MTV in the nineties was special. It was a force to be reckoned with for modern music at the time. It was the trendsetter. The network had come into its own from its infancy in the 80s.

It had become more than radio you could watch. Sure, MTV had their own produced shows like Profiles in Rock and Remote Control in the early days.

But, in the 90s, MTV took their programming to the next level. They truly unified youth culture. Shows like TRL had the viewers involved, Beavis and Butthead showcased music while lampooning it at the same time, and Celebrity Deathmatchmade fun of celebrities by animating them and putting them into the ring to battle to their bitter ends.

One show that MTV produced, though, is timeless. A show that put the artist first, showcased their raw talents, unplugged them from the giant Marshall stacks of guitar amps behind rock stars of the time, and made them play acoustic.

MTV Unplugged aired from the start of the decade to the very end. Any artist who was anybody during this era of the network wanted to be featured on it. From Mariah Carey to The Cure, to Page and Plant, and of course, Nirvana were on it.

This is our list of some of the best performances that were on MTV Unplugged in the nineties, that anyone who is a fan of the decade’s music needs to search out and watch.

#12 1991: The Cure

Overall, this is not The Cure’s best performance. Some of the songs worked for the unplugged format, others did not. It was almost as if Robert Smith and the rest of the band didn’t care all that much about the taping.

The Cure, at the time, had an amazing back catalog that would have been fantastic for the show. It was kind of a missed opportunity for the band.

But what makes this performance special is that The Cure used this taping as the first official performance for their classic off of their Wish album, “A Letter To Elise”. The performance of the song features different lyrics from the official release. It is extremely exciting to watch a song that is a fan favorite being “born.”

The Cure did make some amazing artistic choices to keep up with the theme of being Unplugged. Instead of an electric piano or keyboard, they chose to use a child’s toy piano in the performance. You can hear it being played in a few of the performances. They also used a bongo set instead of a drum kit, so the rest of the band was not overpowered by a full percussion set.

Songs in the performance include “Just Like Heaven,” “Let’s Go To Bed,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” and a few other classics.

#11 1995: The Cranberries

In an effort to promote their 1994 release No Need To Argue, The Cranberries taped an episode of the MTV show in 1995 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

The performance was simple: just the band sitting close together in chairs, performing nine songs. Unlike other bands who went on the show, The Cranberries opted not to perform covers.

This performance is particularly special as The Cranberries performed their song “Yesterday’s Gone,” which they never officially recorded in a studio.

While the Unplugged series could have been complete in the 90s without a performance from The Cranberries, their performance was outstanding. The band performed their now-classic song “Zombie” with a full string section.

#10 1993: Soul Asylum

Soul Asylum performed sixteen songs for MTV’s Unplugged, four of which were not broadcast.

While their performance on Unplugged is not widely remembered, it was a standout performance for the band, and some could argue that it is iconic for them.

Soul Asylum is a band that is built for this kind of performance. It shows when the band opened with “Runaway Train.” The acoustic performance of the song shows it in its rawest form.

The Unplugged setting allows frontman Dave Pirner to show off why he has been considered one of the best songwriters of a generation. The performance shows a raw emotion with tracks like “Black Gold” and “Somebody to Shove.”

#9 1995: Hole

In 1995, Courtney Love and Hole made a decision that many bands would not have made: less than a year after her husband Kurt Cobain’s death, the band played MTV’s Unplugged. It took a lot of guts to play the show, as Nirvana’s performance was the gold standard for the show, and Courtney would definitely get compared to her late husband.

Hole tackled the show with raw emotion, as much of this time for Hole was full of drama and emotion. The band was living with grief, drama, drug addiction, and pure sorrow.

Courtney Love hired Hal Willner, Saturday Night Live’s music producer, to supervise the music for the taping. He brought in a harpist, cellist, and a multi-instrumentalist to play clarinet, tuba, and other horns to round out the acoustic sound.

Hole performed their well-known songs “Doll Parts” as well as “Miss World.” The band, in Unplugged fashion, performed covers as well, including Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like The Wolf.”

But the standout from the night was that Courtney pulled out one of her late husband’s outtakes, “You Know You’re Right,” where she changed the words to “You’ve Got No Right.” Watching her perform this song and deal with the loss of her husband on stage is a sight to see.

#8 1996: Oasis

When it came time for Oasis to make its appearance in 1996 on the fabled MTV show, the show was established. MTV’s Unplugged should have marked an achievement in the career of Oasis. It did not.

That year, the band was moments away from breaking up, even though they were commercially successful. Their album at the time (What’s the Story Morning Glory) was the second-fastest selling album in the history of British music. They were playing stadiums, including Knebworth, which holds a quarter of a million people.

Their Unplugged performance showed that the band was sliding. Liam Gallagher, who was a fan of the band’s rock and roll aesthetic of being loud, supposedly only attended three of the rehearsals leading up to the appearance on the show.

Allegedly, he was complaining of a sore throat on the first day of rehearsals. The second day, he was late and didn’t sing much. The third rehearsal he showed up at, it was reported that he came in with dirty clothes, unshaven, sang three songs, and left.

Liam’s brother, Noel, was put into the position of wondering if he was going to show up to the show or not. Which were the correct thoughts because the day of the taping, he was nowhere to be found. Noel has said that there were rumors that Liam had been out drinking. Which proved true, as he eventually came to the show, absolutely drunk.

This put MTV in a position where they had to go without the lead singer or cancel the taping altogether. The network had the entire crew there, and canceling at the last minute made little sense.

The show must go on. They started the show by introducing Oasis. The band walked out and Noel told the crowd, “Liam ain’t gonna be with us tonight because he’s got a sore throat.” He then went on to say, “So you’re stuck with the ugly four.”

Regardless, Noel did a fantastic job. Some would say it was an iconic set. While it did not have the punch that it would have if Liam was on vocals, he was backed by horns and strings. But his performance contained the emotion and intent that Oasis is known for.

Songs that Noel performed for the first time as the lead singer included “Some Might Say,” “Listen Up,” and “Hello.” Oasis did their classic “Wonderwall.”

#7 1999: Alanis Morissette

People either love Alanis or think of her as someone who was scorned by that guy from Full House and can’t figure out how Uncle Joey hurt her so badly. Her performance on MTV Unplugged with a six-piece band and string section likely will not change anyone’s mind.

The show combined songs from her first two albums and a couple of new songs. She opened her set with her hit “You Learn” and ended the set with a version of “Uninvited” that is just haunting.

Her performance on the show was taped in 1999, and she was trying to recapture the success she had in 1995 with her album Jagged Little Pill.

While Alanis is a compelling performer, this was not one of her best outings.

#6 1991: R.E.M.

R.E.M. is special when it comes to MTV’s Unplugged; they are the only band that was featured twice on the program. The first time was in 1991, fresh off the release of their semi-acoustic Out Of Time album, and again in 2001.

The 1991 episode was extremely special. The appearance included all four of the band members, as it was prior to Bill Berry’s unfortunate brain aneurysm in 1994. It was also one of the few times fans got to see them perform live during the Out Of Time era, as the band did not tour for that album.

Fans were treated to the landmark hit “Losing My Religion” as well as an excellent KRS-One-free version of “Radio Song.” R.E.M. also performed the deep cut “Perfect Circle” from their debut album Murmur, as well as lesser-known tracks from their IRS Records days, such as Document’s “Disturbance at the Heron House” and Life’s Rich Pageant’s “Swan Swan H.”

#5 1996: Alice In Chains

When Alice In Chains came to Unplugged in 1996, the band had not performed much for two years.  Yet, they put on a performance that many called beautiful.  

AIC performed thirteen songs, eight of which were their hits.  Songs included were, “Angry Chair”, “Rooster”, “Got Me Wrong”, Would?”, and “Down in a Hole”.  

Unlike many of their contemporaries who performed on the show, Alice In Chains opted to not perform with additional musicians.  They stripped it down by just removing the electric guitars.  The songs were not re-arranged.  They didn’t roll out new songs.  For the band who had not been performing much in two years, it was a smart move. Thus, making the performance one of the classics from the MTV program.  

#4 1993: 10,000 Maniacs

The unplugged format wasn’t much of a departure for 10,000 Maniacs. The band already had a sweet folk-rock sound that many would call jangle pop. Some argue that 10,000 Maniacs delivered one of the best episodes of the classic MTV show, ranking it alongside appearances by Nirvana and Eric Clapton.

The setlist features a majority of songs from the band’s Our Time in Eden album, which was their latest release at the time. It includes many of the band’s most well-known songs, such as “Don’t Talk,” “What’s the Matter Here?”, “Trouble Me,” along with the anticipated cover of Patti Smith’s “Because the Night” and, of course, “Hey Jack Kerouac.”

Six months after the airing of their Unplugged performance, 10,000 Maniacs released the set as an album. This release took on a new tone, as Natalie Merchant had left the band in the months following the show.

For some fans, this appearance served as the perfect bookend to 10,000 Maniacs’ career; for others, it was an ideal introduction to the band.

#3 1993: Stone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots performance on Unplugged was not one of the best for MTV or the band.  90sAlt.com recognizes that fans of the band adore this performance, but in reality STP is not built for an acoustic performance. 

The reason why their debut album core is such a hit is due to the layered sound the band has.  The heavily amplified tracks of their guitar center in many cases is the hook to the songs themselves.  You just do not get that in an unplugged setting.  Their overall sound as a band just put STP in an awkward space.

Their performance of “Creep” on Unplugged was amazing.  But, the song is semi-acoustic in the original recording from their album “Core”.  

The other songs in their five song set on MTV just do not hold up to an acoustic performance.  “Sex Type Thing” and “Crackerman” are just not songs built for this.  There really wasn’t a good way to perform them on Unplugged without a complete re-arrangement of the musical track.

“Plush” though works fantastic for STP.  The arrangement just works for an acoustic performance.  The low-key performance pulls out something of vocalist Scott Weiland that you just do not get with the original recording.  This performance is truly a gem for the band.

#2 1992: Pearl Jam 

Pearl Jam’s performance on MTV Unplugged is often overlooked because of the timing in their career. While many of their peers waited to appear on the show, Pearl Jam was the first grunge band to do so. But, given this early performance, their set is perfection.

Eddie Vedder and the rest of the band understood that many of their songs wouldn’t translate well to an unplugged format due to their heavier sound. Yet they knew exactly which songs would shine in that setting. Tracks like “Porch” and “State of Love and Trust” sound amazing in an acoustic arrangement.

The standout performance was “Black.” This rendition was remarkable, highlighting Vedder’s personal struggles—his troubled childhood and his grappling with sudden fame.

During the performance, the band sits on stools against a dark backdrop. The music begins with a beautiful acoustic guitar and Vedder’s classic growl. He pours his emotions into the lyrics, referencing earth and sun with raw intensity. You can see in Vedder’s eyes the memories of pain and a past love. It’s a moving experience.

“Jeremy,” the song that put Pearl Jam on the map with its driving bassline and award-winning music video on MTV, also made the setlist. The album version on Ten is intense and deeply sincere. When you first heard it, it was one of those songs that made you realize Pearl Jam was different, just as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” did for its listeners. Both songs changed the direction of popular music forever.

The Unplugged version of “Jeremy” captures the same impact. Vedder’s vocals and Jeff Ament’s bassline—still the backbone of the song—work perfectly in an acoustic arrangement. Watching Vedder deliver the lyrics, you wonder if the microphone is even plugged in—he has a cannon of a voice in this performance.

The set rounds out with Pearl Jam staples of the era, including “Even Flow,” “Alive,” and Ten album cut “Oceans.” This performance is truly one not to be missed.

#1 1993: Nirvana

The performance can be described in one word: beautiful. Kurt Cobain’s vocals were on point, especially during Nirvana’s covers of “Lake of Fire” and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” Dave Grohl, known for his intense, hard-hitting drumming, played with an unusually light touch.

For a band often perceived as apathetic and angst-ridden, Nirvana presented a raw, “sloppy good” style that resonated. Despite this seemingly chaotic image, they rehearsed for weeks for the performance, revealing a level of dedication often overlooked.

Kurt Cobain put a great deal of pressure on the band, something that might have been too much for others. Krist Novoselic has mentioned in interviews that Cobain couldn’t stand ridicule; he worked tirelessly to prove critics wrong. Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance showcases that drive and dedication.

The set is a testament to Nirvana’s versatility. They approached Unplugged in their own way, opting not to perform “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” instead selecting covers that fit their style. They even invited the Meat Puppets on stage, creating a unique, memorable experience.

Nirvana’s approach to the Unplugged concept was unconventional. Both the performance and the album, released months later, gave listeners the sense of a new direction rather than a retrospective. In reality, the performance was simply that good.

Their performance of “About a Girl” was especially notable. Originally released on Nirvana’s first album, Bleach, it was a song Cobain hesitated to include, fearing its pop sound might alienate punk fans and the band’s underground following. Fortunately, the Bleach producer included it, though it largely went unnoticed until Unplugged, where it became one of the band’s most distinctive songs.

Nirvana also performed a cover of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World.” Bowie himself commented, “I was simply blown away when I found that Kurt Cobain liked my work, and I have always wanted to talk to him about his reasons for covering ‘The Man Who Sold the World.’ It was a straightforward rendition and sounded somehow very honest. It would have been nice to work with him, but just talking with him would have been really cool.”

Many critics argue that Nirvana’s version of “The Man Who Sold the World” is even better than the original, with Cobain’s raw vocals contrasting Bowie’s more produced sound. Nirvana truly made the song their own.

Among the songs performed that day, “Come As You Are” was the biggest hit. They recreated the “underwater” tone found on Nevermind, delivering a flawless performance.

Listening to the performance now, after what happened five months after its taping, adds a different tone. During “Come As You Are,” Cobain sings, “And I swear that I don’t have a gun.” There’s a resigned peace to his delivery, almost as if he had come to terms with a decision. When he sings, “I’m so tired I can’t sleep” in “Pennyroyal Tea,” it’s easy to see him as the quiet genius promoting his latest album. Today, those lyrics resonate differently.

This MTV Unplugged performance came during grunge rock’s peak, when music was tinged with anger and despair. Both the performance and its later album release rose to the top as genuine expressions, solidifying Nirvana’s legacy.

Some see it as the perfect end to a short-lived career, and while we might agree, it makes us at 90sAlt.com wonder what could have been if Cobain had lived on. Thankfully, we have his music.