MTV unplugged session ever.

[@davidvanzant2019]

Best mtv unplugged ever

[@helengvozdovskaya5385]

It's weird to see all those tech people playing Kurt's and Dave's instruments.

[@dmvconartists1855]

Yeah I guess.. I think all the instruments were aquired not long before the show. I liked seeing Kurt & Chris Kirkwood play them too

[@amberspear9390]

I use to be a stagehand , so I could only imagine being a stage hand and setting up for this site . Epic

[@banortwi]

Does anyone know where to find the "Come As You Are" track that starts in the background at 5:02?

[@BrunaHera]

.

[@ellenphilpotts-troy2098]

what surprise me more is that he can sing so majestic with that gum in his mouth.

[@RambisRants]

Grohl was so skinny back then probably from his all out all the time style of drumming, couldn’t imagine the calories burnt there! RIP Kurt, you were such an original, must have been hard not having anyone around you who you truly could relate to, that man was on another level of consciousness…💔❤️🎶🔥🙌🏽

[@edskt_]

Thank You Kurt for the Music, Rest in Peace!

[@Astrozombies22]

2:16 Lee & Steve ❤

[@정몽-d1y]

After all it has become the legend

[@emmap746]

Please release behind the scene footage from AIC’s show🙏

[@thomasmcdaniel765]

I hope kurt's daughter got his guitar back. Its like Indiana Jones "it belongs in a museum".

[@GandalfGreyhame3]

I cried, thanks for the upload!

[@DeplorableJaredBrodersen]

So true that this unplugged event probably would've been easily overlooked and somewhat forgotten had Kurt not died soon after and had Nirvana lasted a decade longer.

[@I-See-In-The-Dark]

Still would've been an interesting listen for fans

[@virtualxl3651]

I hate that your statement could be more accurate than not, i guess we will never know since we’ll never see another Nirvana acoustic show ever.

[@kurdt1012]

Not at all. This concert was magical and unique.

[@davidhill8163]

thank you so much for posting this.

[@thekushness]

watched in the 90s and back for that nostalgia fix in 2024

[@kevin9005]

❤❤❤ We miss you. Kisses from France

[@alexandreavelar9696]

If there is Alice in Chains' similar material you GOTTA POST IT!!

[@hotwetsoup3565]

5:37 I love this guy

[@chacocobain5241]

Amo ese concierto es uno de los mejores en la historia de la musica

[@duartereis521]

Why doesn't mtv start doing things like this again dude?? Focus on music please stop with reality shows and ridiculousness after all the M is for music no? Then do things music relatated! Ugh :'(

[@Rocco32212]

No Kidding!

[@due_2477]

because no youngster watches tv nowadays

[@filipecoutinho5706]

Eles nem música de nirvana usaram para não pagar ...

[@HolyJawbone]

Music today is just as plastic and wouldn’t have the same effect

[@xxLonniExx]

I think maybe because most music today doesn't translate well in acoustic settings. People now make music with computer instead of real instruments.

[@freezreez4420]

What’s the name of the song at 5:05?

[@sitindogmas]

think they were just riffing

[@mrmeme-jq6qr]

didn’t know they were thrown a curveball when doing this show they pulled it off so well

[@goat1308]

What is the song that starts playing at 5:03?

[@goat1308]

5:05

[@DredgenX]

@2:16 Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth!

[@Virginie..]

And the rest is History...

[@michael_leclezio]

Thanks for sharing this kind of gold content!

[@lesleywhibley]

This is like them doing a jam session but really well.

[@luisricaldi9646]

All apologies was the song. The song that make me who I am.

[@pirigonzalez2113]

1:12 Big John from The Exploited

[@JosePepin-cy2hy]

Este es el mejor video se ve todo Kurt claridad sinceridad hay se se aprecia tantas cosas que es una mina de oro para la MTV para you tube este video es genial solo se lo merecen algunos los que somos más fans de Kurt cobain

[@mikandokken]

Those people on the queue would never know they were going to witness a historic event...

[@GeneralxMayhem]

Whether by design or not, this was Kurt's public funeral.

[@soundcamper]

big john playing kurts guitar upside-down 1:12

[@philbert3333]

funny seeing dave trying hard not to bash his drums in

[@clay_freespirit]

4:59 🔥 Song

[@paolacelletti2056]

"Oh Me" (Meat Puppets)

[@Scotty-P]

I just like seeing Pat.

[@deanl0]

Asking for a cigarette whether he wanted to quit or cos he had no money

[@SHDFVisual]

Please can someone tell me the name of this song in one minute: 5:03

[@k.bouter9268]

What is that song on 5:03, sound awesome

[@evol1901]

I tried shazaming it but nothing came up

[@paolacelletti2056]

"Oh Me" ( Meat Puppets)

[@dirtydan8694]

​@paolacelletti2056 Thats definitley not it 🤦‍♂️

[@vronsky_6806]

@@evol1901 right?? im obsessed!

[@Nievesjournal]

Ese desconectado le enseñó al mundo entero cómo se hace y fué legendario.

[@konaboss83]

Such a great time in history

[@jj-if6it]

Can't believe this was 30 years ago. But then the last 20 has gone by SO fast

[@mangavictory983]

ALICE IN CHAINS NEXT PLEASE!!!!

[@dianam9028]

I miss Kurt 😥

[@gloryxkid]

Insane seeing Lee Ranaldo there

[@Redplanetfilms1]

Worked for the guys that created Unplugged RSE. The morning of this shoot I parked my car down the block and walked to the studio next to the studio where this was filmed. If I had known what the heck was going on next door, I would have made sure I would have stuck my head in.

[@fedserg888]

It was great! And still is

[@excessmeteor9704]

Lilies: Harbingers of Misfortune While the lily signifies purity and peace in death in many cultures, it's also tied to omen's of life's fragility. Associated with funerals, they foreshadow mortality and also spell household misfortune if not handled properly.

[@jj-if6it]

I love how they chose to do a few cover songs from a completely random unknown band, and give them a moment in the spotlight

[@dreamchampagne]

The 90s were the best time in America I swear

[@snjychannel]

the time when mtv was a good chanel for music

[@ralieghTsakers]

Dicky Betts built the stage! Wild.

[@arianprofit]

Krist is great lol. 6:09

[@imonthevergeoftears1543]

what song is that at 5:00?

[@MacCocas1]

I would also like to know the name of this melody

[@mattgoldstein7773]

What is the riff at 5:04? Is it an outtake or someone else?

[@shafikahamzah]

When producer ask Nirvana to encore,Kurt refuse it and the refusal is right