This month—starting Sunday, April 5—MTV is bringing the most iconic sessions from the history of MTV Unplugged back to the screen.
No amplifiers, no large-scale productions—just the pure essence of music. From Sunday, April 5, MTV transforms into an intimate concert venue every Sunday evening at 11:00 PM, showcasing legendary performances that changed the music world forever.
Since its launch in 1989, MTV Unplugged has been the stage where global stars strip their hits down to the core. In an atmospheric setting of Persian rugs and candlelight, masks fall away and pure musicianship takes center stage. This spring, MTV presents a carefully curated selection of sessions that have become just as legendary—if not more so—than the original studio recordings.
The line-up: legends on your screen
Every Sunday at 11:00 PM, MTV takes you back to a historic musical moment:
- April 5 – Lenny Kravitz (1994): Kravitz kicks off the month with a soulful session in which his rock ‘n’ roll persona gives way to raw emotion. Enjoy acoustic versions of Are You Gonna Go My Way, Sister, Always On The Run and Let Love Rule.
- April 12 – Paul McCartney (1991): A historic TV moment in which the former Beatle proves his compositions need no production to shine. From Blackbird to We Can Work It Out—this is McCartney in his purest form. The performance was also released as an album to critical acclaim.
- April 19 – Duran Duran (1993): The band proved in New York that their synth-pop stands strong even without electronics. It earned them renewed critical recognition, with standout moments such as Ordinary World and a surprising rendition of Rio.
- April 26 – Pearl Jam & Aerosmith (Double Feature): An evening for true rock fans. Pearl Jam’s 1992 session, featuring classics like Black, Jeremy and Alive, is considered one of the most intense episodes ever. This is followed by Aerosmith (1990), diving into their blues roots with raw performances of Dream On, Janie’s Got a Gun and Walkin’ the Dog.
- May 3 – Alanis Morissette (1999): As the grand finale, the queen of ’90s singer-songwriters. Accompanied by subtle strings, she delivers a compelling set featuring Ironic, You Oughta Know, Uninvited and an impressive cover of King of Pain (The Police). The performance was later released as a live album and became one of the most highly regarded MTV Unplugged releases.