Alice in Chains - MTV Unplugged (Live) (1996)

Alice in Chains - MTV Unplugged (Live) (1996)

Tracklist front / back album covers

1. "Nutshell"   Jar of Flies   4:57

2. "Brother"   Sap   5:27

3. "No Excuses"   Jar of Flies   4:57

4. "Sludge Factory"   Alice in Chains   4:36

5. "Down in a Hole"   Dirt   5:46

6. "Angry Chair" (Cut from MTV Broadcast, included on the re-release)   Dirt   4:36

7. "Rooster"   Dirt   6:41

8. "Got Me Wrong"   Sap   4:59

9. "Heaven Beside You"   Alice in Chains   5:38

10. "Would?"   Dirt   3:43

11. "Frogs" (Cut from MTV Broadcast, included on the re-release)   Alice in Chains   7:30

12. "Over Now"   Alice in Chains   7:12

13. "Killer Is Me" (Cut from MTV Broadcast, included on the re-release)   5:23

Total length:   71:26

DVD track listing

1. "Program Start"   0:18

2. "Nutshell"   4:22

3. "Brother"   5:18

4. "No Excuses"   4:42

5. "Sludge Factory"   7:00

6. "Down in a Hole"   6:05

7. "Angry Chair"   5:36

8. "Rooster"   6:20

9. "Got Me Wrong"   4:20

10. "Heaven Beside You"   5:15

11. "Would?"   3:50

12. "Frogs"   7:39

13. "Over Now"   6:53

14. "Killer Is Me"   5:34

Total length:   73:00

The DVD release shows another take of "Sludge Factory," in which Layne Staley mixes up the lyrics at the beginning of the song which is ended shortly after.  They then go into the "formal" take which was used on the CD.  The DVD's introduction to "Sludge Factory" also contains portions of "Enter Sandman", written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett.

On the DVD, the final song's title is listed onscreen as "Killer Is Me."  Note that while the CD also lists the final song as "Killer Is Me," the DVD's track list lists the song as "The Killer Is Me."  The song was also released in the Music Bank box set, where the title is again listed as "The Killer Is Me."

Alice in Chains Band Members / Musicians

Layne Staley – vocals; acoustic rhythm guitar on "Angry Chair"

Jerry Cantrell – acoustic lead guitar, vocals

Mike Inez – acoustic bass; acoustic rhythm guitar on "Killer Is Me"

Sean Kinney – drums, percussion

Scott Olson – acoustic rhythm and solo guitar; acoustic bass on "Killer Is Me"

Produced by Toby Wright and Alice in Chains

Produced for MTV by Alex Coletti

Recorded by Toby Wright and John Harris, assisted by Brian Kingman, John Bates, and Rich Lamb

Mixed by Toby Wright, assisted by John Bleich and John Seymour

Digitally edited by Don C. Tyler

Mastered by Stephen Marcussen

DVD audio by John Alberts, Toby Wright, and Mike Fisher

Directed by Joe Perota

Line producer – Audrey Morrissey

Art direction – Mary Maurer

Design – Doug Erb

Photography – Danny Clinch

Management – Susan Silver

Unplugged is a celebrated live album and DVD by the iconic American rock band Alice in Chains, released on July 30, 1996, through Columbia Records. This album captures a special acoustic performance recorded on April 10, 1996, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Majestic Theatre as part of the renowned MTV Unplugged television series. Directed by Joe Perota, the concert first aired on MTV on May 28, 1996, marking Alice in Chains’ first live performance in over two years.

The Unplugged session features unique, stripped-down acoustic renditions of the band’s greatest hits alongside some of their lesser-known tracks, showcasing a different, more intimate side of their music. Notably, the band debuted a brand-new song during the show titled "The Killer Is Me," adding fresh content to their live repertoire. The acoustic version of "Over Now," originally from their 1995 self-titled album, was released as a single and became one of the standout tracks from this session.

Commercially, Unplugged performed strongly, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning platinum certification from the RIAA, confirming its popularity among fans and critics alike. The concert was later released on DVD on October 26, 1999, allowing fans to experience the visual performance. In 2007, a special CD/DVD package featuring previously unaired footage was issued, further expanding the album’s legacy. The DVD release also achieved gold certification by the RIAA.

This acoustic performance remains a landmark moment in Alice in Chains’ career, highlighting their versatility and emotional depth as musicians, while offering fans a memorable and raw live experience.

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